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 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...
Can You Retire Now? And If Not, When?
You may be in a position to retire when your guaranteed income plus sustainable portfolio withdrawals can reasonably fund your expected spending for 30 plus years after taxes. A useful...
Trump Accounts for Grandkids: How Grandparents Can Build Tax-Free Wealth
How the new Trump Account works, who qualifies for the $1,000 seed, and the one move at age 18 that turns family contributions into tax-free wealth.A new way to help...
How Much Do You Need to Retire?
Most retirees need 70 to 85 percent of their pre-retirement income to maintain their lifestyle, but the right number depends on three things most calculators ignore: actual spending patterns by...
What Is a Fiduciary Financial Advisor? The 2026 Rules Are Confusing. Here’s What Actually Matters.
A fiduciary financial advisor is legally required to act in the client's best interest, with a duty of loyalty and a duty of care that applies across the advisory relationship....
Why the 4% Rule Is Dead — New Retirement Withdrawal Strategies for 2026
I want to talk about one of the most dangerous ideas in retirement planning. Not dangerous because it’s wrong, exactly. Dangerous because it’s right enough to feel safe — and...
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