Hidden Money Podcast
by Mike Pine and Kevin Schneider
In the Hidden Money podcast, you'll learn how you can legally use the tax code to your financial advantage. There’s wealth inside the tax code. Taxes aren’t the enemy.Most people hate taxes (and pay more than they should). But when you view taxes only as an evil expense, you miss out on legal ways to grow your wealth. Unlock the secrets to saving tax and building wealth with the Hidden Money Podcast! 🎧💰 Hosted by Mike Pine and Kevin Schneider.
Episodes
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Get to Know Mike
On this week's episode: how a kid who got kicked out of school for demanding fairness grew up to build a tax firm on the same fight. You'll hear how a PwC internship Mike Pine talked his way into turned him on to partnership tax, why he told every partner he worked for that the CPA model was...
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The Variety Hour
This week we go unscripted, with three recent tax stories that caught our attention. First, the fine print on "no tax on overtime": why only the premium part of time-and-a-half pay qualifies for the new deduction, and what that means for a $300 overtime check. Then Kevin tells the story of a new...
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Revo Oil & Gas Growth Fund 2026 LP (In partnership with G2 TX-26 Energy Fund)
We started investing in oil and gas three years ago because our clients needed bigger deductions, and we kept watching deals deliver the write-off but never pay back the investment. This conversation covers what we changed. On this week's episode we welcome Cotton Graham, founder and president of...
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I Don't Believe My CPA Anymore
If you've had a gnawing feeling that your tax professional prepares your return but doesn't plan ahead to make you money, this episode is for you. This week, we unpack what happens when a comfortable CPA relationship stops being a strategic one: a founder two weeks from signing a $25 million...
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Get Tax Strategies Like Microsoft
On this week's episode: most people assume Microsoft's 2.44% tax rate means the game is rigged for billionaires, and never ask what the tax code has already built in for anyone willing to invest the same way. What the tax code already rewards: 1. Corporations pay a flat 21% tax rate — that's the...
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How the Refresh App Has Greatly Increased Goodwill's Impact
For every job Goodwill posts, 54 people apply. Now, with the Refresh app, every one of them leaves with job leads, benefits and local resources, and that connection stays in place long after a program or a job ends. We had the privilege of sitting down with Logan Sugarman (Founder and CEO of...
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Need a Tax Plan But Have No Time (Oil & Gas)
On this week's episode: most people assume tax deductions come from spending money you don't want to spend, and never ask what the tax code has already built in for anyone willing to take on real risk. The math nobody walks you through: 1. Every other investment keeps active and passive income in...
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If You Have High Income But No Time
On this week's episode: high earners often assume the more they make, the more they owe, and don't ask what the tax code already has built in for them. Four things hiding in plain sight: $50,000 into the right strategy can come back as a $250,000 deduction — a five-time return, backed by an...
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The IRS Doesn't Care about Fair
On this week's episode: two people can have the exact same income and still land tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars apart at tax time — and the IRS will never tell you why. Four things we unpack this week: Two employees with identical stock option packages can land 31 points apart on their...
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Tax Planning in Business
On this week's episode: owners focus on their personal return and never ask what could be done inside the business itself. Four things we constantly see missed: 1. Your spouse already approves every big decision you make. They can be on the company 401(k) too — one business, two maxed-out...
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What Are You Missing in Your Own Tax Planning?
On this week's episode we turn it on the taxpayer. We look at the habits, assumptions, and easy shortcuts that quietly cost people money. Along the way: a client who rated us three out of five over a strategy that saved her $150,000, a man paying $780,000 a year in tax who said "it is what it…
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What Other CPAs are Missing
Why do so many CPAs never explore the gray areas the tax code explicitly allows, or understand what that conservatism costs their clients? In this episode we show you why we do and how it gives you the advantage. Along the way we talk about a $3 million savings killed by the other side's...
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What Real Partnership Looks Like with Shawn Moore of Vodyssey
Revo, and our clients, thrive on partnership. Mike Pine and Kevin Schneider are back, this time to unpack what it actually means to be a tax planning partner instead of a vendor; including how they judge the partnerships they choose. Then Vodyssey Founder and CEO, Shawn Moore, joins to talk about...
