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Financial literacy for youngsters 2026
Financial Literacy Coaching
The 6-week Smart Youth with Smart Finance Boot Camp, prepared for the kids this summer, will begin on July 23rd. Please register as soon as possible.
The classes taught by instructor @Mike Nie, Smart Finance are incredibly popular. This course is exceptionally well-designed; in addition to learning how to build wealth, the kids will get hands-on experience designing their own college tuition plans.
This is the only session being offered this year. Do not miss out!
(All registered students will receive a free copy of Instructor Mike's newly published book, "A FLY Guide to Real Estate: Owning and Managing Property When You’re Under 25 with a Parental Guide to Financial Freedom").
Meaningful and Powerful Contents
1 College Cost Gameplan: 10 real-world strategies to afford your higher education
2 Ten FLY rules that benefit you lifetime: e.g., no money, no honey. Uncle Sam is not your uncle
3 Campus Rental Strategy (co-taught by Chris Nie and Kevin Nie): How to use OPM secret to create passive income
4 Minor Roth IRA: From first paycheck to millionaire habits
5 Ten things your CPA advises you to do by the age of 18: personal brokerage account, personal budget tool and personal living trust
6 HSAs for Young Adults: How to triple-tax shelter your health & wealth
7 Cash Value Life Insurance: Contribute to your "family bank" with properly structured policies
8 Power of Compound Interest: Buy, Borrow and Build strategy to perpetuate your wealth
9 Trump Account and Trump IRA
10 AI era career planning. By Sasha, Olesia, Gabe and Nick
Prior Years' FLY Feedback
1. [ThumbsUp]该讲座提出的想法和操作令我感到耳目一新，具有很强的启发性。我尤其喜欢案例教学法，而且注明税法出处的做法很对我的胃口，授人以渔嘛。由于小孩已是高中最后一年，我希望如果能早几年学到就好了。
2. [ThumbsUp]Thank you so much for your email and the replay. I learned so much for you. I have 4 kids, oldest one is 13 and youngest one is only 3. Can we hire you as our consultant to help us plan? My husband only speaks English. He has no idea that there ways to help with reducing the college tuition. I tried to explain to him but my knowledge was too limited and could not convince him.
3. [ThumbsUp]I was very impressed by your four outstanding kids - you have taught them well! We need to learn from you.
4. [ThumbsUp]Mike, It was very good, your children are amazing and very knowledgeable ! You are a great parent too !
5. [ThumbsUp]我喜欢你教孩子们的方式，向你学习。也谢谢你让我对数字货币有了不一样的认识。
6. [ThumbsUp]Mike老师的上一期课（Smart Tax Planning for Young Pros ) 针对刚进入职场的年轻人，在平台推出，之后，受到了广泛欢迎。 课程深入探讨了对年轻人特别有操作性的税务规划，包括创业，各项省税办法，副业，401K/Roth/HSA, 保险，房产投资，cryptocurrency， 家庭基金会等等。Mike 老师并在平台举办了三次大型免费公益讲座， 每次Zoom Room 都爆满
7. [ThumbsUp]Very good . The more I attending your class , the more I learn knowledges, the more I set mind settings to financial awareness
8. [ThumbsUp]Career coaching: I am deeply grateful for your guidance and for sharing this information. Accumulating knowledge and being proactive are key elements to success.
9. Hey Mike, well this year I have even more to be thankful for because God put you into our life. May He bless you with happiness and health this holiday season. Happy Thanksgiving!
10. [ThumbsUp]Mike, you are so famous and do great job on training next generation wealth management skills
11. [ThumbsUp]Your passion and knowledge will help more people if you connect with Tgreat platform!
12. [ThumbsUp]I’m very happy with Mike’s tax planning service. He is professional, knowledgeable, always put his client interests first, and always make himself available when I need advice. With his help this year, I saved more than 20% of my tax.
New book in 2026! A FLY Guide to Real Estate
FLY - Financial Literacy for Young Pros
A FLY Guide to Real Estate: Owning and Managing Property When You’re Under 25 contains 20+ chapters, four case studies, and over 280 pages.
