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Your accountant files taxes. We cut them.

Proactive tax planning for real estate professionals, content creators, and tech startups — led by Shawn Choo, EA

Harvard Graduate • Enrolled Agent • 24-Hour Response Guarantee

Most tax professionals show up in April. We work with you year-round to make sure you're not leaving money on the table. Based in San Diego, serving clients nationwide.

Free Consultation Our Services
$15K+
Average tax savings in year one
24hrs
Response guarantee — always
100%
Client retention rate
15+
Years working with modern business models

Sound familiar?

A lot of business owners come to us after years of reactive tax prep. The frustrations are usually the same.

❌ "My accountant doesn't get my business"

Real estate investing, content creation, and platform income have their own tax rules. Generic advice leaves money on the table.

❌ "I only hear from them at tax time"

By the time April rolls around, most of your planning options are gone. Real tax savings happen during the year, not after it.

❌ "I can never get a straight answer"

Questions shouldn't take a week to answer. We guarantee a response within 24 hours — usually same day.

How Real Strategy works differently

We work with you throughout the year — reviewing income, running projections, and making adjustments before deadlines hit. The result: clients typically save $15,000+ in year one and keep finding savings from there.

About Shawn

EA. Harvard grad. 15+ years helping business owners pay less tax, legally.

Shawn Choo EA - San Diego Tax Expert and Enrolled Agent

Shawn Choo

Managing Partner, EA
  • Enrolled Agent (EA) — Highest IRS Credential
  • Harvard University Graduate
  • 15+ Years Experience
  • San Diego Based, Nationwide Service
  • Specialized in Modern Business Models
  • Proactive Tax Planning Expert

IRS-credentialed. Practically focused.

Shawn is an Enrolled Agent — the highest credential the IRS issues. That means he can represent clients directly before the IRS, not just prepare paperwork. Combined with a Harvard degree and 15+ years of hands-on practice, he brings a level of technical depth that most local firms don't.

Real Strategy was built around the clients traditional firms don't serve well: real estate investors running 1031s and cost segregation, content creators with multi-platform income, and tech founders navigating equity comp and R&D credits. San Diego-based, but we work with clients across the country.

Why clients stay:

  • ✓ EA credential: Direct IRS representation, not just tax prep
  • ✓ Specialized focus: Real estate, content creation, tech — not general practice
  • ✓ Year-round access: Quarterly check-ins, not just April calls
  • ✓ 24-hour guarantee: Always. Not "we'll get back to you soon"
  • ✓ Flat, upfront pricing: You know the cost before we start

What We Do

Tax planning, preparation, and business advisory — with a focus on year-round strategy, not just April filing.

Tax Planning & Preparation

  • Individual & business tax returns
  • Multi-state tax optimization
  • Quarterly estimated payments
  • Tax projection & planning
  • IRS representation
  • Estate & gift tax planning

Business Advisory Services

  • Entity structure optimization
  • Financial statement preparation
  • Cash flow management
  • Business valuation
  • Merger & acquisition support
  • Strategic planning

Specialized Tax Services

  • Real estate cost segregation
  • 1031 exchange planning
  • Content creator optimization
  • Platform economy specialists
  • International tax compliance
  • Foreign income reporting

Financial Planning

  • Retirement planning strategies
  • Investment advisory
  • Risk management
  • Succession planning
  • Wealth preservation
  • Financial forecasting

Based in San Diego. Working nationwide.

We know the local market, the California-specific rules, and the neighborhoods our clients are building businesses in.

🏖️ Coastal Communities

La Jolla, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas
Mostly real estate investors, high-income professionals, and business owners navigating California's tax complexity.

🏢 Business Districts

Downtown, UTC, Sorrento Valley, Carlsbad
Tech startups, biotech, SaaS, and professional services firms. We know the R&D credit landscape and equity comp well.

🏡 Residential Areas

Poway, Escondido, Rancho Santa Fe, Scripps Ranch
Small business owners, solopreneurs, and families with rental properties or side income streams.

California has its own rules — and we know them

California doesn't conform to federal bonus depreciation. The FTB has different filing requirements than the IRS. The $800 minimum franchise tax catches people off guard. These aren't edge cases — they come up constantly. We factor California-specific law into every strategy we build.

Who We Work With

Three client types make up most of our practice — and each has its own tax playbook.

🏠 San Diego Real Estate Tax Expert

San Diego real estate is a different animal — high valuations, active short-term rental markets, and California's aggressive depreciation rules. We help investors and agents structure their activity correctly from the start.

