Vast Solutions Group, Inc. is a leader in its specialized niche— as a tax and financial engineering firm for small business owners.

“We enable small business owners, those with fewer than 25 employees — through tax and financial planning—to mitigate or lower taxes; and prepare small business owners for retirement; so they can live the retirement they desire,” said R. Kenner French, company president

“We want to help small business owners, those preparing for retirement, or in retirement, to live the life they desire,” said French. “During your lifetime, you work hard to accumulate assets so you can one day retire in comfort. We are here to help make sure business owners have assets that will be there for as long as they need and that the quality of life is maintained—in a low cost, tax-efficient manner.”

The company has numerous success stories, including:

• French tells of a client who came into the office last week unannounced, telling of a buddy complaining about losing in the stock market and paying large fees. The client told his friend that Vast had made him, a doctor, $400,000 since October’s market meltdown; and saved him $17,000 in fees over two years.

• For another client, Vast put together a plan involving a sophisticated plan where he invested $1.2 million, and saved approximately $420,000 in taxes. “He loves us,” French said.

Tax-Wise Business Ownership author, attorney and small business owner Toby Mathis, says, “Vast has worked with my clients for more than 10 years and deserves many accolades for its great service, consultation and money savings for my clients.”

Vast clients appreciate that the company takes the surprises out of tax hits by projecting a company’s tax liability on Jan. 1, French said.  

“Some CPAs and accountants drive down the road looking in the rear-view mirror and inform the taxpayer of the taxes owed at the end of the year; we try to mitigate the pain and prepare clients beforehand or drive actually looking at the oncoming traffic,” French said. “We show that, with little tweaks, we try to lower the taxes and indicate what clients will pay—in advance.”

French compares the process to looking at before and after pictures of overweight people. “When we give clients a projection of what they save in taxes; it's like looking at an ‘after’ picture of someone who's lost a lot of weight.”

Another Vast service takes the stress off a small business owner—like a doctor—so he or she can concentrate on their practice. Vast will “interface” with the CPA or accountant, lawyer, estate planning attorney, insurance agent and sometimes the financial planner—“so the business owner doesn’t have to. We’re the ones who do the work so business owners can run the business as they see fit. We call that service Vast PlanOne™.”

Vast's Legacy Planning helps families prepare financially for the eventual death of a business owner.

Another factor that sets Vast apart from other companies is the amount of research it conducts on behalf of its clients. “It’s a lot more than the average consultant,” French said. Twenty percent of all company resources—including money and time—goes to The Vast Institute, a think tank that conducts value-added research for small business owners.

“We augment our research with that of MIT and its affiliates and that’s partially why we’re successful,” French said. “We think outside the box to research small business owner retirement issues.”

With its proven combination of customer service and research, 90 percent of the business comes from referrals, French adds.

The media is also paying attention to Vast’s success. Fox News Radio, the station that proclaims, “Vast is the choice for prolific profits for small business owners,” has had French on twice. The first time was last August when he predicted the stock market would fall because of the mortgage debacle, and last month. “It seems I was correct.”

Entrepreneur magazine thinks enough of the company to include its retirement tips in a recent issue.

French will share his expertise in his upcoming book, The Small Business Owners’ Marketing Manifesto: An Essential Guide, due out next month. And for $399 a year, subscribers can get The Manifesto Series™ with information from the Vast Institute. The next issue publishes Oct. 1.

With a company heritage going back 30 years, Vast, based in Las Vegas, has clients across the country. The firm is looking to expand with a new office in Los Angeles in addition to the three it has in Washington state, French said.

For more information, call 888-808-VAST (8278) or visit www.VastSolutionsGroup.com.