Chris Ryan | SMB Wealth & Tax Advisory

Helping small business owners build wealth. Talking taxes, personal finance, building a business, sports, dad life. Posts are not financial advice.

[Chris Ryan | SMB Wealth & Tax Advisory @Chris_Ryan1]

A few new faces on here today, so I thought I’d introduce myself.

I’m Chris Ryan

- 30 years old
- Husband
- Dad to 1 year old baby girl
- Financial advisor
- Started Wealth Advisory practice in ‘22
- Born, raised, now live in New Jersey
- Did a stint in Corp. America for 6 years
- Quit to build a business to help others
- Currently help SMB owners on how to build and keep wealth
- I love to golf, boat, fish, sports, all things outdoors
- Son / grandson to a family of small business owners (me and dad below)
- Played college baseball

Now some building in public:
- Biggest 10 Yr Professional Goal: Have $1Bn+ AUM SMB Wealth Advisory Firm
- Biggest 10 Yr Athletic Goal: < 7 hdcp golf / NYC Marathon
- Biggest 10 Yr Personal Goal: Be a present husband / father

And finally, who am I best suited to help?
- Driven person in Corp. America that wants to make jump to SMB 🇺🇸
- Young Business Owner with family who wants to build wealth and structure
- Pre-Retiree Business Owner looking for Retirement Planning
- Military Veteran that runs SMB looking for Wealth Advisory / Tax Planning
- Private Practice Doctor / Lawyers

I love to help others anyway I can and would love to meet other small business owners and entrepreneurs.

Don’t hesitate to reach out!

[Chris Ryan | SMB Wealth & Tax Advisory @Chris_Ryan1]

My wife loves when I tell this joke at parties…

[Chris Ryan | SMB Wealth & Tax Advisory @Chris_Ryan1]

TAX MYTH I hear way too often: If I fall into a 32% tax bracket, all of my income will be taxed at 32%.

This is not true.

How Are Federal Income Taxes Calculated?

Federal income taxes are progressive, meaning you are taxed at different rates on portions (brackets) of your income rather than a flat rate on your total earnings.

Let’s illustrate using the 2025 tax year for a single filer with $230,000 in income:

First $11,925 taxed at 10% → $1,193
Next $36,550 taxed at 12% → $4,386
Next $54,875 taxed at 22% → $12,072
Next $93,950 taxed at 24% → $22,548
Final $32,700 taxed at 32% → $10,464

Total Federal Tax Liability: $50,663

Effective Tax Rate: 22.0%

Even though your marginal tax rate is 32%, your effective tax rate (the actual percentage of your total income paid in federal taxes) is 22.0%.

Need help with tax preparation this tax season?

I am taking on new clients if you need assistance.

[Chris Ryan | SMB Wealth & Tax Advisory @Chris_Ryan1]

@NotGoKGreen @hi_samslist Great video - i love #3😂

[Chris Ryan | SMB Wealth & Tax Advisory @Chris_Ryan1]

@BPindulic Will be there!

[Chris Ryan | SMB Wealth & Tax Advisory @Chris_Ryan1]

@resetbasis No one is coming to save you - the sooner you realize this the better off you’ll be

[Chris Ryan | SMB Wealth & Tax Advisory @Chris_Ryan1]

@SMB_Attorney Also - are gif’s still a thing?

[Chris Ryan | SMB Wealth & Tax Advisory @Chris_Ryan1]

@SMB_Attorney Thank you - the ole ‘but the average millionaire has seven streams of income’ is 🗑️ advice

[Chris Ryan | SMB Wealth & Tax Advisory @Chris_Ryan1]

@jamesonhaslam 🫡🫡 what a story sir

[Chris Ryan | SMB Wealth & Tax Advisory @Chris_Ryan1]

@sodacitysimpson That’s awesome

[Chris Ryan | SMB Wealth & Tax Advisory @Chris_Ryan1]

@AdviserCounsel Good stuff Max!