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Careers at Revo
Kevin and Mike turn the mic on their own firm: the four values behind the Revo name, the staffing model built on excess capacity and a 50-hour ceiling, why half of revenue goes to the team, and the new Grapevine, Texas headquarters. If you’re a CPA who thinks outside the box, this episode is the...
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Tax and AI
Mike and Kevin sit down with Jake Jordan for a practical conversation about AI: what it actually is, how to use the tools you already own, and how to chain them into systems that work for you. Along the way they uncover the tax angle, R&D credits that help pay for AI adoption, and the cautions...
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What I Would Tell My Young Investor Self 10 Years Ago
On this episode Mike and Kevin take a time machine back to their own early investing years and lay out, in specific dollar terms, everything they'd do differently, from the house Mike was too scared to buy to the oil and gas deal that turned out to be a Ponzi scheme. Along the way they break down...
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Let the IRS Help Pay for Your Family's Travel
In this episode Mike and Kevin walk through one of the most misunderstood lines in the tax code: business travel. Using real trips from their own year, a due diligence seminar in Cancún, a partner retreat in Colorado, and a scouting trip for a short-term rental in Maine, they break down exactly...
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Tax Planning and Tax Preparation: What's the Difference?
Most people hand their CPA a stack of documents once a year and call it done. But there are actually two separate conversations that should be happening, and most high earners are only having one of them. In this episode of the Hidden Money Podcast, Mike Pine and Kevin Schneider use an Elon Musk...
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Tax savings does not always mean a refund
Most people assume a tax refund means their CPA did a good job. Mike and Kevin are here to tell you otherwise. In this episode, they break down the real difference between a tax refund and genuine tax savings... and why getting money back in April might actually be a sign you’ve been overpaying…
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Big Wins
Most people think tax savings are reserved for the ultra-wealthy. In this episode, Mike Pine and Kevin Schneider pull back the curtain on their biggest client wins from this filing season: real numbers, real strategies, and a clear picture of what proactive tax planning can do for high earners…
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Golf Course PPA
In the latest episode of the Hidden Money Podcast, Mike and Kevin walk through one of the most creatively structured deals of Mike's twenty-six-year tax career: a golf course acquisition where purchase price allocation under IRC 1060 produced extraordinary depreciation for investors, multiple...
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Reducing Taxes as a Business Owner
If you're a business owner, or a W-2 employee with a side hustle, the tax code has more working for you than you've been told. In this episode of the Hidden Money Podcast, Mike Pine and Kevin Schneider walk through the real mechanics of turning what you already do into legal, proactive tax...
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Golf Courses, Tax-Free Income, and the Syndication Strategy Your CPA Never Told You About
What does it look like when a great investment and a great tax structure collide? In this episode of the Hidden Money Podcast, Mike and Kevin sit down with Josh McCallen — founder of Accountable Equity and VIVAMEE Hospitality — to unpack one of the most remarkable syndicated deals we've come…
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Reducing Taxes as a W-2 Earner
Think you can't save on taxes as a W-2 earner? That's the myth Mike and Kevin are blowing up in this episode. From the surprising history of how withholding was designed to keep you from noticing your tax bill, to real strategies that saved one family over $280,000, this one is packed with...
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Defining Your Tax Beast
You're not paying too much in taxes because the tax code is impossible. You're paying too much because you haven't defined your tax beast yet. In this episode, Mike and Kevin break down the real obstacles standing between high earners and serious tax savings: procrastination, ignorance, IRS fear,...
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Be a Big Fish in a Little Pond
If your CPA doesn't know your name, you're a small fish in a big pond... and it's costing you. In this episode, Mike and Kevin break down why big accounting firms are structurally incapable of serving high earners well, share real client stories where the difference in service was life-changing,...
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Out-of-the-Box Tax Strategies that Actually Work
Most CPAs file your return and move on. We're not hating! It's just how it often goes. And it's also why one of our primary values is out-of-the-box thinking. In this episode, Mike and Kevin show you what out-of-the-box looks like by unpacking two of their favourite creative tax strategy…
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How a $60K Investment Saved $80K in Taxes
Tax season is over, and if your first thought is relief instead of excitement, this episode is your wake-up call. Mike and Kevin resurface from the trenches, break down how the CPA industry's busy-season grind creates the conditions for missed strategies, and share a real short-term rental story...
