Taxes were uppermost in mind in the following talk by the co-founder of Wealthrive and Freedom Family Office. He spoke at this publication's Family Office Investment Forum of last week.

One of the speakers at last week’s Family Wealth Report Family Office Investment Forum, Peter Culver, discussed efficient tax management for investors. Culver, JD, is co-founder of Freedom Family Office and Wealthrive. 

In the following presentation, Culver shifted the conversation away from traditional portfolio performance and toward an equally critical, often underutilized, pillar of wealth creation: strategic tax minimization.

A new lens on wealth management
Culver opened with a compelling premise: while portfolio management is a cornerstone of wealth building, an equally powerful lever exists in managing and reducing tax exposure.

“Designing successful portfolios creates wealth,” he told the audience. “But so does not overpaying taxes and, in some cases, not paying them at all.”

With decades of experience advising high net worth families and entrepreneurs, his firms – Freedom Family Office and Wealthrive – work at the intersection of investment strategy and proactive wealth coaching. Their remit: helping clients minimize taxes, managing generational transitions, and making smarter long-term financial decisions that extend beyond the balance sheet.

The tax drag on compounding: A hidden threat
Using a simple example, Culver illustrated how taxes erode the compounding power of investments. He showed a scenario where an investor doubles their money but loses 25 per cent of the gain to taxes – resulting in a far smaller end result over time. “Over 15 iterations, that drag results in twice the money for the tax-aware investor,” he emphasized. “That’s not hypothetical – it’s math.”

This led into the broader thesis: family offices and investors should view tax strategy not as compliance, but as a form of alpha. Where investment alpha is uncertain and market dependent, tax alpha can be engineered in advance – guaranteed through smart structuring.

Structuring for tax-free growth: The case for PPLI
The presentation centered on one of the most powerful tools in tax strategy today: Private Placement Life Insurance (PPLI). This advanced structure allows accredited investors to place assets inside an insurance policy, thereby shielding them from income, capital gains, and estate taxes.

“Life insurance isn’t about death,” Culver clarified. “It’s about creating a vehicle where your investments grow tax-free, distributions are tax-free, and even intergenerational wealth transfers can be made tax-free.”

A compelling case study underscored his point. A California business owner planned to sell his company for $10 million. Before the sale, he moved ownership into a PPLI policy.  As a result, he avoided approximately $5 million in capital gains tax. Post-sale, his investment activity continues within the policy – untaxed. He has taken tax-free withdrawals when needed and structured the policy inside a dynasty trust, ensuring estate tax immunity for future generations.

This strategy, Culver noted, is particularly valuable for family offices managing alternative investments – real estate, private credit, venture capital – where turnover and high current income often trigger high tax exposure. PPLI not only defers this impact but eliminates it altogether when structured correctly.

Tax equity Investing: Reallocating tax dollars for return
Peter then introduced a broader category; tax strategies. These are tax equity investments – approaches that allow individuals to redirect tax obligations into higher returning opportunities.

1. Leveraged charitable deductions
In this structure, investors donate tangible goods (such as commodities) rather than cash to charity. These goods are acquired at a discount, allowing donors to obtain deductions more than their cost basis. One example involved a client who donated $75,000 worth of agricultural seeds but received a $300,000 deduction – translating into over $140,000 in tax savings and an 87 per cent return on investment. “It’s legal, repeatable, and efficient,” Culver said. “And it can be done annually.”

2. Solar investment tax credits
The Inflation Reduction Act has made solar infrastructure one of the most tax-favorable investment categories in the US. Investors can capture substantial credits and accelerated depreciation. Peter shared cases from Ohio, California and New York where clients turned six-figure tax obligations into profitable solar investments. “This is what we mean by tax equity – you’re investing in something real and receiving better-than-market returns in the process,” he said.

Eliminating capital gains: A sophisticated overlay
Culver’s final example was a strategy solution for eliminating capital gains taxes altogether.

Using a structure based on foreign currency trading that generates tax losses, this strategy can neutralize capital gains in a given tax year.

In one example, a client with $30 million in ordinary income from a business exit faced a $15 million tax liability. With the use of this strategy – alongside others presented – he was able to eliminate his tax bill completely.

“This is not a fit for everyone,” Culver cautioned, “but for the right client, in the right circumstances, it’s transformative.”

A call to action: Think beyond compliance
Culver closed his presentation with a challenge to the room: “If your wealth strategy begins and ends with what your CPA tells you in March or April, you’re missing the real opportunity.”

He stressed the importance of year-round tax planning, integrated alongside investment management and estate planning. “This is where the best family offices are headed – toward a model that incorporates legal structure, tax efficiency, and capital deployment into one cohesive plan.”

For attendees interested in diving deeper, Peter invited them to scan the session’s QR code to access white papers, contact his team, or schedule a private consultation.

Peter Culver, JD, is the co-founder of Freedom Family Office and Wealthrive. With a background in law and over four decades of experience advising entrepreneurs and high net worth families, Culver specializes in unlocking the compounding potential of tax efficiency. His firms’ wealth coaching model is designed to help clients create enduring, tax-smart wealth across generations.