SMART Life Family Foundation decides to give young pros (age 18 to 25) a paper copy or eBook for FREE.
- This charitable effort is toward all young pros in this age group to learn money, life skills, and taxes.
- This educational product is to inspire more young pros to be financially knowledgeable, fiscally disciplined, and career focused.
- This FLY book is one of the series co-authored by SMART Life Family Foundation board members and friends.
- This offer stops at the first 100 FLYers.
Order a paper print or ebook: A FLY Guide to Real Estate: Owning and Managing Property When You’re Under 25 with a Parental Guide to Financial Freedom (Financial Literacy for Young People (FLY)): Nie, Mike, Nie, Chris, Nie, Kevin: 9781966261155: Amazon.com: Books
FLY With Parental Guide to Financial Freedom
FLY Guide to Real Estate is the first book of Financial Literacy for Young people (FLY) book series. It is a guide that teaches young adults how to achieve early homeownership and build long-term wealth using real estate, tax planning, and disciplined financial habits. Through the real stories of Chris and Kevin Nie—who both bought homes at age 18—the book explains why real estate is a powerful wealth pillar, how leverage amplifies returns, and how young people can use low down payments, campus rentals, and tax benefits to accelerate financial independence before age 25. It also introduces the four major wealth pillars: stocks, cash-value life insurance, real estate, and crypto, showing how they balance risk and growth.
How to Order this FREE book?
Pre-Order (Closed as of 3/31/2026). Over 70 young professionals will receive our FREE book.
Join the FLY Book #1 Preorder Community!
Note to parents: You are welcome to order with my autographed paper copy ($49) by PayPal to help@Smart1040.us
Early Praise from Dr. Thomas Forbang
“Real wealth is not built by comfort, shortcuts, or entitlement. It is built through discipline, patience, and the willingness to do hard things early in life. Become a Homeowner and Real Estate Investor Before 25 delivers this message clearly and honestly. This book does not promise easy money or quick wins. Instead, it challenges young people to think long-term, take responsibility, and build real assets step by step.
I have spent my life training the body, the mind, and the spirit. The same principles apply to building wealth. You must show up consistently, respect the fundamentals, and accept discomfort as part of growth. This book does exactly that. It gives young readers a practical path to ownership while reminding them that character, effort, and education matter just as much as money.
If more young people followed the mindset taught in this book, we would see fewer handouts and more hands raised to build, learn, and lead. This is the kind of financial education our next generation needs.”
— Dr. Thomas Forbang, Ph.D. | Real Estate Developer | IT Consultant | 2018 National & International USA Yoga Champion
New BOok Release: Smart Family Tax Guide
The Smart Family Tax Guide: 101 Ways to Keep More of What You Earn
Tired of paying too much in taxes and feeling like the system is stacked against you? The Smart Family Tax Guide: 101 Ways to Keep More of What You Earn is your go-to guide for keeping more of your hard-earned money. Written in plain language and filled with real-life examples, this book empowers working families with practical strategies—from deductions and credits to smart retirement moves and tax-free accounts.
Mike Nie: Smart Family Tax Guide — Gifted Life Coaching
Want to read a sample chapter? Document Center
Tax Planning Around Family Foundation
This book is divided into five key parts, each targeting a cornerstone of middle-class financial empowerment: financial vision board, retirement and family legacy plan, family small business, family real estate investment, and family foundation.
Five Chapters Dedicated to Family Foundation
Chapter 22: Building Our Family Foundation: How We Turned Giving into a Legacy of Love,
Leadership, and Lasting Impact ................................................................................................... 160
Chapter 23: Hearts That Give—How to Turn Charitable Giving into a Legacy of Hope ...... 166
Chapter 24: Secrets Behind the 990-PF: 10 Dos and 10 Don'ts of Filing a Family Foundation
Tax Return ................................................................................................................... 174
Chapter 25: IRS Audit Red Flags — Real Stories from Family Foundations ........................ 181
Chapter 26: The Three-Legged Table: How We Built a Family Foundation Portfolio That
Could Survive Anything .................................................................................................... 186
Case Study 4: The Zhang Family’s Vision Board Report – 2024 ..................................... 191
How to Order?
