Podcast Summary: Living Your Legacy

Episode: Elite Tax Strategist: Making Taxes Strategic, Fun, and Profitable

Host: Rudy Mawer (with co-host Riga Tierrez)
Guest: Kimberly Brake
Date: January 12, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of "Living Your Legacy" dives into the world of tax strategy with guest Kimberly Brake, an empowering and purpose-driven tax strategist. Kimberly shares her expertise on making taxes strategic, accessible, and even fun. The conversation uncovers how business owners can leverage everyday expenses to maximize returns, the secrets behind “the golden path” in tax, behind-the-scenes stories from her career, and candid insights into balancing entrepreneurship with parenting a child with special needs. The episode is both educational and genuinely uplifting, with a tone that balances motivation, real-life grit, and plenty of humor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Purpose and Power of the Tax Code

• Tax code is designed as a guide for businesses, not a trap for taxpayers
  • “I don’t think people really realize that tax code is made for businesses and it’s literally your guide on how not to pay taxes.” – Kimberly Brake (00:10, 03:18)
  • Kimberly demystifies the idea that taxes are inherently punitive, explaining instead that they are tools for those willing to learn the system.

2. Making Taxes Engaging and Accessible

• Personalized strategies turn taxes from scary to fun
  • “If you make it into something that they’re like, oh, shit, I can do these things and it’s fun — then the limits are endless.” – Kimberly Brake (00:41, 07:18)
  • She encourages people to view tax strategy as customizable to their lifestyles, flipping expenses into business deductions.

3. Real-World Examples of Tax Strategy

• Creative deductions and case stories
  • Example: A UFC fighter deducting a boat as a business endurance vehicle, creatively backed up with documentation and a clear business purpose.
    • “As long as you have a story to tell and there’s a reason for it, that’s how you’re able to write it off.” – Kimberly Brake (06:23)
• Business expenses can be surprisingly broad
  • “Stop overpaying the government and using, you know, strategies for keeping your kids or hiring them and using Louis Vuitton bags in your business, like, who wouldn’t want to do that?” – Kimberly Brake (03:18)

4. The Path to Becoming a Tax Strategist

• Origin story rooted in resilience
  • Kimberly started her firm as a single mom, from a hospital room while caring for her daughter.
  • “I was like, screw it, I’m just going to learn the tax code and I’m going to teach all these people how to outdo the government.” – Kimberly Brake (04:21)

5. The Difference: CPA vs. Tax Strategist

• Specialization matters
  • “A CPA actually goes to school not just for tax... They’re not specific tax strategist. I literally went to school for tax and tax only.” – Kimberly Brake (07:42)
  • Kimberly underscores her advanced credentials: law school, LLM in taxation, Enrolled Agent status.

6. The Business of Tax – From OnlyFans to Hollywood

• Diverse clients, from entertainers to everyday business owners
  • She shares stories working with everyone from OnlyFans creators to those investing in Hollywood movies for tax advantage purposes (04:03–04:07, 08:32–08:51).
  • The American tax code has unique opportunities, especially for entrepreneurs and entertainers.

7. Building a Team and Scaling Impact

• Challenges of hiring and building a reliable team
  • “You hire fast or you fire fast... thankfully right now I have an amazing assistant, I have an amazing two bookkeepers... It has been phenomenal so far.” – Kimberly Brake (09:54)
• Commitment to education
  • Kimberly develops courses for both tax professionals and business owners (08:24).

8. Purpose-Driven Entrepreneurship

• Nonprofit work parallel to business success
  • Kimberly runs a nonprofit assisting low-income families with medical expenses for special needs children (11:05).

9. Behind the Scenes: The Mompreneur Journey

• Juggling caregiving and entrepreneurship
  • “It’s a very lonely thing because not very many people understand you... she has 24 hour care. I’m not allowed to just get up and go to the grocery store... if I’m not happy, how can I be a good parent? Right.” – Kimberly Brake (11:26)
• Advice for other entrepreneur moms
  • “Just keep going. The grind is exhausting. But if you keep at it, it will pay off.” – Kimberly Brake (12:12)

10. Womanhood, Power, and Legacy

• Embracing womanhood as strength
  • “I have been told no my whole life... Now I’m starting to really love [being a woman]. And then the power is coming.” – Kimberly Brake (12:25)
• Humor and honesty about gendered experiences
  • The conversation veers into light-hearted territory about gender roles and everyday experiences, closing with laughter and authenticity (13:11–13:36).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the design of the tax code:
  “Tax code is made for businesses and it's literally your guide on how not to pay taxes.” – Kimberly Brake (00:10)
• On making tax fun:
  “If you make it into something that they're like, oh, shit, I can do these things and it's fun. Then the limits are endless.” – Kimberly Brake (00:41, 07:18)
• On creative tax deductions:
  “As long as you have a story to tell and there's a reason for it, that's how you're able to write it off.” – Kimberly Brake (06:23)
• On perseverance for mompreneurs:
  “Just keep going. The grind is exhausting. But if you keep at it, it will pay off.” – Kimberly Brake (12:12)
• On womanhood and overcoming barriers:
  “I have been told no my whole life... Now I’m starting to really love [being a woman]. And then the power is coming.” – Kimberly Brake (12:25)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:10 – Tax code as a guide for business owners
• 00:41 / 07:18 – Making taxes fun and empowering clients
• 03:18 – Using lifestyle choices and purchases as part of a tax strategy
• 06:23 – Real-world tax deduction example (UFC fighter and the boat)
• 07:42 – CPA vs. Tax Strategist explained
• 08:24 – Kimberly’s educational initiatives
• 11:05 – Nonprofit work for families with special medical needs
• 11:26 – Personal story of balancing business and special needs parenting
• 12:12 – Advice to fellow “mompreneurs”
• 12:25 – Embracing womanhood as source of power

How to Connect with Kimberly Brake

“Come follow me on Instagram @octaxbreak.” – Kimberly Brake (13:47)

Tone and Takeaways

The conversation is candid, uplifting, and often humorous, breaking the stereotype that taxes must be dull or intimidating. Kimberly's message is clear: with the right mindset and guidance, the tax code becomes a tool for legacy-building—not a burden. The practical, real-world advice shared is both inspiring and actionable for entrepreneurs at all stages.