The American tax system wasn’t built to make you rich. It was built to keep you in line. For most people, taxes are a lifetime subscription. Work harder. Earn more. Pay more. But every now and then, the system tosses the average American a bone. The Big Beautiful Bill is one of those moments.

This bill isn’t perfect. It’s not even permanent. But it gives working Americans a rare shot at lowering their taxes in meaningful ways. And for those willing to dig deeper, it might be the spark that leads to a much bigger financial awakening.

Let’s start with the obvious. The bill removes federal income tax on tips and overtime. That’s a huge win for waiters, bartenders, nurses, and tradespeople—people who’ve long been taxed to death for going the extra mile. Sure, they’ll still pay into Social Security and Medicare through FICA (which I like to call “Funds I Cannot Access”) because you pay into it for decades, then get taxed again when you finally collect—if you live that long. But removing the federal income tax gives working folks breathing room and maybe even a shot at saving or investing instead of just treading water.

The bill also gives seniors a break. It increases the standard deduction by $6,000 for individuals over 65, or $12,000 for married couples. That could mean no federal income tax on Social Security benefits for millions of retirees. But like most government goodies, there’s fine print. It expires in 2028. So, yes, seniors get a win today, but it might just accelerate the collapse of the trust fund they depend on tomorrow. Classic Washington.

There’s more. The bill allows taxpayers, even those taking the standard deduction, to write off car loan interest. That deduction used to be reserved for business owners, but now regular folks commuting to work might qualify. The catch? The vehicle must be made in the U.S. Still, for middle-class families, this could quietly return thousands over time.

Charitable giving also got a boost. In the past, only taxpayers who itemized could deduct donations. Now, even if you take the standard deduction, you can write off your generosity. It’s a subtle shift, but a powerful one. Instead of sending your money to the IRS, you can direct it toward your local church, shelter, or food bank.

But if you really want to think like the wealthy, this is where the buying and borrowing strategy comes in.

Here’s how it works:

First, you invest your money into assets—stocks, ETFs, and index funds. Next, instead of selling and paying taxes, you borrow against them using a margin loan. Then, you donate the borrowed money to your favorite charity.

What just happened? You made a charitable contribution (which gives you a tax deduction) using money that was never taxed in the first place. And your original investment? Still growing and compounding tax-free. In some cases, you may even deduct the margin loan interest. That’s a double deduction—straight from the playbook of the wealthy.

This is how the rich turn generosity into strategy. It’s called Buy, Borrow, Die—and it’s been used by the wealthy for generations.

Small business owners win too. The bill restores and expands deductions for equipment, marketing, payroll, and more. If you’ve been waiting to turn your side hustle into a real business, now’s the time. The tax code rewards entrepreneurs, not employees. And this bill makes that crystal clear.

But let’s be real. Even with all these benefits, the system was never built for you. It was built to keep you working, taxed, and dependent. Most Americans were sold the same story: work hard, pay taxes, contribute to a retirement account, and someday it’ll all pay off.

They trust the government to provide for their retirement. They trust their CPA to reduce their taxes. They trust their financial advisor to protect their future.

And that’s the trap.

Most CPAs are trained to report your taxes, not reduce them. Most financial advisors work for publicly traded companies with a legal obligation to maximize shareholder profits—not your net worth. They may call themselves fiduciaries, but their bosses answer to Wall Street. And if they don’t, they’re gone.

That’s why they push tax-deferred retirement accounts. These accounts build passive income for banks and the government while locking you into high taxes for life. And yes, those taxes can even be passed on to your heirs.

If you really want to take control of your financial future, you need to become your own fiduciary. That starts by learning how the tax system actually works—especially the parts no one ever taught you.

Like provisional income.

Most people don’t even know what it is, but it’s the formula the IRS uses to decide how much of your Social Security gets taxed. If your income comes from the wrong places, like 401(k) withdrawals, interest, or dividends, up to 85 percent of your Social Security could be taxed. But if it comes from the right places, it could be entirely tax-free.

That’s why the wealthy don’t rely on traditional retirement accounts. They use Roth IRAs, which grow and distribute tax-free. They use indexed universal life insurance (IUL), which grows tax-deferred, allows tax-free borrowing, and transfers tax-free to heirs. And they use the Buy, Borrow, Die strategy. They buy appreciating assets—stocks, ETFs, real estate, bitcoin, and precious metals—then borrow against them to live tax-free and never sell. When they die, their heirs inherit the assets with a step-up in basis, wiping out capital gains taxes.

These aren’t secret loopholes—they’re right there in the tax code. But no one teaches them to the average American. And let’s be honest, your financial advisor probably isn’t using them either.

So what about finding a fiduciary? Yes, you might find one eventually. But not the kind you’re thinking of.

A real fiduciary isn’t someone with a title or certification. A real fiduciary is someone who puts your interests first, no matter what.

That person is you. You will always be the best fiduciary for your family. Not your broker. Not your bank. Not the government. And definitely not a corporation whose job is to squeeze every last penny for shareholders.

So use the tax breaks in the Big Beautiful Bill. Take advantage while they last. But don’t stop there.

Learn the rules. Study the strategies. Think like the wealthy. Because no one else is coming to save you. And no one will protect your financial future like you will.

If you’re looking for a fiduciary, you found one. Just look in the mirror.

Mark J. Quann, author of Be Smart Pay Zero Taxes: Use the Buy, Borrow, Die Strategy to Get Rich and Stay Rich.