Why Your Real Estate Profits Are Vanishing To Taxes and How To Fight Back w/Jeff Hiatt
Release Date: 06/12/2025
Money School Podcast
For most people, debt isn’t a mistake; it’s just life. The mortgage, the car loan, and the credit cards are what everyone does. Making the minimum payments feels normal, but that actually keeps people stuck. Millions of families are drowning in debt, and they’re barely managing. They’re working hard, keeping up with their bills, but almost every dollar they earn goes right back out in interest. They’re not moving forward; they’re treading water. The hard part is, they’re not doing anything “wrong.” They’re doing what the system taught them to do: stay cash-poor while the...
info_outlineMoney School Podcast
When people hear “franchise”, they immediately picture a drive-through window and a fryer in the back. That narrow view hides one of the most accessible and profitable paths to business ownership today: non-food franchising. We’ve been taught that entrepreneurship means starting from scratch: writing business plans, building systems, and hoping your idea sticks. Franchising flips that equation. You’re not reinventing the wheel; you’re stepping into a proven system with training, marketing, and infrastructure already built. The best part? You can own a business that runs...
info_outlineMoney School Podcast
From the outside, pro athletes look like they’ve made it; like they’ll never have to worry about money again. Multi-million-dollar contracts, highlight reels, and luxury lifestyles suggest money will never be an issue. But behind the scenes, most players are one injury, one bad decision, or one contract away from financial ruin. The truth is, the average NBA career lasts just 4 years. Taxes, agents, lavish spending, and poor planning chip away at earnings until the fortune is gone, and with no plan for life after the game, many athletes end up broke and starting over from scratch....
info_outlineMoney School Podcast
Most investors don’t fail because they pick the wrong stock or buy into the wrong trend. They fail because they never define success for themselves. They chase returns without knowing what a win actually looks like. Without a clear target and purpose, investing becomes guesswork, and the chances of losing money are higher. Worse, they choose methods that look cool instead of ones they actually understand. They don’t give themselves a hard out, so they hold too long or sell too soon. And often, they pick investment vehicles that only pay them in one way. That’s where real estate...
info_outlineMoney School Podcast
Most investors don’t fail because they pick the wrong stock or buy into the wrong trend. They fail because they never define success for themselves. They chase returns without knowing what a win actually looks like. Without a clear target and purpose, investing becomes guesswork, and the chances of losing money are higher. Worse, they choose methods that look cool instead of ones they actually understand. They don’t give themselves a hard out, so they hold too long or sell too soon. And often, they pick investment vehicles that only pay them in one way. That’s where real estate...
info_outlineMoney School Podcast
From the outside, doctors and dentists look like they’ve got it all: good money, respected careers, the kind of lifestyle most people want. But what almost no one talks about is how fragile that life really is. One accident, one injury, and the very hands that their entire career depends on can suddenly stop producing income. That was Dr. Jeff Anzalone’s reality after a skiing accident nearly ended his ability to practice dentistry. It forced him to realize: as much as medicine can be rewarding, it’s still trading time for money, and it can all disappear in an instant. The solution...
info_outlineMoney School Podcast
From the outside, doctors and dentists look like they’ve got it all: good money, respected careers, the kind of lifestyle most people want. But what almost no one talks about is how fragile that life really is. One accident, one injury, and the very hands that their entire career depends on can suddenly stop producing income. That was Dr. Jeff Anzalone’s reality after a skiing accident nearly ended his ability to practice dentistry. It forced him to realize: as much as medicine can be rewarding, it’s still trading time for money, and it can all disappear in an instant. The solution...
info_outlineMoney School Podcast
Most people who buy life insurance never read the fine print. They’re promised “stock market–like returns without the risk,” a retirement account that doubles as a tax-free loan machine, and peace of mind for their families. On paper? It looks like the perfect product. But what happens when the math doesn’t add up, the illustrations don’t match reality, and families find out, years later, that the policy they’ve been funding is set to collapse? That’s the dark underbelly of the Indexed Universal Life (IUL) industry. And it’s exactly what my guest, Jonathan, aka the IUL...