[Chris Ryan | SMB Wealth & Tax Advisory @Chris_Ryan1]

Another masterclass by Woody Johnson on what NOT to do as a leader of an organization:

Pretty insane comments to make about someone on your own football team, let alone the QB you signed for $40 million this past offseason. I wonder what players think when they see this.

[Ari Meirov @MySportsUpdate]

#Jets owner Woody Johnson: "It’s hard when you have a quarterback with the rating that we’ve got. ... If you look at any head coach with a quarterback like that, you’re going to see similar results. ...If we can just complete a pass, it would look good."

[Chris Ryan | SMB Wealth & Tax Advisory @Chris_Ryan1]

@TrumpOwnsNYY Man - I really hate how accurate this is

[Chris Ryan | SMB Wealth & Tax Advisory @Chris_Ryan1]

@anothercohen @pinpulleddrmf is the best - if helicopter rides and smoked meats are your thing, he's your guy

[Chris Ryan | SMB Wealth & Tax Advisory @Chris_Ryan1]

@trentjhughes @TheNathanRuff @johnny_lam_ @theandreflores @mattrbowles @LukeKSanford @meow Appreciate the shout out Trenton and thank you for your trust!

[Chris Ryan | SMB Wealth & Tax Advisory @Chris_Ryan1]

Dam, that’s a great question. This is why client acquisition is so, so hard in wealth management. I honestly would expect with 200+ people contacted, that atleast a few to have a conversation with you, and of those, a few become clients.

Obviously the messaging isn’t resonating with the recipients for some reason - I’m assuming for one of a few reasons:

1.) the offer is too generic
2.) your story isn’t compelling (to that target)
3.) the personalized letter / your message is too salesy (which I doubt as I would take a meeting if someone put in that much effort)
4.) they don’t see the value in that second opinion - what will they gain from having a conversation with you?

Cold outreach is tough in any forum but I would keep trying it but shift from ‘a 2nd opinion’ to relationship building OR a more specific offer (aka what benefit they would get out of that conversation)

I have tried everything under the sun the last three years, what’s worked best for me? Refining my value proposition, taxes are more top of mind for SMB owners than financial planning (most hear fin planning and think insurance or asset mgmt), building as many genuine relationships as possible, lean into referrals from my existing network.

Nobody wakes up in a cold sweat saying I need a financial plan.

How much do you lean into your existing network? It sounds like the letters are true cold outreach.

I respect what you are building - it’s hard, very hard. Keep going!

[Chris Ryan | SMB Wealth & Tax Advisory @Chris_Ryan1]

@privatWealthGuy Great post

[Chris Ryan | SMB Wealth & Tax Advisory @Chris_Ryan1]

@STLChrisH Very very solid

[Chris Ryan | SMB Wealth & Tax Advisory @Chris_Ryan1]

@FortWayneCPA Your advice on upskilling, being thoughtful on spending are quality in any market environment.

[Chris Ryan | SMB Wealth & Tax Advisory @Chris_Ryan1]

I think you do a good job highlighting *potential* risks in the economy.

BUT these things are extremely hard to predict, let alone their impact on the economy or the stock market (which are two totally different things)

There could be a situation that plays out where you could be 100% correct in your predictions but the positive catalysts outweigh the negative and the S&P500 marches higher.

What are SOME of the positive *potential* catalysts?

1.) increased US GDP growth driven by increased efficiency (AI)
2.) $7 Trillion sitting in money market funds that will be adversely impacted by rate cuts, those assets need to go somewhere (I realize money markets will always have a place)
3.) Deregulation leading to more innovation
4.) reopening of capital markets (increased M&A, IPO’s)
5.) Increased liquidity across asset classes (example: private assets becoming more accessible to retail)

I have no idea what will happen (no one does), but helpful to weigh both sides of the coin.

[Chris Ryan | SMB Wealth & Tax Advisory @Chris_Ryan1]

@charliewrich @HarrisFanaroff