Here’s the thing. Most of us grew up watching our parents work one job for 30 years, max out their 401k, and hope everything works out by retirement. That was the plan. That was the dream. But if you want to build real wealth in 2026, you need to shift your financial mindset because that old playbook doesn’t work anymore.
I’m Cochise Pryor, and today I want to show you how to actually build wealth instead of just working to pay taxes and bills.
The Old Way is Broken
Our parents could work one steady job, contribute to their IRA over decades, and watch it compound. That was enough. But times have changed. Between remote work, AI automation, and the gig economy, you have more flexibility than ever before. The question is: are you using it?
If you’re still using your personal income to pay all your bills, you’re leaving money on the table. A lot of money.
The Business Advantage You’re Missing
Let me break this down with real numbers because this is where it gets interesting.
Say you’re making $100,000 per year as a W-2 employee. Right now, you’re paying around 22% in federal taxes. That’s $22,000 going straight to Uncle Sam every single year.
Now, what if you started an LLC? Even a simple one on the side.
You could start channeling $60,000 of that income through your business. When you pay yourself through the LLC, that $60,000 becomes a business expense that lowers your W-2 taxable income down to $40,000. Your tax rate drops from 22% to 12% right there.
But it gets better.
On the LLC side, that $60,000 you received can be offset by legitimate business deductions. Home office, supplies, professional development, equipment. After deductions, maybe that $60,000 becomes $50,000 in taxable income. And here’s the kicker: depending on how your business is structured, this can be taxed as capital gains instead of regular income.
The Financial Mindset Bottom Line
Without an LLC: You’re paying $22,000 in taxes on that $100k.
With an LLC: You’re paying closer to $12,000 total.
That’s $10,000 or more staying in your pocket every single year. Money you can invest, save, or use to grow your business even more.
Change Your Mindset, Change Your Life
This isn’t about working harder. It’s about working smarter, changing your financial mindset, and understanding how money actually moves in 2026.
Stop using your personal finances to pay for everything. Start thinking like a business owner. Even if you have a full-time job, there are ways to structure your income that make sense for YOU, not just for the IRS.
We dive deep into strategies like this every single day in the Pryor Financial WhatsApp group. Daily tips, real examples, and a community of people who are actually changing their financial futures.
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Let’s build wealth the right way.