Articles and Insights
Whether you’re approaching retirement, already retired, or planning for the next generation, our Retirement Articles & Insights provide practical guidance on taxes, investing, Social Security, estate planning, and the financial decisions that matter most. Every article is written to help you make more informed decisions with greater confidence.
How Do You Minimize Taxes in Retirement?
You minimize retirement taxes through multi-year planning, not annual tax filing. The five highest-impact strategies are Roth conversions during low-income years before required minimum distributions begin (age 73 for those...
What’s the Best Order to Withdraw From Your Retirement Accounts?
Conventional advice says withdraw from taxable accounts first, then tax-deferred (traditional IRA, 401(k)), then Roth IRA last. For many retirees with significant savings, this conventional order may not be optimal....
How to Open a Trump Account: Form 4547, the App, and the Deadlines That Matter
You open a Trump Account by filing IRS Form 4547, either with your tax return or online through the IRS’s Form 4547 election portal, including via an IRS Individual Online...
The Best Account for Your Child at Every Age: A 0 to 18 Decision Guide
There’s no single best account for a child. There’s a best account for each job at each age: the Trump Account for free money and retirement from birth, the 529...
Trump Account vs. UTMA/UGMA: Taxes, Control, and Flexibility
A UTMA/UGMA custodial account offers unlimited contributions and total spending flexibility, but its investment income is taxed every year under the kiddie tax and it counts against financial aid. A...
Do Trump Accounts Hurt Financial Aid? The FAFSA Question Nobody Can Answer Yet
Honest answer: nobody knows for certain yet. The Department of Education hasn’t issued guidance on how Trump Accounts are reported on the FAFSA, and credible experts disagree. The favorable view...
The Grandparents’ Guide to Trump Accounts: Gifts, Limits, and the Shared $5,000 Cap
Yes, grandparents can contribute to a grandchild’s Trump Account, up to the account’s $5,000 annual limit. But that limit is shared with everyone else who gives, including the parents and...
Trump Account vs. Roth IRA for Kids: The Age 18 Conversion Play
A Roth IRA beats a Trump Account on taxes, because qualified Roth growth is never taxed while Trump Account growth is taxed as ordinary income. But a Roth requires earned...
What Should You Do in the 5 Years Before You Retire?
The 5 years before retirement are when most lifetime tax savings get locked in. The most important moves are: build a year-by-year retirement income projection, identify whether RMDs will create...
Trump Account vs. 529 Plan: Which One Should You Fund First?
For most families, the order is simple: claim the free $1,000 Trump Account seed if your child qualifies, then direct ongoing education savings to a 529 plan first. The 529...
How Can You Reduce Your Required Minimum Distributions?
You reduce required minimum distributions by shrinking the balance of your traditional retirement accounts before RMDs begin. Under current law, RMDs start at age 73 for those born between 1951...
What Is a Trump Account? Rules, Eligibility, and the $1,000 Seed Explained
A Trump Account is a new tax-deferred investment account for children under 18, created by the law signed July 4, 2025 and launched July 4, 2026. Eligible newborns born 2025...
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