  • 1031 Exchange Planning & Execution
  • Cost Segregation Studies
  • Airbnb & Short-Term Rental Optimization
  • Real Estate Professional Election
  • Property Tax Appeals & Strategies
Serving: La Jolla, Del Mar, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Rancho Santa Fe

📱 Content Creator Tax Specialist

YouTube revenue, brand deals, affiliate income, merch — each platform reports differently and has different deduction profiles. We've worked with creators at every stage and know how to structure this cleanly.

  • Multi-Platform Revenue Optimization
  • Brand Partnership & Sponsorship Deals
  • Home Studio & Equipment Deductions
  • Intellectual Property Monetization
  • International Income & Tax Treaties
Expertise: YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Twitch, Patreon, and emerging platforms

💻 San Diego Tech Startup Tax Expert

From choosing the right entity at formation to managing ISO/NSO exercises and R&D credits, we work with founders who need a tax advisor that can keep up with how fast things move.

  • R&D Tax Credits & Incentives
  • Equity Compensation Planning (ISO, NSO, RSU)
  • Entity Structure Optimization
  • Fundraising & Investor Relations
  • Exit Strategy Planning (M&A, IPO)
Focus Areas: SaaS, Biotech, FinTech, HealthTech, CleanTech, AI/ML, Cybersecurity

Not sure if we're the right fit?

Book a free 30-minute call. We'll tell you honestly what we can do for your situation — and what it costs.

Schedule a Free Call

Industries We Serve

We work best with clients who have complexity — multiple income streams, real assets, or business structures that need ongoing attention.

Real Estate Professionals

Agents, investors, and landlords. Cost segregation, 1031 exchanges, short-term rental rules, and the real estate professional election — we've run these scenarios hundreds of times.

Content Creators & Influencers

Multi-platform income, brand deals, home office deductions, and S-Corp structuring once you're earning enough to justify it. We work with creators at every stage.

Platform Economy

Airbnb hosts, Uber drivers, and gig workers. 1099 income has its own rules — SE tax, quarterly payments, and deductions most people miss.

Technology & Software

Startups, SaaS, and solo developers. R&D credits, equity compensation (ISO, NSO, RSU), and entity selection before and after fundraising.

Professional Services

Consultants, lawyers, doctors, and architects. We handle partnership structures, S-Corp elections, and succession planning for service-based businesses.

International Clients

Foreign residents, expats, and dual citizens. FBAR, FATCA, tax treaties, and foreign income exclusions — the rules here are genuinely complicated and we know them.

What clients say

A few words from people we've worked with.

★★★★★
"Shawn saved us over $18,000 in our first year. Unlike our previous accountant, he actually understands our Airbnb business and helped us implement strategies we never knew existed."
Sarah M.
Real Estate Investor, La Jolla
★★★★★
"Finally found a tax expert who gets content creation! Shawn structured my business perfectly and responds to questions same day. Worth every penny."
Mike C.
YouTube Creator, 2.1M Subscribers
★★★★★
"Proactive tax planning throughout the year instead of just filing taxes. The quarterly check-ins alone have saved us more than we pay in fees."
Jennifer R.
Tech Consultant, Carlsbad

Common questions

Straightforward answers to things people ask before reaching out.

A few things. We specialize in business models that most accountants don't know well — real estate investors, content creators, tech founders. We work with you year-round instead of showing up at tax time. And you can actually reach us: 24-hour response guaranteed, most messages answered same day.

Yes. We're based in San Diego and know California law well, but we work with clients across the country. Most of our client relationships are fully remote — video calls, a shared client portal, and quick turnaround on questions.

All of San Diego County — La Jolla, Del Mar, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Rancho Santa Fe, Poway, Escondido, UTC, Sorrento Valley, downtown, and everywhere in between. In-person meetings available; most clients prefer video.

It depends on your income, structure, and what's already been done. Clients new to proactive planning typically save $10,000–$20,000+ in year one. We'll give you a realistic estimate in your first consultation — no vague promises.

Real estate investors and agents, content creators, tech and AI startups, platform/gig economy businesses, professional services, and international clients. If your tax situation is complicated, that's usually a good sign we can help.

We guarantee a response within 24 hours. In practice, most messages get a reply the same day. This matters more than people expect — tax questions often come up when you're making a decision, not in April.

Let's talk

Free 30-minute call — bring your situation, we'll tell you what we can actually do.

No pitch. No pressure. Upfront pricing if it's a good fit.

Book a Free Consultation

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