THE SUNLIGHT TAX BLOG:
Tax and Money Education for Creative People, Freelancers and Solopreneurs
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Book Curious? The 7 Stages of Writing A Book
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In this episode of the Sunlight Tax Podcast, I break down the 7 stages of writing a nonfiction book and share what I've learned from my own publishing journey. From developing a compelling book proposal and securing a publishing deal to writing, editing, launching, and marketing your book, I walk through the key steps every aspiring author should understand.
We also explore how a nonfiction book can do more than share your ideas. It can help grow your business, establish your authority, attract new opportunities, and strengthen your personal brand. Whether you're thinking about writing your first book or are already deep in the process, this episode offers practical insights into turning your expertise into a book that creates lasting impact.
Listen and Subscribe Here
In this episode of the Sunlight Tax Podcast, I break down the 7 stages of writing a nonfiction book and share what I've learned from my own publishing journey. From developing a compelling book proposal and securing a publishing deal to writing, editing, launching, and marketing your book, I walk through the key steps every aspiring author should understand.
We also explore how a nonfiction book can do more than share your ideas. It can help grow your business, establish your authority, attract new opportunities, and strengthen your personal brand. Whether you're thinking about writing your first book or are already deep in the process, this episode offers practical insights into turning your expertise into a book that creates lasting impact.
Also mentioned in today’s episode:
04:56 Housekeeping and Personal Update
08:58 Differences Between Fiction and Nonfiction Publishing
10:52 The Importance of Marketing and Audience Engagement
14:59 Steps After Securing a Book Deal
18:11 Long-term Book Business Planning
19:07 Platform and Audience Building
22:03 Market Research and Audience Targeting
22:50 Financial Aspects of Writing a Book
29:09 Book Promotion and Publicity Tours
32:09 Motivations for Writing a Book
33:04 Creating a Meaningful and Impactful Book
35:00 Reader Engagement and Feedback
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! Every review makes a difference by telling Apple or Spotify to show the Sunlight Tax podcast to new audiences.
Episode Links:
Get your FREE visual guide to tax deductions
Order my book: Taxes for Humans: Simplify Your Taxes and Change the World When You’re Self-Employed
Professor Ray Madoff on How to Tax the Rich
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Why do billionaires often pay lower tax rates than working Americans?
In this episode of the Sunlight Tax Podcast, I sit down with tax policy expert and professor, Ray Madoff, to explore how income, wealth, and inheritance are taxed in the United States, and why the current system often favors the ultra-wealthy.
We discuss wealth inequality, estate taxes, billionaire tax strategies, and the most promising proposals for tax reform. If you've ever wondered how the tax code shapes who builds wealth in America, this conversation offers a clear and accessible look at what a fairer tax system could look like.
“Somebody who is self-employed and earned sixty thousand dollars will pay about thirteen thousand dollars in income taxes and payroll taxes.”
Why do billionaires often pay lower tax rates than working Americans? In this episode of the Sunlight Tax Podcast, I sit down with tax policy expert and professor, Ray Madoff, to explore how income, wealth, and inheritance are taxed in the United States, and why the current system often favors the ultra-wealthy.
We discuss wealth inequality, estate taxes, billionaire tax strategies, and the most promising proposals for tax reform. If you've ever wondered how the tax code shapes who builds wealth in America, this conversation offers a clear and accessible look at what a fairer tax system could look like.
“Let’s say that you’re Mark Zuckerberg. What he has is a growth in value of his stock. And even though that growth in value of his stock has made him very, very rich, it is not treated as taxable income.”
Also mentioned in today’s episode:
02:30 Background on Professor Ray Madoff and her work
05:40 How the tax system favors the wealthy
07:19 The impact of growth in stock value and tax treatment
09:02 Living off wealth, not income
10:04 Inheritance, gifts, and the lack of taxation
12:15 The estate tax and loopholes
16:20 Public perception and fairness in the tax system
17:21 How the wealthy avoid taxes: borrowing against assets
23:02 Political feasibility of tax reforms
25:46 Wealth taxes and their challenges
29:56 Legal and constitutional issues with wealth taxes
31:46 Potential benefits of well-designed tax policies
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! Every review makes a difference by telling Apple or Spotify to show the Sunlight Tax podcast to new audiences.
About Professor Ray D. Madoff:
Ray D. Madoff is a professor at Boston College Law School and the cofounder and director of the Boston College Forum on Philanthropy and the Public Good. She is the author of Immortality and the Law: The Rising Power of the American Dead and lead author of The Practical Guide to Estate Planning. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The New York Review of Books, among other outlets.
Episode Links:
Professor Ray Madoff’s Book: The Second Estate: How the Tax Code Made an American Aristocracy
My FAQ page on how to Tax the Rich
Get your FREE visual guide to tax deductions
Order my book: Taxes for Humans: Simplify Your Taxes and Change the World When You’re Self-Employed
Get Free Money By Using Your Retirement Accounts
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In this episode of the Sunlight Tax Podcast, I revisit why tax-advantaged accounts are one of the most powerful tools for self-employed individuals. I break down how these accounts can help you save more money, lower your tax bill, and build long-term financial security. I also share practical examples, real numbers, and details about my upcoming class so you can make the most of the tax benefits available to you as a freelancer or business owner.
“If there is one single habit you can have in your life to build financial security for yourself, and frankly, to get free money that’s on the table, it is to max out your tax-advantaged accounts every single year.”
