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In this episode of the Teaching Tax Flow Podcast, hosts John Tripolsky and Chris Picciurro, CPA, sit down with college funding expert Brian Eyster to break down one of the most misunderstood financial planning topics for families: FAFSA and college financial aid strategy.
Episode 164 delivers a clear roadmap for navigating the rising costs of college by blending smart tax planning with proactive financial aid preparation. Brian demystifies the FAFSA process, explains major updates families must know, and shares actionable steps to maximize eligibility for need-based aid.
Throughout the conversation, Brian highlights how income, assets, and timing play crucial roles in how much financial aid a student may receive. Listeners learn the key differences between FAFSA and the CSS Profile, how the shift from Expected Family Contribution (EFC) to the Student Aid Index (SAI) changes planning conversations, and why starting early—ideally during a child’s sophomore year of high school—can make a measurable difference.
Parents also gain clarity on how certain assets work against them in the financial aid formula, what should be avoided at all costs, and how to strategically position their finances during the “base year” to legally and ethically reduce their SAI.
Notable Quotes
- “Our job is to try and get the SAI lower and lower—legally, ethically, and morally.” — Brian S. Eyster
- “Think of yourself playing a chess match. You can win a chess game with a multitude of different strategies in place.” — Brian S. Eyster
- “For parents of juniors… this is your last chance to do anything proactively regarding your income.” — Brian S. Eyster
- “Parents, it is highly inadvisable for your children to own the assets at the time you’re completing these forms.” — Brian S. Eyster
- “The best place to reach out is through our website, where you can book a 20-minute call to determine if we get along and like each other.” — Brian S. Eyster
Resources:
- Essential Strategies: Brian Eister’s company offers financial aid planning services.
- FAFSA Website: Official site for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
- (00:03) - Exploring FAFSA and Tax Strategies for College Aid Planning
- (04:37) - Strategic FAFSA Planning for College Financial Aid Optimization
- (12:40) - Understanding FAFSA and Asset Valuation for College Funding
- (16:19) - Understanding FAFSA and CSS for College Financial Aid
- (22:06) - The Importance of Annual FAFSA Completion for Financial Aid
- (25:25) - The Impact of Adjusted Gross Income on FAFSA and Taxes
- (26:26) - The Grad Process: Efficient College and Retirement Planning
- (31:03) - Aligning Business Relationships and Financial Planning
- (33:33) - Investment Advice and Legal Disclaimers in Financial Podcasts
Creators and Guests
What is Teaching Tax Flow: The Podcast?
Welcome to “Teaching Tax Flow: The Podcast”, the show that’s all about demystifying taxes and helping you keep more of your hard-earned income in your pocket.
Hosted by tax experts from the Teaching Tax Flow team, this unfiltered (but clean) podcast is designed to empower you with the knowledge and tools you need to confidently navigate the world of taxes. We’ll cover everything from understanding tax laws and regulations to maximizing deductions and credits.
In each episode, we’ll break down a specific tax-related topic in a clear and accessible way, providing practical tips and strategies you can use to optimize your tax situation. We’ll also answer listener questions, share the mic with amazing guests, and share real-world examples to help illustrate key concepts.
Whether you’re a freelancer, small business owner, real estate investor, or just looking to understand your taxes better, this podcast is for you. So tune in, take notes, and start building your confidence in taxes today.
Produced and hosted by Teaching Tax Flow.
www.TeachingTaxFlow.com
Hey, everybody. Welcome back to the teaching tax flow podcast episode 164. Today, we are looking at FAFSA. That's a free application for federal student aid and, of course, tying that into tax planning and strategy. But before we introduce our guest and this topic, let's take a brief moment and thank our episode sponsor.
Ad Read:This podcast is brought to you by Strategic Associates. Are you a high income earner, real estate investor, or successful entrepreneur who is frustrated by having to pay $75,000 or more of annual tax liability? If so, Strategic Associates can help. Your first step to saving thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, is to contact Roger Roundy at roger@strategicag.net or by calling (801) 641-2956, and be sure to tell them TTF sent you.
John Tripolsky:So we are going to really dive in and look at yet another acronym. I know, my cohost here is gonna love this one. We are looking at FAFSA. So if you're not familiar with what that is, you may if you have a younger child, and you, you may absolutely despise everything to do with it because you may be that confused with it. So we are gonna connect some dots.
