Episode Details
Back to EpisodesEp.368 You Might Be Overpaying Taxes Every Time You Sell an Investment
Description
Most investors lose money to taxes without ever noticing. Not because they made a bad trade, but because they accepted the default.
When you sell stocks, many brokerages automatically use FIFO. Oldest shares sold first. Those usually have the biggest gains. Bigger gains mean bigger taxes.
There is a quieter, smarter option: Specific Identification.
It lets you choose exactly which shares you sell. Sell the newer lots with smaller gains, and you legally reduce the tax hit. Same investment. Different outcome.
This isn’t aggressive. It’s intentional.
Today’s Move: Log into your brokerage settings. Look for “cost basis” or “lot selection.” Make sure you can choose which shares get sold before your next trade.
Stop donating extra money to the tax system just because a default told you to.