Call Summary: Tax Alignment and Life Updates

Overview

Gary and McKenna connected via video call primarily to resolve 1099 tax filing logistics for a $1,100 transfer Gary made via his business account. They aligned on filing it as "marketing consulting" with a 50/50 split of the tax liability. The call also included life updates on both sides—Gary's new Austin living situation and McKenna's transition out of survival mode after an intense 2025.

Key Topics Discussed

Tax Filing Resolution

• Core Issue: Gary sent McKenna $1,100 via his business account, requiring a 1099 form. McKenna was under the impression this was a personal gift and hadn't budgeted for the tax implications.
• McKenna's concern: "I was under the impression that it was being gifted. And I didn't financially plan to pay taxes on this."
• Resolution: Both agreed to file it as "marketing consulting" and split the resulting tax cost 50/50.
• McKenna's tax bracket: 12%
• W9 info collected: SSN, address at 1165 Columbine Street, email (first/last name Gmail)
• McKenna moving end of January: QuickBooks will email her a copy of the 1099 at her current address before she moves.

Gary's Life Updates

• New living situation: Just moved into a new place in Austin with a housemate who works on the Andrew Huberman podcast team.
• Family holidays: Went to Vegas to see family. Brother brought his new girlfriend (still in the middle of a divorce).
• Career: Working with a mentor on a project, but not counting chickens before they hatch. Playing it in sabbatical mode.
• Gratitude: "I'm grateful... for the people that I believe that God has sent my way, including this new housemate who is a really good dude."

McKenna's Life Updates

• Moving situation: Moving in with Serena and David (friends with a duplex they usually Airbnb) to lower costs. Lease at 1165 Columbine St ending.
• No location calling: "I don't really have a crazy strong calling of I need to live here for any place."
• Solo holidays: Mom is in Portugal (moving to Orlando eventually), Brendan got married. McKenna was alone for the holidays but appreciated the rest.
• Health recovery: Got sick for 2.5 months (laryngitis, strep throat, sinus infection) after working 286 consecutive days in 2025.
• Work transition: Now full-time as a dominatrix after leaving exhausting restaurant job. "Making more and working way less hours."
• NYE with clients: Spent New Year's with a client couple in Florida.
• Financial stability: "If I'm working consistently and not sick, I feel a lot more at ease where I'm not stressed."
• Client profile: All clients are in tax brackets unaffected by the economy. "Current economy bulletproof."

Mindset Shift: Financial Contracts First

McKenna shared her 2025 lesson about protecting her energy with clear financial structures:

• Old pattern: "I was just such a yes man to anything that intellectually excited me or creatively got me excited."
• New philosophy: "My energy is valuable and also not limitless... Let's build a business model for the energy input to actually receive monetary gain."
• 2026 priority: "Financial contracts first."
• Creative fulfillment: "My life feels like my biggest canvas. So the itch will kind of always be scratched."

Gary resonated, noting he's following similar advice: "I'm not giving myself to causes that don't also benefit me a lot... It tends to involve contracts."

Mutual Encouragement

McKenna affirmed Gary's value and energy:

• "Your energy is so potent and so valuable."
• "You have the energy of a thousand suns."
• "Wherever you direct it, you are very deserving of receiving monetary compensation that is equal to your energy input."

Both acknowledged being "for the cause people" while needing to be "compensated and secure as well."

Key Quotes

• McKenna on 2025: "It kind of felt like I was drowning in such survival mode, and now that I am more at ease, it feels like my head's out of the water and I took off my foggy goggles and can actually see significantly more clearly."
• McKenna on work streak: "I worked 286 consecutive days in 2025. It was a really intense year."
• McKenna on moving: "I'm starting to kind of mourn the goodbye process of that place."
• Both: "I love you too."

Action Items / Takeaways

• Gary will send McKenna the 1099 via QuickBooks in the next few days
• They'll split the tax cost 50/50 on the $1,100 filed as "marketing consulting"
• McKenna moving to Serena and David's duplex end of January
• Both committed to prioritizing financial contracts and protecting their energy in 2026