John Tripolsky:We're gonna dive in. We're gonna clarify. But as always, Chris Picciurro, welcome back to your own show, sir. We opened the door. We let you back in.
John Tripolsky:Hopefully, you got some good for us.
Chris Picciurro, CPA:Well, John, I think it was the first time I ever had my teaching tax flow sweatshirt because it is the wintertime even down here in Nashville. Nashville. But but great to be back. I'm excited about this topic because we've been waiting to have a special guest on to talk about financial aid planning and the FAFSA application. There's also another application that some private schools utilize and talk through when you have children that are approaching that college age.
Chris Picciurro, CPA:We're going to talk about when you have to start thinking about it. We know that there's a there's a little bit of a delay or look back on tax returns. So your tax return for much of this is the driver in your college aid application, but there are also tests based on your assets. But yeah. So, I mean, quite frankly, personally, this this is something that, my wife and I are working with.
Chris Picciurro, CPA:We've got a junior in high school, a sophomore in high school, and then our youngest is a is a middle schooler. But really excited to welcome a special guest, Brian Eister. He is with, Essential Strategies and is an expert in college aid planning, a FAFSA planning, and planning for your children's education. So, Brian, welcome to the Teaching Tax Flow Show or podcast I should say. No.
Chris Picciurro, CPA:And, John, I just went from a podcast to a show. I don't know what
John Tripolsky:that's for. You know what? We're we're stepping things up a little bit. And, you know, one of these days, we're gonna have to, retitle this and be like the enterprise, the Mecca of all things tax. We'll get, like, all bot to say it for us.
John Tripolsky:But let's, and, Brian, before you get into this, actually, I'm gonna put out this challenge to you guys. So we have a small window here on this show. But if you can and I'm gonna throw out another acronym. If you can convince me that FAFSA is not a PIDA, I think we've done our job. So if anybody's familiar with what PIDA stands for, p I t a, it's a pain in the beep.
John Tripolsky:So let's, let's throw that out and see if you boys can do it.
Brian S. Eyster:See, here I thought when you said pita, you were talking about the, the the animal the nonprofit animal company there. You you threw me for a loop there for a second.
Chris Picciurro, CPA:So Good. I was thinking about I was thinking about bread at a Greek restaurant.
Brian S. Eyster:That too. That too. Thank you, gentlemen. Appreciate your time. We have commonality.
Brian S. Eyster:We all share at some point Michigan roots. So Yes. And a love of baseball and all thing tigers. Unfortunately, didn't work out well this year. But, you know, perhaps if we got some some some better hitters, we might get there next year.
Chris Picciurro, CPA:Agreed. Agreed. So you so so, Brian, can you give us an idea of who you help out right now? Kinda, know, what families and when someone should start thinking about planning around their their children's or could be I mean, maybe they're a guardian. Maybe it's they they they're maybe they have custody of their grandchildren, their college because college ain't free.
Chris Picciurro, CPA:I mean, sometimes it is, I guess. And and there there are some based on your financial con the financial condition of your household, the financial condition of your household could drive a lot of financial aid, scholarships, potentially grants. I mean, in wanna talk on a, you know, kind of a 30,000 foot view level of what does the government consider part of your household financial snapshot? Is it income? Is it assets?
Chris Picciurro, CPA:Is it a little of both?
Brian S. Eyster:Excellent question. The best way to phrase it is think of yourself playing a chess match. You can win a chess game with a multitude of different strategies in place. So there's no right or no wrong. So keeping it at the 30,000 foot overview as we discussed today, let's start first with FAFSA.
Brian S. Eyster:What does it mean for the families that are familiar with it? What do they need to do? What are some of the checkpoints, things to be thinking about? FAFSA is an acronym, obviously, free application for federal student aid. It is the federal program.
Brian S. Eyster:What that does is it takes into consideration your incomes, your assets, where they're positioned. And while they don't disclose on their website how the sausage is made, it comes up with this number now known as SAI, student aid index. It used to be called EFC, expected family contribution. Don't know why they changed it. Doesn't matter.
