If you invest in a taxable brokerage account, you’ve probably wondered: Why do two investors with the same market return end up with very different results? The answer is often taxes—and not just in April, but quietly, every year, through “tax drag.” The Tax-Smart Investor is for long-term investors who want to keep more of what they earn without taking more risk, trading more often, or turning investing into a second job.
You’ll learn how to put the right assets in the right accounts (asset location) so your portfolio works smarter by default. You’ll see how tax-loss harvesting can turn ugly market months into future tax savings—without breaking your diversification or triggering wash sales. And you’ll get practical strategies for managing capital gains: choosing the best tax lots to sell, timing sales around holding periods, and raising cash for real life while keeping your plan intact.
What makes this book different is its “do this next” focus. It explains tax concepts in plain language, uses relatable examples, and helps you build repeatable systems—settings, habits, and guardrails—so you can make tax-smart moves confidently, even when markets get messy.
