Buy, Borrow, Die: The Wealth Strategy Cheat Sheet
The 3‑step framework wealthy families use to access cash without creating taxable income, mapped to every income level so you can see exactly where you fit.
- How to borrow against assets you already own instead of selling them
- Why borrowed funds are generally not taxable income, and the rules that keep it that way
- Step‑up in basis: how decades of unrealized gains can be eliminated at transfer
- Income‑level breakdown so you know what applies to you
Inside the cheat sheet
Buy
Which assets qualify and what you probably already own
Borrow
How borrowed funds can provide cash without creating taxable income
Die
The step‑up in basis that can eliminate decades of unrealized gains
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Who this is for
If any of these sound like you, the cheat sheet will click immediately.
Business owners ($1M–$10M)
You own property, equipment, or a growing business, and most ways of pulling cash out create a tax bill.
Real estate investors
You have equity sitting in properties but keep selling to access it, losing chunks to capital gains and recapture.
High‑income professionals
Physicians, attorneys, and executives with investment accounts and no strategy for accessing wealth tax‑efficiently.
The 3 steps, simplified
Buy, Borrow, Die isn't complicated. It's just never been explained to you in plain English.
Buy
- Own assets that appreciate over time
- Commercial property, rentals, your business, brokerage accounts
- Stop selling every time you need cash
Borrow
- Use assets as collateral for a line of credit
- Borrowed money is generally not taxable income
- The asset keeps compounding while you use the cash
Die (the step‑up)
- Assets receive a stepped‑up basis at death
- Decades of unrealized gains can be eliminated under current law
- Heirs inherit at current market value, legally
How this was prepared
Prepared from primary sources
Educational tax content prepared by HavenStone Advisory, a CPA-led firm, and grounded in the primary sources listed here. It is not individualized tax, legal, accounting, investment, or financial advice. Rules can change, and your facts matter, so confirm decisions with your CPA, attorney, or tax advisor before acting.
Prepared by HavenStone Advisory
See our editorial policy or report a correction.
Primary references
- IRS Publication 551 - Basis of Assets
- IRS Topic No. 409 - Capital Gains and Losses
- IRS Estate and Gift Taxes
Review standard
- Primary-source references checked where rule-specific claims are made.
- Article scope limited to educational information unless a client engagement exists.
- Time-sensitive tax rules labeled with published, updated, or reviewed dates.
Continue planning
Full Buy, Borrow, Die Breakdown
Read the companion article with examples, risks, and business-owner context.
Entity Structure Matrix
Compare entity choices before changing owner pay, distributions, or asset planning.
Business Tax Strategy
Work with a CPA-led team to validate tax strategy against your actual facts.
Frequently asked
Quick answers about the cheat sheet, the strategy, and how to use it.
Stop selling assets every time you need cash
Download the cheat sheet, see where you fit, and start building a plan that keeps your wealth compounding while you access cash.