With only two months left in 2025, proactive tax planning can make a sizable difference in your long‑term wealth.  Recent tax law changes – particularly the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB) – offer new planning opportunities, while familiar year‑end tactics such as retirement contributions and Roth conversions remain powerful.  Below is a curated digest of the most important strategies from trusted sources to help you thrive beyond taxes this week.

1  Understand the 2025 Tax Landscape

• Higher standard deduction & adjusted brackets.  The OBBB permanently increases the standard deduction to $31,500 for married couples filing jointly and $15,750 for single filers in 2025irs.gov. It also retains the lower Tax‑Cuts‑and‑Jobs‑Act brackets, creating more headroom before reaching higher marginal rates.
• Plan early and often.  Fidelity’s Viewpoints reminds investors that updated brackets and expanded savings opportunities make 2025 a good time to revisit one’s tax planfidelity.com. Maximizing deductions, credits and tax‑smart investing throughout the year can lead to meaningful savings.

2  Top Year‑End Moves (Schwab)

Charles Schwab’s “Tax‑Saving Moves You Can Make Before Year‑End” (Oct 10 2025) offers practical to‑dosschwab.com:

• Take required minimum distributions (RMDs).  Taxpayers who reached age 73 in 2025 must take their first RMD by April 1 2026; failing to withdraw enough by the end of the year could trigger a 25 % penaltyschwab.com. Plan distributions early so you don’t accidentally push yourself into a higher bracket.
• Maximize retirement contributions.  For 2025, 401(k) contribution limits are $23,500, with an additional $7,500 catch‑up for those 50+ (and up to $11,250 catch‑up for ages 60‑63)schwab.com. Funding your plan reduces current taxable income and leverages tax‑advantaged growth.
• Consider Roth conversions.  Converting part of a traditional IRA to a Roth can lock in tax‑free growth.  Schwab notes you should convert only enough to stay within your current tax bracketschwab.com; for example, a single filer earning $180,000 in 2025 can convert roughly $17,300 before moving into the 32 % bracketschwab.com.

3  New SALT Cap Opportunities (Kiplinger)

A standout provision of the OBBB is the four‑fold increase in the state‑and‑local‑tax (SALT) deduction cap, from $10,000 to $40,000 in 2025 (with 1 % annual increases)kiplinger.com.  Kiplinger’s July 2025 article explains how to use non‑grantor trusts to multiply this benefit:

• Multiply deductions across trusts. Each non‑grantor trust is a separate taxable entity with its own SALT cap; placing income‑producing assets (e.g., rental property or investment portfolios) into multiple trusts can allow each to claim the full cap, provided the trust’s AGI stays below $500,000kiplinger.com.  A taxpayer with three rental properties could potentially deduct $120,000 (three × $40,000) instead of being limited to $10,000kiplinger.com.
• Manage AGI with distributions. If a trust’s AGI approaches the $500k limit, distributions to beneficiaries can keep it under the thresholdkiplinger.com.  This strategy must be carefully coordinated with estate‑planning goals; consult your CPA and attorney before implementing.

4  Wealthrive Perspective: Bringing It Together

In the spirit of Wealthrive’s storytelling, imagine “Jordan,” a high‑income entrepreneur considering a large liquidity event.  By layering the strategies above, Jordan could:

• Maximize pre‑sale retirement contributions to reduce taxable income this year.
• Use the higher standard deduction and lower brackets to minimize immediate tax hit.
• Defer or stagger income through installment sales or structured exits (as highlighted in previous Wealthrive articles) to control when tax is recognized.
• Create non‑grantor trusts for rental properties and multiply SALT deductions, reducing state and local tax liabilities while also addressing estate‑planning goals.
• Evaluate a Roth conversion in years when taxable income is lower (for instance, after an installment sale defers gain).

Final Thoughts

Tax strategy isn’t a one‑size‑fits‑all checklist; it’s a lens through which every financial decision should be viewed.  The OBBB has opened a window of opportunity—higher standard deductions, preserved TCJA brackets and a generous SALT cap—while evergreen tactics like retirement contributions and Roth conversions remain essential.  To navigate these decisions effectively, coordinate early with your Wealthrive advisor and your CPA.  As always, this newsletter is for educational purposes only; consult qualified professionals for personalized advice.