The Vault Unlocked

Episode: The Smartest Move for $100K Earners
Host: Kayvon Kay
Guest: Sally Gimmen, Real Estate Investor and Trust Strategist
Date: December 3, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of The Vault Unlocked exposes a high-stakes strategy used by the wealthy to save massive amounts on taxes. Host Kayvon Kay sits down with Sally Gimmen, a real estate investor who claims that anyone earning over $100,000 can use specific trust structures to legally and dramatically reduce their tax burden, just as old-money dynasties like the Rockefellers have done for generations. Forget common tactics—this episode is a surgical breakdown of how “the trust” unlocks generational wealth and shields earnings from the IRS.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Sally’s Backstory: From Tax Shock to Tax Hacker

• [00:57] Sally shares how she became a real estate investor to help her sick mother, quickly scaling to national property deals.
• [01:46] She is stunned by a $94,000 tax bill on short-term capital gains. A sleepless night inspires her to revisit information about the Rockefeller “Spendthrift Trust.”
  • “I owed the federal government $94,000 in short-term capital gains. Next morning I wake up at 5am and I knew. I read an article about the Rockefeller Spendthrift Trust... Everybody else should know how to save taxes.” — Sally Gimmen [01:46]

The Rockefeller Trust: What It Is & Who It’s For

• [02:18] After putting her property into the trust, Sally saves over $10,000 in capital gains taxes in one deal—money immediately reinvested to accelerate her wealth.
• [03:20] Only a tiny slice of lawyers even know how to do this:
  • “There are a million active attorneys in the United States. Only 4% are trust attorneys. 97% of the trusts sold every year...just avoid probate.” — Sally Gimmen [03:20]
• The Rockefeller trust is designed for multi-generational savings—her “little trust” mirrors the seven-generation Rockefeller model.

Mechanics & Flexibility of the Trust

• Beneficiaries can be family or single business owners.
• The trust can save 90%+ on federal taxes and eliminate state taxes in most states.
• Example: Sally uses the trust to gift family silver coins; no tax is triggered when they’re sold under the trust’s EIN.

Who Should Consider a Trust?

• [10:28] “At $100,000 gross per year”—that’s Sally’s cutoff. Below that, corporations or LLCs may be sufficient; above that, the trust unlocks serious gains.

The Cost and Why It’s Not Mainstream

• The trust can cost $20,000–$42,000 to set up—steep for the average business owner but trivial compared to potential six- or seven-figure savings over time.
  • “It was $42,000 for me....The first trust would be $20,000. The second...$17,000.” — Sally Gimmen [07:37–08:01]
• The law firm’s reputation is key—no audits in 77 years, only one inquiry ever. They’ll even defend clients free if challenged.
  • “You can set up a trust that will fail, or you can set up a trust that won’t even just succeed, but will stand the test of time if the IRS comes after you.” — Kayvon Kay [08:56]

Why Aren’t More CPAs Advocating for Trusts?

• Most CPAs are not trained in advanced trust law, and their business models reward setting up LLCs/corporations.
  • “He has no interest in helping his clients because he gets paid to get set up their LLC. He gets paid to set up their S Corp...” — Sally Gimmen [11:47]
• Less than 4% of lawyers specialize in trusts, and fewer still understand multi-generational/generation-skipping trusts.

Privacy & Lawsuit Protection

• LLCs and corporations are searchable, often targets for litigation. Trusts are private:
  • “The trust keeps your information 100% private.” — Sally Gimmen [12:40]

Real Case Studies

• Franchisee earning $175,000 saves $34,000+ each year going forward. [05:25]
• Real estate judge with 94 companies is saving $9 million this year alone by consolidating under the trust. [13:14]
• CPA skepticism is common—until they investigate the law and become believers.

Trusts vs. Wills, and Continuity

• The trust structure allows total control: trustees/beneficiaries can be changed at any time, and the trust supersedes any will.
  • “Trust trumps the will. Correct.” — Sally Gimmen [18:35]
• Structures include protections for heirs who may not be ready to inherit, with built-in controls.

Mindset Block: “Too Good to Be True”?

• Even sophisticated investors and CPAs resist until faced with receipts.
  • “That’s too bad. You’ve got all these investors who could be saving so much in taxes. They just think it’s too good to be true.” — Sally Gimmen [15:59]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [02:58] Kayvon: “This is not even really a trick. This is just a law…and if you understand it, you understand how to keep your money.”
• [09:23] Sally: “One guy’s like, ‘Hey, I got my spendthrift trust for $8,000.’ Like, who’s your attorney? He’s like, ‘I don’t know.’”
• [13:47] Kayvon: “So as a result of setting up someone who has an extensive portfolio…this year alone, which isn’t everything even done yet, is $9 million [saved]...”
• [18:35] Sally: “Trust trumps the will. Correct.”
• [19:49] Sally: “Maybe you don’t need it today, but in the future you have it. So please reach out to me. I’m here to help.”

Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:57–02:10: Sally’s tax bomb story and entry into trust research.
• 02:18–02:58: Real-world example of tax savings on a single real estate sale.
• 03:20–04:44: Who understands (or doesn’t) these trusts, and why they’re rare.
• 05:17–06:22: Client example; how the trust saves tens of thousands every year, for generations.
• 07:28–08:56: True cost of setup and why not to cut corners—only ironclad, lawyer-backed trusts will survive IRS scrutiny.
• 10:28–11:47: The $100K gross threshold for when a trust makes sense.
• 12:40–13:47: Privacy, protection, and a client saving millions by switching.
• 16:43–18:35: How succession works in a trust, and control versus a will.
• 19:49–20:15: Sally’s website and contact for more information.

Actionable Takeaways

• If your gross income is near or above $100,000, a trust could change your financial trajectory forever.
• Setting up a trust is costly, but the ongoing, compounding tax savings are substantial—potentially life- and legacy-changing.
• Work only with reputable trust law firms with a proven, audit-free track record.
• Trusts offer greater privacy and asset protection than corporations or LLCs.
• This strategy is especially important if building or preserving generational wealth.

Resources Mentioned

• Sally’s site for more info: www.thetrustisyou.com
• Sally on LinkedIn: Sally Gimmen

Closing Note

This was a true Vault episode—no fluff, only real scars and strategies. Sally’s insights demystify one of the best-kept wealth-building “secrets” of the ultra-wealthy, offering actionable steps and sobering truths for any entrepreneur, business owner, or investor tired of handing over hard-earned money to taxes.

“Maybe you don’t need it today, but in the future you have it.” — Sally Gimmen [19:49]