Context:
In a recent tax planning meeting with a business client, we were reviewing their projected tax liability and discussing entity structure for this year.

What exact question did you ask that made a difference?
“If we reduced your tax bill by $30,000 this year, what would that allow you to do that you can’t do right now?”

What was the question that revealed their Commander’s Intent?
“Three years from now, what does ‘winning’ look like for you personally — not just for the business?”

What is it?
Their real priority was more than minimizing taxes — it was creating enough predictable cash flow to step back from daily operations and spend more time with family while preparing the business for a potential sale, while being confident their tax return filings were not going to get audited.