As a tax practitioner, a mom, a business owner, and a steward of financial legacies, I read legislation with more than my eyes. I read with my heart. So, when I look at the One Big Beautiful Bill, I don’t just see legislation.  I see faces. The small business owner delaying succession planning out of fear. The immigrant entrepreneur deciphering tax rules in their second language. The single mother quietly investing in her child’s future. These aren’t abstractions. They are the people I have spent more than two decades serving.

I’m reading as a trusted advisor who’s walked alongside countless clients during moments of uncertainty, transition, and hope.

When I approach a new bill like this, I’m scanning for more than just the technical changes. I’m asking: 

Does this support thoughtful planning? 

Does it help people make informed, empowered choices? 

Will it simplify things or further obscure? 

Does it offer opportunity or just outline obligation? 

I’m looking for signs that the system is shifting towards one that supports everyday decision-makers.  

Here’s what stands out to me most, not just as a seasoned tax practitioner, mom of two, and small business owner, but as someone deeply invested in how policy shapes legacies. 

Clarity, Not Complexity

For the first time in a while, I don’t feel like I’m translating riddles. This bill takes aim at ambiguity and wins a few rounds.  As someone who’s spent 20+ years translating complicated, ambiguous government-speak into challenging real-world choices for families and business owners, I appreciate this more than I can say. Whether it’s the new standardized treatment for pass-through entities or the improved transparency around deferral elections, this bill brings breathing room to a profession that’s too often stuck explaining the inexplicable.

What Keeps Me Up at Night

While there’s much to admire in the Big Beautiful Bill, I’d be remiss not to voice what keeps me up at night. I live through the bottlenecks of an already overstretched IRS… painfully long hold times, undertrained staff, legacy systems that don’t cross-communicate, and outdated technology that can’t keep up. Sadly, this bill says little about how we modernize the actual machinery behind the tax system.

Let’s be honest: when the IRS needs something from a taxpayer, there’s pressure to respond immediately. However, when it’s the taxpayer in need, whether facing a deadline, a hardship, or a business decision hanging in the balance, the IRS often operates on its own timeline, immune from urgency or accountability.

Now imagine this same system, under-resourced and overburdened, being tasked with implementing a 900-page overhaul of the tax code. New forms, new laws, new interpretations some of which take effect as early as the next filing season. With no meaningful investment in staffing or infrastructure, the agency will be forced to scramble. Unfortunately, it’s the practitioners, trusted advisors and taxpayers who will feel the squeeze first.

Legacy Made Livable

One section, in particular, nearly made me tear up: expanded and simplified provisions for intergenerational wealth transfers. As a mom, I think about my children’s future constantly.  It’s not just about what they’ll inherit, but the kind of world they’ll inherit it in. This bill gives a boost to folks who plan ahead instead of seeking clever loopholes. That’s the kind of down-to-earth, responsible planning I believe in.

Support for Small Firms Doing Big Work

The updated Safe Harbor thresholds for accounting services? A quiet win with a huge ripple effect. Boutique firms like mine don’t have vast compliance departments.  We have grit, relationships, and pride in our craftsmanship. This provision recognizes that, and it shows that Washington finally sees us not as gatekeepers, but as advisors helping real people thrive in a complex system.

What I Tell My Clients

I’ve started telling my clients: “This bill doesn’t just change the rules.  It respects your hustle.” It’s crafted to benefit small business owners by investing in their businesses for legacy planning while benefiting from tax breaks.   Whether you’re selling your business, gifting assets to your kids, or trying to decipher your first K-1, you deserve a system that rewards care and planning. The Big Beautiful Bill moves us closer to that.

‍The Big Beautiful Bill isn’t perfect. No legislation ever is. But as someone who’s spent a career helping people bridge the gap between policy and personal impact, I can say this: It’s a step in the right direction. For those of us who measure success, not just in tax savings, but in peace of mind… that step is worth celebrating!

So, what should you do next? 

Start by acknowledging that this bill, while promising, is still complex. But you don’t have to navigate it alone. Now is the time to build your “family office” of trusted advisors. Let’s be honest: your relationships should be grounded in more than just transactions. You deserve to feel seen, heard, and secure.

If you’re unsure how this legislation might impact your succession planning, charitable giving, investments, or compliance, start the conversation. This isn’t just about taxes - it’s about peace of mind, thoughtful preparation, and staying proactive in a changing world.

That’s how legislation becomes legacy.