As the Beatles sang: “There’s one for you, nineteen for me. ’Cause I’m the taxman, yeah I’m the taxman.”

That hit song, “Taxman,” blasted Great Britain’s onerous tax code that left very little for the wage earner—particularly those making big wages. The Beatles’ arch rivals, the Rolling Stones, moved to France in the early 1970s to avoid the heavy hand of the U.K. taxman.

In the end, you can run but never hide (at least, not legally) from the taxman.

Daniel Smith, founder of Daniels Financial Group in Sheffield Village, Ohio, likes to use the Beatles and other classic rock ’n’ roll songs and artists to connect with his clients and, at the same time, help them minimize tax consequences.

“Most people do not coordinate their financial planning with their tax planning,” says Smith. “But saving on taxes can have a ripple effect on other financial areas.”

“Taxman” is only one example of how Smith uses 1960s culture to find the kind of clients he is compatible with. His specialty at his sole practitioner financial services firm is baby boomers in or nearing retirement. He is a member of the Million Dollar Round Table, a global association for financial professionals.

“I’m a baby boomer. I grew up with the same music and movies as most of my clients, and I want them to see me as a person, just as I want to see them as whole people,” Smith says. “I use rock ’n’ roll to help me connect with them and to differentiate our firm from others.” 

Smith uses the Beatles’ cover of the Motown hit “Money” and other ’60s-era rock songs to relate with his clients on planning, saving and investing. His book, available on Amazon.com, The Baby Boomer’s Guide to a Rockin’ & Rollin’ Retirement, relies heavily on classic rock and old movie references.

When potential clients come to the office for a first meeting, Smith is just as likely to talk with them about their first rock concert or their favorite old movie as he is about finances. He does not manage clients’ money; rather, he helps them create a financial plan that includes annuities and insurance. He offers securities and advisory services through Mutual of Omaha Investor Services Inc.

Potential clients who come to Smith’s office expecting a rundown of the latest market fluctuations or stock prices will be sorely disappointed, Smith says, adding that instead they will get holistic planning services.

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