ABOUT THE BOOK
This book is part of the SMART book series, The SMASRT concept stands for strategies to maximize assets and reduce taxes. This book is the first in kind that rigorously studies and applies the SMART family wealth building concept: Buy, Borrow, and Build. It goes far and beyond the existing buy-borrow-die framework.
This book contains three parts:
● Part 1: SMART Family vision board with the BBB mindset. It covers a four-pronged approach for buy-borrow-build: brokerage account in S&P 500 index fund; brokerage account in Berkshire Hathaway Class B (BRK.B); cash value whole life insurance; and real estate portfolio. It uses 50-year data to explain the power and art of diversification and compounding interest.
● Part 2: Four Engines to Power the Buy-Borrow-Build Strategy. It covers (1) securities backed line of credit (SBLOC collateralized by S&P 500 index fund), (2) SBLOC backed by BRK.B, (3) life insurance backed line of credit (IBLOC) backed by big-four whole life insurance companies (Guardian, MassMutual, New York Life, and Northwestern Mutual); and (4) home equity line of credit backed by real estate properties (and HELOC alternatives such as all-in-one loan and debt service coverage ratio loan).
● Part 3: Tax treatment of the loans borrowed under the buy-borrow-build strategy: decode the IRS tax code. It details the IRS interest tracing rule. It provides practical analysis of the IRS interest tracing rule applied in SBLOC, IBLOC, and HELOC. It also updates the readers of how OBBB (One Big Beautiful Bill) integrates well with BBB strategy.
In addition, this book has a companion book, called The SMART Family Wealth Guide: Buy, Borrow, and Build case studies.
EARLY PRAISES
“In an investing world dominated by the traditional advice to buy assets and strive to only pay long-term capital gains taxes, The SMART Family Wealth Guide: Buy, Borrow, and Build offers a refreshingly practical, but almost unknown alternative: Keep the assets working for you and borrow against them instead.
Mike Nie and Olesia Soukhoveev show how strategic, collateralized borrowing through securities backed lines of credit, insurance policy loans, and real estate equity lets families access liquidity without creating a taxable event, while the underlying portfolio continues to compound. The result is a clear, actionable framework that treats debt as a tool for tax-efficient growth and multi-generational wealth.
This book brings the strategies only known by millionaires and billionaires to the everyday investor, and provides the missing thought process, perspective and roadmap.”
- Fred W.
Real Estate Professional | Alternative Investment Expert
“Five big stars for Buy, Borrow, Build, author Mike Nie’s third book on personal finance. In this third installment of Mike’s SMART (Strategies to Maximize Assets and Reduce Taxes) series, Mike offers a comprehensive yet very readable plan for building generational wealth.
Mike has impressive credentials, including CPA, CFA, and CFP designations, but he delivers his message in an approachable way and with plenty of humor: ‘If your wealth plan requires that you watch CNBC every morning, you’re not investing; you’re babysitting.’
This is a book for anyone looking for a thoughtful path forward in their financial journey. Let Buy, Borrow, Build be your compass.”
- Ted G.
Surgeon | Annapolis, MD
“Mike Nie has covered a topic that is not well understood and seems to be off limits to the wealthy only. By systematically approaching this topic using all the building blocks available to general investors, Mike has created an easy to understand resource that all families can deploy with practical tips and examples.
The research on the whole life companies was eye opening for me as was the options to use external banks loans against whole life policies.”
- Aranya G.
General Partner of a Senior Care Business | IT Executive
EXCLUSIVE PERKS FOR EARLY SUPPORTERS
When you buy a ticket to my launch, you’ll receive:
A signed paperback or eBook at publication
A handwritten thank-you note
Your name in the Acknowledgments (“Special Thanks to…”)
Access to my private Author Community for behind-the-scenes updates
Early excerpts, including the Introduction, with a chance to give feedback
A vote on the final book cover and title
A bonus worksheet or toolkit inspired by the book
Exclusive launch event invite (virtual Q&A or celebration)
A sneak peek at future projects and offers
Join this journey—your support means everything!
OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT
Some people may not be able to contribute, but that doesn't mean they can't help:
Please share my book on WeChat, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn with your friends, family, and network. Please use #FinancialLiteracyForYoungPeople #FinancialFreedomForFamilies #BuyHouseUnder25 and tag me as well as my publisher, Gifted Books, so we can help amplify your efforts.
Please recommend my book to five (5) friends, family members, or co-workers who you think would enjoy it via text or direct message on social media.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Mike Nie is a Christian father, tax strategist, and financial educator with over 27 years of experience helping families turn everyday decisions into lifelong opportunities. His experience includes: (1) Audit and Advisory Director at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC (PwC, 10+ years); (2) Audit Inspection Leader at the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (4 years); and (3) Staff Accountant at a federal financial regulatory agency (12+ years). His credentials include Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®), and Enrolled Agent (EA). Other credentials include Financial Risk Manager (FRM®), Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR®), Risk and AI.
As the Owner of Smart 1040 LLC (www.Smart1040.us), Mike specializes in faith-based, family-centered tax planning, with a focus on proactive strategy, not just tax filing. He can be reached at Help@Smart1040.us.
Mike published two books: (1) The SMART Family Tax Guide: 101 Ways to Keep More of What You Earn, and (2) A FLY Guide to Real Estate: Owning and Managing Property When You’re Under 25. The second book was co-authored by his sons, Chris Nie and Kevin Nie. Both books are available on Amazon.com.
Olesia Soukhoveev is a co-author of the Buy, Borrow, and Build Book alongside her stepfather, Mike Nie. She is a 2026 graduate of Washington and Lee University, where she earned her degree in Economics. She holds a life insurance license and currently works as a Financial Analyst at Fisher Autoparts. Olesia is passionate about sharing the financial knowledge she's learned from her life insurance license and her stepfather, Mike Nie, to help younger generations build lasting financial security and prosper for the long run.
Outside of work, Olesia is navigating one of life's biggest milestones: buying her first home straight out of college alongside her fiancé, Nick. Together, they share a full and active life — running, hitting the gym, playing piano, singing in their church choir, dancing, and leading youth ministry side by side. Olesia also treasures time with friends and family and loves to travel.