Brian S. Eyster:It is what it is. The whole goal of these forms and pairing with a professional like myself and partnering with you and your accounting skills for the business owners is whatever that number calculates at, our job is to try and get it lower and lower and lower legally, ethically, and morally. So for parents that have aspirations of helping out their children for school, there's three phases. The first phase is essentially from birth until ninth, tenth grade. Just focus on good savings habits, good investing habits, keep getting your financial house in order, things of that nature.
Brian S. Eyster:Nothing permanent or final has to be made at that point. Sophomore year, I would recommend and encourage people to sit down with someone like myself. While they don't have to make any decisions sophomore year, they can get a feel as to what it's going to look like. On our preshow talk, Chris, you were mentioning that you have a junior. I am busier than ever right now with two facets.
Brian S. Eyster:I have the high school high school senior families. What are we gonna do? They're doing applications. They're filling it out. They gotta submit FAFSA, the CSS.
Brian S. Eyster:All we can look at right now for the high school seniors is what sort of assets do they own, and how are they how is it impacting their FAFSA score? For parents of juniors like yourself, this is your last chance to do anything proactively regarding your income. See, in FAFSA, the tax return is prior prior. So I have a high school senior as well. They look at the junior year tax return.
Brian S. Eyster:So for parents of juniors like you have right now, this is the time where you talk with your professionals. Do you contribute more to your four zero one k than what you normally do? Do you set up a higher bonus or some sort of deferred comp or something that is considered a qualified plan? These are all not to be taken lightly, but to be discussed with your professionals because there's we know that there's pros and cons to those as well. And it also depends on where your income is, how much you can drive it down.
Brian S. Eyster:Is it even worth it?
Chris Picciurro, CPA:So if I talk to myself, then I'm okay right now since I am a tax professional and have a junior in high school So for so No. I understand. You're so whatever whatever is reported on someone's 2025 personal tax return drives the 2027 enrollees. If it's
Brian S. Eyster:it is the 2024 return. So we are in 2025. So your junior yes. When they are getting ready to I'm sorry. I was thinking of my daughter.
Brian S. Eyster:We're talking about your son, junior, senior. So 2025 return impacts a student entering school 2027. So you have until December 31 of this year. Perhaps, I don't know the rules, you would. There's things that maybe you can do up to the tax deadline day of April 15 to help lower it.
Brian S. Eyster:Because if the parents parents' incomes are assessed at a rate of have it right here, between 2246%. Okay? So that's the assessment rate on one's income. If the income is lower, it's gonna be more towards the 22%. If the income is higher, it's going to be more towards the 46%.
Brian S. Eyster:Okay? Assets that the parents own that are assessable, 5.6%. Another thing that parents are unaware of when it comes with their children, it is highly inadvisable for your children to own the assets at the time that you are completing these forms. Students, incomes above and beyond a certain threshold like a standard deduction and tax terms, there's about $78,000 that a student can earn before they're penalized. Anything above and beyond that income level, they're penalized at 46% right off the bat.
Brian S. Eyster:And their assets are 25%. So much, much more penalty if the students are owning it. So it's advisable for parents to own the assets as much as possible. You can also get into asset shifting with grandma and grandpa if there's good relationships there and there's trust because the tax return is a tax return. FAFSA, you sign off on it.
Brian S. Eyster:You have to go into the federal center, and and FAFSA will pull your tax returns from that portal. K? There's no way around it. Assets are at the time that you file. So today is Veterans Day, November 11.
Brian S. Eyster:If I'm sitting down and I was working with a professional, I might have had assessable, heavily penalized assets up until yesterday, November 10. Today, with proof and documentation, meaning take screenshots, PDFs of where you're at in case you're audited, with proper planning, you could make yourself look broke.
Chris Picciurro, CPA:So with so with FAFSA planning, there's two components. Right? There's the income side of it Yes. Which is now with technology, the the that's gonna get pulled directly from your tax transcripts. Just like when you apply for a mortgage, they pull your transcripts.
Chris Picciurro, CPA:Then there's the then there's your personal asset list or balance sheet that's self reported. And within those assets, they're countable assets, cash, savings accounts, money market accounts. Then there are noncountable assets, like primary residence, etcetera. So, so someone could, let me give you example. Let's say and we're not giving out any financial advice here.