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The Costly Tax Mistakes Your CPA is Probably Making
Tomorrow's tax day! For some of you listening, that might be anxiety inducing. For most of our clients, it's actually a good day, because they can be confident they have a proactive tax strategy and filing in place that's helping them save significantly. In this episode, Mike and Kevin break down...
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WIP Report: How We Saved One Client $900,000 in Taxes
In this episode, Mike and Kevin are pulling back the curtain... and this time, it's personal. On this week's Hidden Money Podcast, they're kicking off a brand-new segment called the WIP Report (Wins in Progress): ongoing, real client case studies, so you can see exactly what proactive tax…
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Short-Term Rental Tax Strategy for W-2 Earners
If you’re a W-2 earner, you’ve probably heard you must qualify as a “Real Estate Professional” to use rental losses against your income. In this episode, Mike and Kevin break down why that’s not the rule for short-term rentals, and what actually matters instead. We walk through: The 7-day rule…
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Tax Planning for Rental Properties - It Is Too Late?
Bought the rentals first and thinking about tax strategy second? You’re not behind. In this episode of the Hidden Money Podcast, CPAs Mike Pine and Kevin Schneider continue the short-term rental series by answering a question they hear constantly: “I already own rentals… did I miss my chance?”…
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Short-Term Rental Tax Loophole: How to Prove Material Participation
Material participation is the make-or-break rule behind the short-term rental tax strategy... and the first thing the IRS looks at in an audit. In this episode of the Hidden Money Podcast, CPAs Mike Pine and Kevin Schneider explain what “material participation” actually means, why it determines...
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How to Finance a Short-Term Rental Without 20% Down
Most short-term rental buyers assume they need 20–25% down and a traditional investment loan. But what if that assumption is costing you deals, cash flow, and tax leverage? In this episode of the Hidden Money Podcast, Mike and Kevin sit down with STR lending expert Jeff Chisum to break down how...
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Free Tax Assessment: Find the Gaps in Your Tax Strategy
Most people pay more tax than they legally owe, not because they’re doing anything wrong, but because they don’t have a real tax strategy. In this episode of the Hidden Money Podcast, CPAs Mike Pine and Kevin Schneider introduce a brand-new tool: a Free Tax Assessment that helps you quickly spot...
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How to Pay Less Tax Legally: 5 Overlooked Tax Strategies
Want to pay less tax legally without gimmicks or sketchy shortcuts? In this episode of the Hidden Money Podcast, we break down 5 overlooked tax strategies that can put real money back in your pocket, whether you’re a W-2 earner, business owner, or investor. Hundreds of thousands of taxpayers miss...
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File Taxes Early: Get Your Refund Faster and Avoid Identity Theft
Want your tax refund faster, and less risk of someone filing in your name? In this episode of Hidden Money, Mike and Kevin break down why filing early (and filing electronically) can put your money back in your pocket in Q1, not months later. They also unpack a growing issue: tax-related identity...
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The $80,000 Mistake: Why Bad Records Blow Up Your Tax Bill
Taxes don’t have to feel like a mystery tax you pay for being busy. In this Hidden Money episode, Mike Pine and Kevin Schneider break down why good bookkeeping and clean records aren’t just “admin”... they’re one of the fastest ways to keep more of what you earn. If you’re growing a business but...
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How to Lower This Year's Tax Bill: Prepaid Expenses Explained
It’s the end of the year, and while year-round planning is the goal, there’s still a move that can make a real difference right now: prepaid expenses. In this episode of The Hidden Money Podcast, CPAs Mike Pine and Kevin Schneider explain how cash-basis taxpayers (which includes most individuals...
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Tax Credits vs Deductions: Why Credits Are the Real Hidden Money
Most people think about tax deductions and completely overlook tax credits, even though credits are often worth far more. In this episode of the Hidden Money Podcast, Mike and Kevin dive into tax credits as “gifts” from the government, and how smart planning can help you actually receive them...