In this episode of the Sunlight Tax Podcast, I revisit why tax-advantaged accounts are one of the most powerful tools for self-employed individuals. I break down how these accounts can help you save more money, lower your tax bill, and build long-term financial security. I also share practical examples, real numbers, and details about my upcoming class so you can make the most of the tax benefits available to you as a freelancer or business owner.
Also mentioned in today’s episode:
00:10 Embracing Summer and Financial Reflection
02:50 Understanding Tax-Advantaged Accounts
06:05 Maximizing Retirement Savings with SEP IRAs
08:50 The Power of Productive Friction in Learning
11:58 The Power Triangle for Financial Growth
15:10 Strategies for Effective Tax-Advantaged Saving
17:55 Upcoming Class: Save Like A Millionaire
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! Every review makes a difference by telling Apple or Spotify to show the Sunlight Tax podcast to new audiences.
Episode Links:
Join the Workshop:Save Like a Millionaire: Using Tax-Smart Accounts
Get your FREE visual guide to tax deductions
Order my book: Taxes for Humans: Simplify Your Taxes and Change the World When You’re Self-Employed
Anna Burgess Yang: Why Self-Employment May Be More Secure Than a Traditional Job
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In this episode of the Sunlight Tax Podcast, I sit down with Anna Burgess Yang to discuss her journey from corporate banking to solopreneurship. We explore the skills that helped her make the leap, how she approaches business decisions and financial management, and what it really means to navigate risk as a self-employed business owner. Anna also shares practical insights on freelancing and building a sustainable solo business while having effective financial planning.
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“It's stressful to work for an employer and it's stressful to work for yourself. It's just like choose your stress.” – Anna Burgess Yang
In this episode of the Sunlight Tax Podcast, I sit down with Anna Burgess Yang to discuss her journey from corporate banking to solopreneurship. We explore the skills that helped her make the leap, how she approaches business decisions and financial management, and what it really means to navigate risk as a self-employed business owner. Anna also shares practical insights on freelancing and building a sustainable solo business while having effective financial planning.
Also mentioned in today’s episode:
00:10 Introduction to Solopreneurship
06:01 Transitioning from Corporate to Freelance
10:25 Common Mistakes Solopreneurs Make
12:26 The Risks of Employment vs. Self-Employment
17:10 Current Economic Landscape for Freelancers
22:20 Navigating Career Pivots
28:04 Financial Management for Solopreneurs
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! Every review makes a difference by telling Apple or Spotify to show the Sunlight Tax podcast to new audiences.
About Anna Burgess Yang:
Anna Burgess Yang is a freelance content marketer and journalist specializing in B2B SaaS and fintech. She is also a solopreneur educator focused on back-end business operations. A former corporate executive, she now writes long-form content for clients. She also maintains her own blog, newsletter, and a tutorials site. Within her content, she teaches other solopreneurs and marketers how to use AI and automation to work more efficiently.
Check Out Anna’s Work:
FREE RESOURCE: Budget Health Check
Episode Links:
Join the Workshop:Save Like a Millionaire: Using Tax-Smart Accounts
Get your FREE visual guide to tax deductions
Order my book: Taxes for Humans: Simplify Your Taxes and Change the World When You’re Self-Employed
Most Americans Have Been Deceived About Taxing the Wealthy (Even My Mom and Partner)
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In this episode of the Sunlight Tax Podcast, I break down some of the biggest misconceptions about wealth taxes, estate taxes, and tax fairness in the United States. We’ll explore how the tax system works for the wealthiest Americans, why so many myths persist around taxing wealth, and what these policies mean for everyday people, small business owners, and future generations.
I also share the story behind my grassroots campaign to raise awareness about tax justice through art, advocacy, and community action. My goal is to make complex tax issues easier to understand and help more people engage in conversations about economic fairness and social change.
“People are wanting, very rightfully, to feel like they’re paying into a system that feels fair for everyone, including hundred millionaires and billionaires.”
In this episode of the Sunlight Tax Podcast, I break down some of the biggest misconceptions about wealth taxes, estate taxes, and tax fairness in the United States. We’ll explore how the tax system works for the wealthiest Americans, why so many myths persist around taxing wealth, and what these policies mean for everyday people, small business owners, and future generations.
I also share the story behind my grassroots campaign to raise awareness about tax justice through art, advocacy, and community action. My goal is to make complex tax issues easier to understand and help more people engage in conversations about economic fairness and social change.
Also mentioned in today’s episode:
00:10 My Art Campaign
00:29 The State of Wealth Inequality in the US
00:57 Tax Fairness and the Wealthy
01:50 Problems with Wealth Tax and Historical Context
02:45 Inheritances and the Income Tax System
03:41 Hannah's Grassroots Campaign and Art Fundraiser
04:41 Understanding the Sunlight Tax Website
05:09 Funding the IRS and Tax Enforcement
06:34 Myths and Misinformation about Tax Laws
07:32 Upcoming Expert Interview with Professor Madoff
09:00 Misconceptions about Inheritance and Gift Taxes
12:17 The Truth About Estate Taxes and Public Perception
16:35 Tax Benefits for Primary Residence Sales
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! Every review makes a difference by telling Apple or Spotify to show the Sunlight Tax podcast to new audiences.
Episode Links:
Support me in rebuilding my studio
Ray Madoff, author ofThe Second Estate: How the Tax Code Made an American Aristocracy.
Get my Tax Help onSubstack.
Get your FREE visual guide to tax deductions
Order my book: Taxes for Humans: Simplify Your Taxes and Change the World When You’re Self-Employed
What are your money concerns?
Suggest a blog topic for Hannah here.