Chris Picciurro, CPA:Correct. But let's say you had $100.00 sitting in your savings account. Yes. And you had a home equity line credit of of a 150 that you owed on. It might make sense to take the 100,000 and pay down the equity line before because you're basically taking a noncountable accountable asset, reducing that, but not hurting the non count I don't know if that would that would make sense.
Chris Picciurro, CPA:But
Brian S. Eyster:Makes total sense. Just an example, not knowing you know, we don't have a client in front of us and saying this is what they do. But, yes, the on on the FAFSA, your primary residence, the equity is not assessable. On the CSS profile for private schools, it is. K?
Brian S. Eyster:So it's a it's a different there there's a different play there. But since we're talking FAFSA, the equity in your home, you can ignore it. The number one mistake that I see that families have is if you go on to Facebook right now and you go to any college planning forum, the number one question is how do I accurately value my home? And you get and I laugh because nobody knows. No one has a hard, definitive answer, and I just let it go because, you know, Chris, you try and be nice in those groups and you just get flamed.
Brian S. Eyster:Some people like go to Zillow. Some people like talk to your realtor. Everyone has an opinion. I have one designation right now. It's the certified college funding specialist.
Brian S. Eyster:I have completed my coursework for a second designation, which is a certified college funding counselor, CCFC. I'm waiting on my test results back. In that class, there is a federal government website, I have it here, let me just pull it up, that you can go to. And in the coursework, you go there, you type in your zip code, and it will give you an estimate of your home's value, not the city that you live in based on the year that you bought it. And it's all documented.
Brian S. Eyster:You can screenshot it. You can print it out. It's in my coursework. It says go here, put in your info, then you get the value. Let's say your home is 300,000.
Brian S. Eyster:Cool. The IRS allows what they call a fire sale. So you can take the 300,000 value and you can discount it by 20%. Because if you had to have a fire sale and get at it and get your assets, you're not gonna get full market value. There's not enough time to wait through, you know, a market in the peaks and valleys.
Brian S. Eyster:So the FHA website that you can go to, and I will send you the link where you can post at the bottom when this gets promoted. And number two is you can discount it by 20%. Same with your business. So business and real estate, can discount by 20%. That's the number one overlooked item that families just aren't aware of.
Brian S. Eyster:They don't know what they don't know. Know. Number two is retirement accounts. Any existing account balance, four zero one ks, four zero three b, IRA, you get it. The ABCs of retirement planning.
Brian S. Eyster:Those also do not need to be disclosed. And based on who is in office at what time, your four zero one contributions could be assessed, could not be assessed. There was a couple years ago, they would take your four zero one k contribution, and when they're making or figuring out your SAI, they would add it back in. That is not the case right now. Could that change?
Brian S. Eyster:Absolutely, it could.
Chris Picciurro, CPA:Oh, sure. Anything I mean, yes. We are running, you know, in a world where anything change. And so asset planning is important, especially for FAFSA. You mentioned CSS.
Chris Picciurro, CPA:Now I'm a little familiar with this because I went to a workshop about about this topic, and many private schools have their own way of determining what a what we used to be called the family contribution should be. In other words, what your need is financially. Can you what is can you compare the CSS? Yeah. I know you mentioned there's a balance sheet, you a little different personal balance sheet component.
Chris Picciurro, CPA:But, yeah, can you compare CSS to FAFSA a little bit?
Brian S. Eyster:Yes. So similar concept to the FAFSA. I like to joke around that is it's as long as a fiction novel and as intrusive as your mother-in-law.
Chris Picciurro, CPA:Good thing my mother-in-law doesn't listen to this show.
Brian S. Eyster:Yeah. Yeah. I love my mother-in-law. Don't get me wrong. But it's it's they ask you everything, literally.
Brian S. Eyster:It's it's just as detailed as trying to get yourself a mortgage or you're filling out your health forms at the doctor's office. They're getting into everything. And here's the reason being. Private schools are private, so they are relying on alumni and donations to fund their coffers. I would.
