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.
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...
How Do You Get Health Insurance If You Retire Before 65?
If you retire before age 65 and Medicare eligibility, the four main health insurance options are COBRA (up to 18 months of your employer plan), the Affordable Care Act marketplace...
How Are Taxes Different for a Surviving Spouse?
A surviving spouse usually pays significantly more in federal taxes than the couple did filing jointly, even when income drops. The reason is that single filer tax brackets are roughly half...
How Much Can You Safely Withdraw From Your Retirement Savings?
For a 30 year retirement with a diversified portfolio, most research supports a starting withdrawal rate between 3.5 and 4 percent in year one, adjusted for inflation each year after....
When Should You Take Social Security?
The right age to take Social Security depends on your health, marital status, other income sources, and tax situation, which is why this decision is best made as part of...
What Happens If the Stock Market Crashes the Year You Retire?
A stock market crash in the first few years of retirement can cause permanent damage to a retirement plan even if the crash is the same size as one later....
How Do You Avoid IRMAA in Retirement?
You avoid IRMAA by managing your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) to stay below specific Medicare income thresholds each year. For 2026, IRMAA begins at $109,000 of MAGI for single...
When Should You Do a Roth Conversion?
A Roth conversion typically makes sense in years when your taxable income is unusually low and you have room in a lower tax bracket to absorb the converted amount. For...
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