$20 to request an autographed copy to cover printing shipping and handling costs:
- Zelle: 703-606-0270 Smart 1040
- Venmo: @Mike-Nie-CPA
- PayPal: help@Smart1040.us
annual vision board exercise toward young pros
SMART Coaching
Smart Life Family Foundation hosts its annual vision board exercise toward young pros!
Date: Sunday, 2/16/2025 3-7 pm Eastern
Address: 2726 Gallows Road Game Room Vienna VA 22180
Parking: Free parking across the street at Harris Teeter grocery store garage
SMART Goal Setting
Coach Mike will cover (1) goal setting for young people through vision board; (2) Coach Mike and Chris share their vision boards in 2024 and 2025; and (3) Coach Mike, Chris and Kevin talk about FIRE strategy (Financial Independence and Retire Early) related tax planning.
SMART Life Family Foundation Grant Program
SMART Grant
We are actively seeking an IRS approval under the IRS Section 4945(g)(1). We will update all the applicants and candidates timely.
SMART Goals
The purpose of the grant is to align with the mission statement of SMART Life, i.e.,
a. Sustainability related science and life styles;
b. Masterful public speaking;
c. Active career building;
d. Responsible family and community members; and
e. Thoughtful and faithful leaders. The acronym is SMART.
SMART Life
Therefore, the grant is to improve or enhance the recipient’s literary, artistic, musical, scientific, faith pursuing, or other similar skillset and capacity that ultimately benefit the society and general public and that fit into the SMART categories.
Smart Youth Vision Board event 1/19/2025
Create A Self-Manifesting Vision Board
Have you done Vision Boards before, only to have them wind up in your closet along with all those Christmas presents, exercise tools and personal electronics that seemed great during the Holidays? Rev Jim Webb helps you to actually MANIFEST your vision board. Jim uses his book, easy to use guide helps you to understand and use the powerful spiritual principles, and creative spiritual energy that will supercharge your Vision Board into manifestation.
Keynote Guest Speaker Jim Webb
Rev. Jim Webb is an Ordained Interfaith Minister who serves as the Senior Minister of the Takoma Park Chapel in Silver Spring, MD. He has studied and taught metaphysics for over 30 years and lectures and teaches workshops nationally, sharing the wisdom he has received. He has served as a faculty member of Iyanla VanZant's Inner Visions Institute and taught at the New Seminary in New York. In addition to his Masters of Divinity from the New Seminary in New York, Rev.
Webb has a B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School and an MBA from New York University. He has served on the Board of Directors of a Washington DC based AIDS Services Organization and as the Vice President of Marketing for a DC Based information technology firm. His business acumen, spiritual wisdom, and inspiring counseling style have helped countless people to overcome their fears and live with joy, and these experiences combine to help YOU in his latest release "The Soul Of Prosperity".
In addition to his Masters and Doctorate of Divinity from the New Seminary, Rev. Webb has a BS in Economics from the Wharton School and an MBA from New York University. He as served on the Board of Directors of a Washington DC Social Services agency and as the Vice President of an Information technology firm prior to devoting his attention to full-time ministry. His warm, loving demeanor and inspiring counseling style have help countless people to overcome their fears and live with joy.
Jim's website: https://www.revjimwebb.com/
SMART Life Coaching
“Create the highest, grandest vision possible for your life, because you become what you believe.” – Oprah
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/3DILrxqd2lzLgtMZe5hWvjvk16QQeBImsKtlssGXAb1V5pfsJE1oZSfQBD2NwFTu.4WvAE1o7NRxZb0wk
Passcode: VisionBoard25!
SMART Life
A 2025 Vision Board can be an incredibly effective tool for achieving your SMART Life goal.
Here’s how it can help:
1. Clarity of Goals: A vision board provides a clear, visual representation of your financial and lifestyle goals. It might include images of a debt-free life, investment milestones, or the early retirement lifestyle you envision. It helps you prioritize spending, such as cutting expenses, maximizing savings, and building passive income streams.