Brian S. Eyster:Therefore, private schools are going to be a little bit more selective and not as nonchalant, let's just say, with the federal schools or public universities that rely on federal dollars because we all know how that works in terms of waste sometimes. They are going to ask for your income, your assets. You and they're very quiet as to how they come up with their calculation. You hear, like, that some retirement plans can be assessed, others don't. There are also some schools that will require you to fill out a additional university specific form.
Brian S. Eyster:So let's just take University of Michigan here, just down the road. You have to do the FAFSA. You have to do the CSS, and then you have to fill out their own form. And so that's why it's incredibly important, Chris, with families is if your due date to get your financials are next Monday, you got yourself a challenge. So that is why I encourage parents of sophomores to start thinking about this, talking with a professional, because then you have to make final decisions their junior year that you're comfortable with, that lowers their income as as much as possible, but doesn't negatively impact other financial goals that they have down the road.
Brian S. Eyster:That's why it's important to engage in a dialogue with the financial professional. What about this and what about that? And then the asset assessment doesn't happen until the child's senior year. So it's really three main phases. It's up to sophomore year.
Brian S. Eyster:Sophomore year, sit down with someone, spend a lot of time in the batting cage, getting your reps in, playing what ifs, you know, crafting your swing because it's gonna be game time their junior year and extra innings senior year.
Chris Picciurro, CPA:I like the analogy. So when we talk about college aid, what are some of the things available to to families? I mean, I know I like, I would imagine, you know, subsidized loans, private loans, grants, scholarships, and and what's the correlation between some a household's income or no. It's not necessarily a household's income. The CSS and the FAST fire are both assessing the same thing.
Chris Picciurro, CPA:A household's on paper ability to pay for the the cost of a student's college. Is what if you could describe that interplay, to us. Excellent.
Brian S. Eyster:So the SAI number, there's a different set of calculations for FAFSA, and there's a different set of calculations for CSS. Looking at my own situation last night, my CSS, while it's more invasive and it's more detailed and more time consuming, is considerably less, like 5,000 or $6,000 less than what my FAFSA is, okay, Just on how the assessments are. The lower the number, the better the chance for a family to qualify for need based financial aid. That's going to be need based financial aid is going to be student loans that are subsidized. Your grants, like a Pell Grant is the most popular one, things of that nature.
Brian S. Eyster:Merit scholarships or other financial aid offers require the FAFSA, but it's not financially driven. It's academically driven. I don't know why they require it. It's just the rules. It is what it is.
Brian S. Eyster:Now, for folks that earn good wages, good incomes, They think, well, why do I even bother, Brian? It's just a waste of time. I'm not gonna qualify. You know, I'm making, you know, 200 of of combined income total. It's important, like I said, because merit scholarships, they require the FAFSA.
Brian S. Eyster:So you could have a student that is very attracted to that university. The university wants them, are willing to offer some extra dollars. But because mom and dad didn't fill out the forms, they're on to the next person.
Chris Picciurro, CPA:Wow. Yes. The ISRA form oh, go ahead. I'm sorry.
Brian S. Eyster:Yep. And then the last piece is that even if you don't get anything, no financial aid, no need based aid, not even a token thousand dollar. Here it is. Do it anyway the freshman year. What if your circumstances change?
Brian S. Eyster:Think of COVID and what happened to people in their businesses that lost everything, that were making healthy 6 figures, that their child they didn't qualify for financial aid, so they didn't fill out the forms. Now the gym, the local gym down got they they shut down. They moved down. Or or a small restaurant. Now they need financial aid.
Brian S. Eyster:All these universities, Chris and John, they're like, well, you told us freshman year you didn't need any financial aid. Well, we can't help you. You didn't so it's it's almost like do it even if you don't expect to get anything because you don't know what your situation in the world's gonna look like sophomore, junior, senior, second senior year. If you're having a great time,
Chris Picciurro, CPA:maybe third senior year. Maybe Van Wilder year. Well, a whole bunch of year. So so so the fast fight, this is this is not just so I understand. This is not something that you just do the when they're running in college.
Chris Picciurro, CPA:Is this this is filled out each year?
Brian S. Eyster:Yes. Thank you for bringing thank you for bringing that up. Another common overlooked item, You fill it out each and every year. I will sit down with folks. So, like, this time last year in the 2024, I'm talking with folks, they're like, oh my gosh.
