Artist Backstory: From Two Unknowns to a Global Brand Before they were the world’s most longest-lasting rock band, The Rolling Stones were a no-name startup. In the early 1960s, it was just Mick Jagger and Keith Richards locked in a bathroom teaching themselves music and writing songs for nothing. No guarantees. No advances worth mentioning. Just grit, repetition, and belief. They weren’t polished like The Beatles. They were raw blues, disruptive, and building something that didn’t yet know its own value. By the late 1960s though, that little startup had become a global blues machine. The hits were stacking up, touring revenue was exploding, and their licensing was scaling. The Stones weren’t just a band anymore- they were a formal business enterprise generating enormous taxable income. That’s when the British government’s tax math changed the game. In 1971, the U.K.’s top tax rates on high earners could approach 83% on income and up to 98% on investment income. Whether those were the exact numbers the Stones were subject to or somewhere in between, one thing was clear: the government was confiscating the majority of what the band earned. So Mick, Keith, and Co. did what any other people of means and mobility would do: they simply packed-up shop and headed to the South of France for far more favorable rates, terms, and temperatures. Like many other high earners in that period, The Rolling Stones became “tax exiles” when they relocated to Nice. Next Problem? Keith Richards rented the Villa Nellcôte where there was no formal studio. Solution? They just rolled in the Stones mobile studio and set-up shop in the basement. What came next were months of chaotic sessions fueled by sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll with a rotating group of musicians holding unpredictable “working” hours. That extravagant rockstar lifestyle (and the magic of studio editing), created the legendary album “Exile on Main St.” Originally birthed from a smart tax decision to producing one of the greatest rock albums of all time. The Financial Lesson: Control the Controllables The Stones didn’t leave England because they hated it. They left because they understood something every entrepreneur eventually learns: You don’t lose a brand to one catastrophic event. You almost always lose it to the preventables. Preventable tax surprises. Preventable legal gaps. Preventable insurance exposures. Preventable “we’ll deal with it later” planning. Today, the Rolling Stones' brand continues to compound: Their 2024 tour alone generated roughly $235 million Catalog value discussions have floated near $500 million Lifetime touring gross exceeds $2.9 billion That doesn’t happen by accident- that happens when you protect the machine. Great brands don’t just create revenue, they learn how to plan for and manage risk. Actionable Takeaways This week, as you start to file your 2025 taxes, I want to you fill your “Lovin’ Cup” with tips straight from the new O3BA bill passed last year. 1. Age 65+? Use the Enhanced Senior Bonus Deduction Marketed as making Social Security “tax free”, this isn’t true but still makes a nice deduction. The OBBBA legislation added an extra $6,000 deduction per eligible taxpayer age 65+, up to $12,000 for married couples, available 2025–2028 (subject to income phaseouts). Marketed as making Social Security “tax free”, this isn’t true, but still makes a nice deduction. Tax Math Example: If you’re in the 24% federal bracket: $6,000 deduction × 24% = $1,440 tax savings Married couple: $12,000 × 24% = $2,880 tax savings That savings can: Fund part of a Roth conversion Offset capital gains Reduce IRA distribution impact 2. “No Tax on Tips and OT” Again, more political marketing as this provision is structured as deductions, not blanket exclusions. OBBBA legislation covers tips up to $25,000 and OT up to $12,500. Let’s say: You earned $10,000 in qualified overtime. Federal income tax bracket = 22%. That deduction saves: $10,000 × 22% = $2,200 federal income tax Important: • Payroll taxes (Social Security/Medicare) may still apply. • Employer reporting must be precise. Translation: Documentation matters more than ever. 3. Charitable Giving: New 2026 Rules Beginning in 2026, non-itemizers can deduct: $1,000 (single) $2,000 (married filing jointly) If you're in the 24% bracket: $2,000 deduction = $480 federal tax savings ...and for High-Income Planning Strategy: If you’re over 70½, consider using the Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD): Up to $111,000 per year Goes directly from IRA to 501(c)(3) Satisfies Required Minimum Distribution Avoids taxable income inclusion Gifting Example: $50,000 QCD at 32% bracket avoids $16,000 in federal tax. That’s real money saved. 4. “Trump Accounts” and how to get your free $1,000! For eligible U.S. citizen children born between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2028: One-time $1,000 federal seed contribution Account registration required Launch date: July 5, 2026 To enroll: Visit trumpaccounts.gov Complete registration File required IRS documentation (Form 4547 when released) How it can work with compounding: $1,000 invested at 8% for 18 years = $4,000 Add $200/month from birth at 8%= $100,000 The earlier you save, the longer compounding works. Get your “Wild Horses” under control. The Stones didn’t record Exile on Main St. in France because it was convenient. They did it because taxes and planning mattered as much as to their successes as their talent. Your goal isn’t to just survive the chaos, it’s to plan so well that it can’t derail you. At Boyer Financial Group, we help clients plan ahead on taxes so they don’t have to be exiled by surprises. Need help? Reach out.