2. Motivation and Discipline: Seeing visual cues like a beach house, travel destinations, or a debt-free chart can inspire you to stick to your savings and investment plans.
3. Accountability: It reminds you why you're making sacrifices (e.g., skipping unnecessary purchases or working overtime).
4. Tracking Progress: Include progress trackers on the board for goals like savings benchmarks, investment growth, or debt repayment milestones.4. 5. Creative Problem-Solving: Use the vision board to brainstorm strategies for achieving FIRE, like side hustles, optimizing your budget, or new investment opportunities.
sasha speaks at capa mc
Thrive, Not Survive
Sasha Soukhoveev, Chief Coaching Officer at Smart Life Family Foundation and public speaking coach at Speak to Lead LLC, speaks at the youth wellness program as the keynote speaker. The event is hosted by CAPA MC, a 501(c)(3) public charity (https://capamc.org/).
CAPA MC stands for Chinese American Parents Association in Montgomery County, Maryland. CAPA MC has a mission statement to (1) promote Chinese American parent involvement in school communities, (2) advocate on behalf of our students and parents; and (3) establish a strong partnership with all stakeholder to address educational issues and challenges.
A Yoga Champion
CAPA MC sees an increasing need to address the young people mental and physical wellness and resilience issues troubling the MoCo and beyond. The stress, anxiety, isolation and hopelessness have detrimental effect on young people’s quality of life and effectiveness of school work.
Sasha is unquestionably an ideal speaker and demonstrator on this youth health matter. She is a three-time champion of USA Yoga competition for the girl (15-18 age group). She is a Johnson scholar at Washington and Lee University, a prestigious liberal art college, with a major in neuroscience and health related fields. She is a devoted Chrisitan, building hope and peace internally and externally.
Strong Mind; Happy Family
Strong Mind; Happy Family
About Speak to Lead LLC: we are a public speaking and leadership coaching company to build future leaders worldwide. Visit SpeaktoLead.us for our coaching services.
About Smart Life Family Foundation: we are a non profit organization with SMART goals (visit SmartLifeUSA.org for detail).
Disaster Relief for L.A. County Fires 1/2025
Public speaking, tax planning and charitable giving: All in One!
A group of CPAs and FEMA staff talk about how to make donation to the L.A. fire disaster victims and obtain the deserved tax deductions.
Topics
1. Tim Zhao, Giesel and her sister shared their art education (and free classes) to auction youth artwork to raise fund for LA disaster area victims and their children. Their non profit site accepts donation: http://thenyva.org/
2. Youshan shared her CPA knowledge of how to make charitable donation as an individual donor or as a business (S or C Corp)
3. Mei shared FEMA’s resources. Chinese hotline available too.
4. I walked through the IRS pub 526 and 3833: Disaster Relief: Providing Assistance through Charitable Organizations
CAPA NoVA (a 501c3 non profit) raises funds and support LA victims as wel
Zoom Recording
Speakers
Youshan (CPA), Mei (FEMA) and Mike (CPA, CEO Smart Life Family Foundation)
Sponsored and hosted by CAPA (a 501c3 public charity)
Mike Nie Coaches at Youth Leadership Workshop
CAPA NoVA Summer Campus
“A leader is a person who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way.” – John Maxwell
1. Coach Mike provided leadership coaching to a group of high school students
2. Leadership training include (1) Watch Sasha’s interview about leadership in the biblical framework; (2) presidential debate review and leadership critique; and (3) case study of crisis management with a strong leadership (Boeing incident)
Smart Life provided leadership book to students and CAPA.
Vision Board 2024 Exercise (Free to join. FOod provided)
Welcome to Smart Life USA Life Coaching
- Hosted by Smart Life Family Foundation
- Purpose: set up a life goal, live a purposeful and powerful life in 2024, and make a great run in 2024
- Event time: Thursday, December 28, 2023 2-5 p.m. Eastern
- Address: Wilton House conference room, 2726 Gallows Rd, Vienna VA 22180
- Parking: Public parking across the street (near Harris Teether grocery store)
- Contact: Mike Nie, CEO of Foundation at mike@smartlifeusa.org
