How to Reduce Taxes and Build Real Wealth

How to Reduce Taxes and Build Real Wealth written by John Jantsch read more at Duct Tape Marketing

Catch The Full Episode: Episode Overview What if the biggest professional disappointment of your life was actually the foundation for your long-term wealth strategy? In this episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast, John Jantsch interviews Jack Oujo, founder of Oujo Wealth Strategies, one of the nation’s largest tax-focused wealth management firms. Before building a […]

How to Reduce Taxes and Build Real Wealth written by John Jantsch read more at Duct Tape Marketing

Catch The Full Episode:

Episode Overview

What if the biggest professional disappointment of your life was actually the foundation for your long-term wealth strategy?

In this episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast, John Jantsch interviews Jack Oujo, founder of Oujo Wealth Strategies, one of the nation’s largest tax-focused wealth management firms. Before building a nationally recognized firm, Oujo was a top-rated minor league baseball umpire on the verge of the Major Leagues.

After an unexpected release ended his umpiring career, Jack reinvented himself through education, discipline, and a relentless focus on tax strategy and client service. Today, he helps business owners and high-income professionals minimize taxes, maximize retirement savings, and protect against worst-case financial scenarios.

This conversation explores career resilience, proactive tax planning, retirement strategies, and the overlooked wealth-building tools most entrepreneurs ignore.

About Jack Oujo

Jack Oujo is the founder and lead advisor of Oujo Wealth Strategies, a nationally recognized tax-focused wealth management firm. He holds multiple professional designations, including CPA, CFP, and a Master’s in Taxation.

Before entering wealth management, Jack was a highly rated minor league baseball umpire, advancing to AAA and earning the Joe Ryan Award as the top minor league umpiring prospect. After his baseball career ended unexpectedly, he redirected his discipline into education, earning advanced credentials and building a firm focused on proactive tax reduction and long-term wealth preservation.

He is also the author of Too Smart to Be an Umpire, a book chronicling his journey from professional sports to financial advisory leadership.

Key Takeaways for Entrepreneurs and Business Owners

1. Your Biggest Expense Is Income Tax

Most business owners know what they owe in taxes but do not realize how much control they actually have. Tax planning should be proactive and strategic, not a once-a-year event.

2. Defined Benefit Pension Plans Are Massively Underused

High-income sole proprietors and small business owners can potentially write off hundreds of thousands of dollars annually through properly structured defined benefit plans.

This is one of the most overlooked strategies in small business tax planning.

3. Entity Structure Matters

• Over 100K to 150K income? An S-corp may reduce Social Security tax exposure.
• Under 20K income? A sole proprietorship may be sufficient.
• Compensation structure and reasonable salary must be defensible in an audit.

4. Documentation Wins Audits

Whether deducting vehicles, mileage, or home office expenses, documentation is critical.

• Use mileage tracking apps.
• Track business use consistently.
• Avoid aggressive deductions that cannot be defended as reasonable.

5. Banner Year? Buy Smart and Deduct Strategically

If revenue exceeds expectations:

• Consider Section 179 deductions for equipment purchases.
• Evaluate vehicles over 6,000 pounds for accelerated depreciation.
• Make strategic investments before year-end.

6. Bad Year? Consider Roth Conversions

A low-income year can be an opportunity to convert traditional IRA assets to a Roth IRA at lower tax rates, positioning yourself for long-term tax-free growth.

7. 401(k) Plans Are Essential

For most Americans earning under 400K to 500K annually, maxing out a 401(k) is one of the smartest wealth-building moves available.<