Brian S. Eyster:Where were you six months ago? Because we already filled it up. Okay. Well, depending on the university, they may let you amend or appeal at semester break. Not all.
Brian S. Eyster:That's very niche.
Chris Picciurro, CPA:They're very
Brian S. Eyster:If you I spend John. Yeah. I spend time on the websites. I love detail. I'll read through every single tab and link that, you know my oldest daughter's at Wayne State right now.
Brian S. Eyster:We went through a bunch of stuff. I knew what was on their website more than their admissions office did. And so if you if you go through, yes, you can appeal your your age. So as an example, I could appeal what my oldest got up until December 1. So you it's it's not like when they start.
Brian S. Eyster:Now start the the the calendar year. So for most people, it's that August, September. That's number one. If you made omissions or errors, like including the value of your four zero one ks, including the equity of your primary residence, just use those two. You can go back into FAFSA and make an amendment.
Brian S. Eyster:So just because I know of people that were so they're just I gotta get it done. October 1, it opened up. People were in the portal filling it out, completing it. Great. I will get around to it after Thanksgiving weekend.
Brian S. Eyster:Yep.
Chris Picciurro, CPA:So no. So I we have we're just talking about that FAFSA. Yes. It sounds so when when the when the tax records are pulled, is it the adjusted gross income that is your driver?
Brian S. Eyster:Yes. It is the adjusted
Chris Picciurro, CPA:gross income. Tax planning, think about this. You know, people listening, we are working with so if you have a large itemized deduction, charitable contributions, mortgage interest, property taxes, or if you get a large tax credit, research and development credit, energy credit. Those could be positive on your tax return, but they don't reduce your adjusted gross income. The AGI is your number one driver from your personal tax return to FAFSA, to CSS, and, so not not every deed you know, so a business deduction on a schedule c, for instance, for for someone self employed is more valuable than a tax credit maybe or a Schedule A.
Chris Picciurro, CPA:So there's a lot of factors involved.
Brian S. Eyster:Yes. Yes.
Chris Picciurro, CPA:I know there are a lot of factors, and I know that you, launched essential strategies. And something really cool about that you've done is you created a proprietary process for helping families out. But can you give us an idea as we wrap up? What is the grad process? I love the acronym, by the way.
Brian S. Eyster:And Thank you.
Chris Picciurro, CPA:Thank you. When when you know, in in where's a good place? And then we'll put it in the show notes for for someone to go a family to go to to to just to discover if it's a if it's a good fit for for, for you guys coming together.
Brian S. Eyster:Excellent. So the grad process and the acronym was developed early early twenty twenty four. I was sitting down kinda sketching out, working with a marketing team because that is not my forte. I'm a detailer. I'm not the the big picture kind of artist.
Brian S. Eyster:And they're like, well, what do you do with clients? And so g is clients come to me. They're overwhelmed. They're anxious. They don't know what to do, they wanna help out their kids, but they don't know how much they can.
Brian S. Eyster:And whoever they are working with in the traditional financial advising community, not a knock on them, but they don't have any tools or resources to to to look at this this this similar parallel path of college planning as well as retirement planning. And what was actually happening is that you were there was conflicting advice happening. So you're taking one step forward, but two steps back. So g, the grad process is just basically where are you at? What are your goals?
Brian S. Eyster:What are you looking to accomplish? What sort of holes in the bucket that you just don't know because you don't know are happening? If you could wave a magic wand, how would you design and structure for school? Like, do you wanna pay for it altogether? Do you wanna have your children have a little bit of skin in the game by taking out student loans?
Brian S. Eyster:But if they get all all you know, b's are higher. Once they're done with school, you knew all along that you were gonna pay off their student loans, but you want the kid to, you know, have a little bit of a stake in there, things like that. And then just a constant monitoring, so of, you know, every every quarter, every year, working with with families of what they can do to lower that cost as much as possible. Because every dollar that a family uses out of their own pocket, as you know, based on prior podcasts that you've done, creates a lost opportunity cost. When I sit down with folks and they look at the average cost of school and they calculate it out, it's easily $30.40, $50,000 a year of lost retirement income.
