Kevin Brunner
After 7 years in the United States Marine Corps, Kevin Brunner transitioned into financial services — and has spent the last 30+ years helping business owners, real estate investors, and high-income professionals keep more of what they earn.
Based in Orange, California, Kevin is the creator of the Model Q™ system, a best-selling author, and the founder of the Q Companies ecosystem of financial service firms.
By the Numbers
The Model Q™ Story
After three decades of watching clients lose hundreds of thousands of dollars to unnecessary taxes, Kevin developed the Model Q™ system — a proprietary income planning methodology that prioritizes sustainable, tax-efficient income over simple asset accumulation.
Traditional financial planning tells you to save as much as possible and hope it lasts. Model Q™ takes a fundamentally different approach: it creates predictable, tax-optimized income streams that you can never outlive, while protecting and transferring wealth to the next generation.
The system integrates strategies like the 537 Installment Sale Trust, Roth conversions with strategic bracket management, 1031 exchanges, and the Model Q® ETF portfolio — all working together as a coordinated tax plan rather than isolated tactics.
Over 3,800 transactions, Kevin has refined Model Q™ into a repeatable, proven process that works across business owners, real estate investors, FedEx route owners, medical professionals, and anyone facing a significant capital gains or retirement income challenge.
Published Works
Cash Out Clean: Tax Strategy for Your Big Exit
Co-authored with Norb Kohler
A comprehensive guide to tax-efficient exit strategies for business owners, real estate investors, and high-income professionals. Covers the Model Q system, 537 IST, Roth conversions, 1031 exchanges, and multi-generational estate planning.
Just Say No To Bad Financial Advice
Co-authored with Christian Ramsey
Second edition (2025). Challenges conventional financial planning wisdom and presents alternative strategies for building sustainable retirement income. Available in hardcover and Kindle.
Media & Appearances
Forbes
2015Featured article on tax-advantaged strategies
KABC Radio
"Smart Money Hour" host
Bloomberg Radio
Guest appearances on financial strategy
Lifetime Cash Flow Podcast
2025Episode #1,128 with Rod Khleif on capital gains tax strategies
Route Consultant Podcast
Industry insights on FedEx exit planning
The Q Companies Ecosystem
Kevin founded and leads a family of financial service firms, each specialized to deliver a specific component of the Model Q™ system.