info_outlineMoney School Podcast
Most people who buy life insurance never read the fine print. They’re promised “stock market–like returns without the risk,” a retirement account that doubles as a tax-free loan machine, and peace of mind for their families. On paper? It looks like the perfect product. But what happens when the math doesn’t add up, the illustrations don’t match reality, and families find out, years later, that the policy they’ve been funding is set to collapse? That’s the dark underbelly of the Indexed Universal Life (IUL) industry. And it’s exactly what my guest, Jonathan, aka the IUL...
info_outlineMoney School Podcast
Most business owners only call the bank when they’re in trouble. Cash is tight, deals are falling apart, stress is mounting. By then? It’s too late. The banks shut the doors and wave at you from behind the glass. That’s the obvious mistake. The less obvious one? Not realizing the best time to secure financing is when you don’t need it. That’s when banks give you more, on better terms, and when private lenders are willing to play ball. That’s the theme of my conversation with George Otel, founder of U.S. Business Funding. He’s closed 400+ deals, from SBA loans to $50M...
info_outlineReal estate investing is supposed to build your wealth. So why does it feel like you're building the IRS’s bank account instead?
You're hustling, buying properties, managing tenants, and navigating deals. Then tax season hits, and you’re writing big checks to the government. What if you had a legal way to keep more of your money?
Well, there is, and it isn’t new; it’s been around for decades. CPAs know it and the wealthy definitely use it.
It’s called cost segregation.
Cost segregation is a tax strategy that breaks down your property into components and depreciates them faster. That means more write-offs, bigger deductions, and less money to the IRS.
All 100% legal, all by the book.
But how exactly does it work? What’s the process behind it? Is it only for big, commercial buildings?
In this episode, I’m joined by Jeff Hiatt, Director of New Business Development at MSC Consultants and a cost segregation expert. He breaks down what cost segregation is, how it can unlock significant tax savings, and why this powerful strategy remains surprisingly underutilized.
Things You’ll Learn In This Episode
-Why people don’t know about cost segregation
What misconceptions might be preventing more investors from taking advantage of cost segregation?
-The best way to use cost segregation
Cost segregation is most beneficial for property owners looking to accelerate depreciation on assets. When might cost segregation provide little to no advantage for a property owner?
-Wipe out income tax liability
Cost segregation allows real estate investors to significantly reduce or eliminate their income tax liability. How can this lead to major tax savings and more wealth?
Guest Bio
Jeff Hiatt is the Director of New Business Development at MS Consultants (MSC), a leading provider of cost segregation studies. Since joining MSC in 1999, Jeff has been instrumental in expanding the firm's presence in the New England area, establishing strong relationships with CPA firms, real estate professionals, and accounting societies. His efforts have contributed to MSC becoming a prominent name in the field of cost segregation.
A graduate of Indiana University, Jeff is a recognized expert in cost segregation and energy efficiency tax strategies. He has lectured extensively, providing Continuing Professional Education (CPE) training to accounting firms and tax institutes. His speaking engagements include notable organizations such as the Boston Tax Institute, Massachusetts Society of CPAs, and Maine Real Estate Developers Association.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Jeff is actively involved in his community. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and serves on the Board of Swim With A Mission, an organization dedicated to supporting veterans and their families.
Find Jeff on LinkedIn here @Jeff Hiatt
Visit https://www.costsegs.com/ and mention Chris Naugle/BYOB for a $100 fee discount
About Your Host
From pro-snowboarder to money mogul, Chris Naugle has dedicated his life to being America’s #1 Money Mentor. With a core belief that success is built not by the resources you have, but by how resourceful you can be. Chris has built and owned 19 companies, with his businesses being featured in Forbes, ABC, House Hunters, and his very own HGTV pilot in 2018. He is currently founder of The Money School™, and Money Mentor for The Money Multiplier.
His success also includes managing tens of millions of dollars in assets in the financial services and advisory industry and in real estate transactions. As an innovator and visionary in wealth-building and real estate, he empowers entrepreneurs, business owners, and real estate investors with the knowledge of how money works.
Chris is also a nationally recognized speaker, author, and podcast host. He has spoken to and taught over ten thousand Americans delivering the financial knowledge that fuels lasting freedom.
Check out this episode on our website, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm so our show reaches more people. Thank you!