Brian S. Eyster:So sitting out talking with parents, Chris, at the ball diamond in right field, which is where I hold court, this just kinda this whole idea, that was the genesis. Just sitting down, I'm like, well, what if I created this grad process and show them how to pay for their kid's school and get a pay raise in retirement? Meaning, use the most efficient dollars. Try and use as much of other people's money as possible. Utilizing the tax code that you're so knowledgeable of with the business owners, which we didn't even really tap into, but there's like a section one seventy nine or the medical what is that?
Brian S. Eyster:The ones
Chris Picciurro, CPA:Bonus bonus depreciation.
Brian S. Eyster:Yeah. Bonus depreciation. The one where where a company could set up a student loan repayment plan. I forget what the number is there. Up to $52.50 a year.
Brian S. Eyster:Mhmm. All kinds of
Chris Picciurro, CPA:assistance program. Yep.
Brian S. Eyster:Yep. Yep. And so that's how the grad process start.
Chris Picciurro, CPA:That's all. And and what's the best place for someone to reach out to you as a next step to if if they if they're interested in working with you and your team?
Brian S. Eyster:Excellent. I would encourage them to go to my website, www.essentialstrategies.net. I'm sure you'll have it posted at the bottom, and spend some time on it. I have a resource section that they can up at on one of the tabs where they can click on, learn more about how the SAI is calculated, some general student loan information, just some basic stuff where they can kinda kick the tires and see, hey. Is this worth a conversation?
Brian S. Eyster:And if they are compelled, on every page of my website, they can book a twenty minute call, and all we're gonna do in that call is determine if we get along and we like each other. It's my number one rule of business is, are we gonna get along, and can I work with you?
John Tripolsky:And that and that's a honestly, guys, I think you accomplished the the challenge. It's no longer such a PETA. So good job. You you you you get a gold star as we tell my tell my four year old at day care. It's like, good job.
John Tripolsky:You you accomplished a goal. And and I know, guys, it's it might seem like we're kinda cutting the cutting the legs off this a little early, but even though we've had thirty minutes to talk about this, right, basically scratch the surface, you can go off in a million different directions. But I think the one thing to take away from this from is just the knowledge of these that exists in different situations, but then also aligning yourself with the right person. Chris, as we've been mentioning since day one here, right, it's it's finding the the right individuals for your personal board of directors. And and and, Brian, it sounds like you would be a great fit for somebody that's looking for somebody that they can have in their proverbial Rolodex, right, of somebody they can lean on for that information.
John Tripolsky:So we'll be sure to put put some stuff in the show notes as always, and that way they can reach out. Because, again, this is not something that's gonna be you know, the the curtain is not completely dropping after thirty minutes. There's a lot that goes into this complaining too.
Chris Picciurro, CPA:And, yeah, like you said, John, it's the tax your tax returns a driver. One of the two other than your personal balance sheet in this in this aid journey, financial aid or financial need journey. So, it's unique for everyone. There's special rules for rental business owners, and and, so, yeah, definitely reach out to Brian and his team, see if it's a good fit. And, you know, I've I've I'm happy that we're able to to do this episode.
Chris Picciurro, CPA:I've been wanting to dive into this topic for a long time. So, Brian, thank you so much for joining us, man. I appreciate it. Pleasure's all mine. Thank you.
Chris Picciurro, CPA:Really appreciate it.
John Tripolsky:Awesome. Well, thank you, gentlemen, both for for joining us on this one. And, Brian, thanks for taking the time. And, you know, it's always easier when we have a guest, so me and Chris don't have to sit there and stare at each other. And he does don't have to ask the tough questions he doesn't want me to, and I don't feel like I'm putting him on the spot.
John Tripolsky:So it works out well. We get to put him on you. But thank you guys so much again. Great topic. There'll be more to come on this.
John Tripolsky:And, again, if anybody has specific questions, send them over to Brian. Send them over to us. We'll relay them out. But the only wrong question is the one that you don't ask. So take that into account and remember that.
John Tripolsky:I think with everything in life, right, maybe just don't think about this when you're at a red light because that's all another situation, especially if you're in Michigan, you'll get rear ended. If it turns green, I can say that, Brian, because I live here too. But again, everybody, we'll see you back here again next week on the Teaching Tax Reform podcast. Have a good week, everybody.
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