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End-of-Year Tax Breaks High Earners Leave on the Table
Most people miss the easiest tax deductions, especially in December. In this episode, Mike and Kevin share their favorite underrated year-end deductions, including tech, tools, team expenses, and simple business purchases that can still lower your tax bill before December 31. If you’re a high...
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Bad CPA Advice That’s Wrecking Your Year-End Tax Plan
Bad CPA Advice That’s Wrecking Your Year-End Tax Plan Is bad CPA advice quietly wrecking your year-end tax plan? In this week’s Hidden Money episode, Mike and Kevin unpack the most common things people hear from their CPAs that sound “responsible” but actually cost them tens of thousands of…
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High-Earner Tax Planning Playbook: Smart Year-End Moves to Keep More of Your Money
If you’re a high-income earner wondering why your bank account doesn’t reflect the long hours, sacrifices, and hard work... you’re not alone. In this powerful episode, CPAs Mike Pine & Kevin Schneider break down what year-end tax planning really means for high earners and why strategic tax moves...
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Year-End Real Estate Tax Planning: The Expert Playbook vs. ChatGPT
Year-end real estate tax planning can save hundreds of thousands or turn into a costly audit nightmare when done wrong. In this episode, Mike & Kevin break down real client stories where DIY tax advice, online templates, and even ChatGPT-led planning derailed purchase price allocations, cost...
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Avoid the “Buy a Truck” Trap: Smart Year-End Tax Planning FAQ
If your idea of year-end tax planning is “buy a new truck to save on taxes,” think again. In this episode of Hidden Money Podcast, tax strategist and CPAs at Revo Tax Mike Pine and Kevin Schneider answer the 10 most frequently asked questions about proactive tax planning. They bust the myth that...
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Pay Less, Legally: What Year-End Tax Planning Really Means
If your only touchpoint with a CPA is dropping off documents in March, you’re doing tax prep, not tax planning. In this episode, Mike and Kevin show how proactive tax strategy, in-year moves (made before December 31) can change your facts and legally lower your tax. You’ll learn: Tax planning vs....
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Real Estate Series Part 6: How Opportunity Zones Create Tax-Free Wealth
The Tax-Free Exit Strategy Your CPA Wishes They Knew About You've heard the saying: the only sure things are death and taxes. Mike and Kevin are here to call BS on the taxes part. In this episode of Hidden Money, we dive deep into the Opportunity Zone (OZ) strategy, a powerful but underused tool,...
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Real Estate Series Part 5: How Smart Investors Use Syndications to Build Wealth Without Overpaying Taxes
Thinking about real estate syndications? In this episode, we sit down with Jack, operator, LP, and former Fortune 500 M&A/CFO leader, to break down how syndications work, who should consider them, and the (very real) tax advantages when they’re structured well. What a syndication actually is (and...
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Real Estate Series Part 4: Purchase Price Allocation – The #1 Tax Hack for Real Estate Investors
Real estate investors are missing one of the most powerful, and overlooked tax strategies: Purchase Price Allocation (PPA). In this episode, Mike Pine & Kevin Schneider from Revo Tax reveal how to use PPA to front-load depreciation, offset W-2 or self-employed income, and dramatically lower your...
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Real Estate Series Part 3: How Long-Term Rentals Build Wealth (and Cut Taxes)
Build steady cash flow, pay down debt with tenant dollars, and unlock serious tax advantages without living inside an Airbnb turnover. In Part 3 of our Real Estate Series, Mike and Kevin break down how long-term rentals build wealth and legally cut taxes. What you’ll learn Long-term rentals vs....
About this show
In the Hidden Money podcast, you'll learn how you can legally use the tax code to your financial advantage. There’s wealth inside the tax code. Taxes aren’t the enemy.Most people hate taxes (and pay more than they should). But when you view taxes only as an evil expense, you miss out on legal ways to grow your wealth. Unlock the secrets to saving tax and building wealth with the Hidden Money Podcast! 🎧💰 Hosted by Mike Pine and Kevin Schneider.
Hosted by
Mike Pine and Kevin Schneider
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