Hiring Your Spouse & Kids: Big Opportunities and Big Mistakes to Avoid

June 26, 2025

Today we’re answering a smart question from a viewer about hiring a spouse or children in a family business. When structured properly, this strategy can create significant tax advantages and strengthen retirement savings. However, it also carries risks if not handled correctly. In this episode, Rob breaks down how to navigate the legal and financial details of hiring your spouse or kids, from the best ways to pay minors to structuring contributions to retirement accounts.

For many small business owners, hiring family members seems like a “no-brainer,” but without proper planning, it can quickly turn into a costly liability. Rob highlights the unexpected benefits of teaching your children financial literacy through real-world experience, along with important considerations to keep in mind. If you're thinking about bringing family into your business, find out how to approach it wisely and avoid common pitfalls.


Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Structuring roles for kids and spouses in your business

💰 Using family payroll to fund Roth IRAs and retirement accounts

📑 How to avoid IRS red flags with proper documentation and job duties

🚫 Common mistakes that sabotage tax savings


0:00 – Intro

0:55 – Listener Question: Tax Benefits of Hiring Family?

3:58 – IRS rules and red flags to avoid

5:30 – Retirement planning advantages for the whole family

7:15 – Teaching kids financial lessons through real work

9:08 – Common mistakes and how to fix them


Helpful Resources:


Phone: 801-717-9237

Schedule your no-cost discovery meeting: https://www.axiowm.com/what-we-do

Get your copy of Rob’s books: https://www.axiowm.com/book

Let us speak at your next event: https://www.axiowm.com/speaking

Check us out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtidWpldZGUBLmr24oWy87Q


Subscribe & Follow The Show On Your Favorite Apps:
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
Amazon Music
iHeart Radio
Podchaser

DISCOVER MORE...

By Rob Shelton January 29, 2026
On a family trip to New Zealand, Rob experienced that exact lesson, while digging hot tubs in the sand at Hot Water Beach.
planning for volatility
By Rob Shelton January 16, 2026
As we head into 2026, headlines are pulling investors in every direction, from fear to blind optimism
By Rob Shelton January 15, 2026
2025 brought plenty of headlines, but which developments actually mattered for your financial future? Rob looks past the noise to focus on the key factors that affected retirees and pre-retirees, explaining not just what happened, but how thoughtful planning helped keep things on track.
Show More