Free Cheat Sheet
Buy, Borrow, Die: The Wealth Strategy Cheat Sheet
The 3‑step framework wealthy families use to access cash without triggering a tax bill — mapped to every income level so you can see exactly where you fit.
- • How to use assets you already own as tax‑free cash sources
- • The borrowing rules that keep the IRS out of the picture
- • Step‑up in basis: how decades of gains vanish 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 to access cash without triggering income tax
Die
The step‑up in basis that wipes decades of 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 every time you need cash, you trigger 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.
Step 1: Buy
- • Own assets that appreciate over time
- • Commercial property, rentals, your business, brokerage accounts
- • Stop selling every time you need cash
Step 2: Borrow
- • Use assets as collateral for a line of credit
- • Borrowed money is not taxable income
- • The asset keeps compounding while you use the cash
Step 3: Die (the step‑up)
- • Assets receive a stepped‑up basis at death
- • Decades of unrealized gains are wiped clean
- • Heirs inherit at current market value — legally
Related video
Buy, Borrow, Die — The Full Breakdown
Every time you need money from your business, you trigger a tax bill. This video breaks down the 3‑step framework the wealthiest families use to access cash without handing the IRS a cut — and how it applies to business owners at $1M–$10M.
Editorial review
Reviewed for tax accuracy
Educational tax content prepared by HavenStone Advisory and reviewed for technical accuracy. 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.
Reviewed by Mia Anne Pham Reeves, CPA
See our editorial policy or report a correction.
Verify reviewer CPA license through TSBPAPrimary 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 handing the IRS a cut every time you need cash
Download the cheat sheet, see where you fit, and start building a plan that keeps your wealth working for you — not the tax man.