Familiar is not the same as know.

Familiar means you've heard of it. Understand means you can explain how it works. Know means you've done it, many times, and seen where it breaks. Most money advice online is familiar-level. Before acting on an idea, ask the person sharing it which level they're speaking from.

Why it matters

The cost of acting on familiar-level advice shows up years later, usually in an audit letter or a messy cleanup.

Example

A friend says 'just put your kids on payroll.' Your CPA knows the age limits, the entity rules and the paperwork. One of them has done it a hundred times.

Take this to your CPA

1. Have you set this up for other clients like me?
2. Where have you seen this go wrong?
3. What would make this a bad idea for me?

These are my opinions, not gospel. Take this to a CPA who cares about you.