She started at an auditing firm at 19, built a tax practice of 14 women, and says the costliest mistake she sees is buying property in your personal name. Mariska De Bruyne explains how the tax on your assets at death can take more than 40% from your family. In this episode of the Wholefull Podcast, Sean sits down with Mariska De Bruyne, founder of Mint Accounting, a tax specialist in international tax, financial emigration and estate planning. She started her own firm just before turning 25 and now shares tax tips on Instagram as Tax Matters with Mariska. We get into why she hated audit and fell in love with tax, how "always say yes, then learn how" opened the door to foreign tax clearance and financial emigration, and why finding a niche changed her business. Plus: why property held in your personal name gets hit twice when you die, how a trust, holding company and property company should be set up, why fixing it later is so expensive, imposter syndrome and running a business alone for years, the business coach who changed how she works, her fertility journey and the miracle baby on the way, the women-only firm and the bursary foundation she wants to build, and her quick-fire answers, including what South Africans call SARS. ⚠️ This conversation is for general information only and is not tax, legal or medical advice. Always speak to a qualified professional about your own situation. ⏱️ CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro: meet Mariska De Bruyne 1:01 Welcome to the show 1:35 Starting at an auditing firm at 19 2:52 Growing up in Parow 5:34 "I absolutely hated audit" 7:48 Starting her own business at 24 11:14 Why it's called Mint Accounting 12:32 Why finding a niche changed everything 13:44 "Always say yes, then learn how" 15:13 From financial emigration to a specialist team 17:00 International tax, treaties and transfer pricing 19:38 Estates, trusts and succession planning 20:21 Why SARS is tightening up 22:04 What happens to property in your personal name when you die 23:02 The right structure: trust, holding company, property company 24:50 Why fixing the structure later costs so much 26:59 Imposter syndrome and almost quitting 28:16 Running a business alone with no mentor 30:10 An AMH of 0.09 and the fertility journey 38:40 Building a leadership team smarter than you 41:11 A women-only firm and the bursary foundation 43:00 Passion plus purpose 45:58 Career vs kids: test your AMH early 47:15 Becoming a mom at 20 49:37 A baby boy and "old parents" 50:56 Why timing is everything 52:10 What's next for the business and family 55:15 Why a business growth coach is worth it 59:52 Quick-fire round 1:01:14 Thank you and outro 🎧 The Wholefull Podcast: real conversations on health, fitness, longevity and living well. 👉 Subscribe for new episodes and hit the bell so you don't miss one. 📌 Follow Wholefull: https://www.instagram.com/wholefull_podcast/ #MariskaDeBruyne #Wholefull #TaxTips #SouthAfricanTax #WomenInBusiness #Trusts #PropertyInvestment #SouthAfrica