Retirement Planning

Having enough money to retire and having enough money you can actually spend are two different problems. You can build a seven-figure retirement portfolio, run the numbers, decide work is optional, and then discover that most of your money sits inside accounts with withdrawal rules you have never needed to...

Roth IRA withdrawals follow an order. Regular contributions first, conversions and rollovers next, and earnings last. That's why being under age 59½ doesn't automatically mean your Roth IRA withdrawal will be taxed or penalized. If you're thinking about taking money from a Roth IRA before 59½, your age is probably...

You turn 55 in January. You’re laid off in December, a few weeks too early. That calendar year difference can eliminate the Rule of 55 for that separation. There’s another trap. You separated in the right year, then rolled the 401(k) into an IRA before checking the rule. Those IRA...

The reg 72(t) rule can let you take taxable retirement money before age 59½ without the usual 10% additional tax. You do it by establishing a series of substantially equal periodic payments, usually called a SEPP. The tradeoff is control. Once the series starts, the account has to follow a...

The Rule of 55 for a 401(k) may let you take distributions before age 59½ without paying the additional 10% federal tax on early withdrawals. To qualify, you generally must separate from the employer sponsoring the plan during or after the calendar year in which you turn 55. But age...

If you are doing a Roth conversion in 2026, there is an important problem with the usual “stay under the IRMAA line” advice: the official IRMAA line that will usually matter is not known yet. A taxable Roth conversion completed in 2026 generally increases your 2026 income. If that income...

Build the right MAGI number before you test the threshold. Most IRMAA calculators start with a box that says Enter your MAGI. That is fine if you already know the number. It is not much help if your actual question is whether an IRA withdrawal, Roth conversion, stock sale, Social...

If you find yourself asking, “How much do I need to retire at 65?” the real question is not whether you have $500,000, $1 million, or $2 million saved. It is whether your savings can create enough reliable income after Social Security, Medicare costs, taxes, inflation, and market risk...

A fixed annuity can be a good fit if you want a contractually guaranteed interest rate and can leave that money alone through the surrender period. It is a poor fit if you need easy access, want this same money to provide long-term market growth, or are uncomfortable relying...

As a financial planner with almost 3 decades of experience, I’ve seen few things cause more anxiety than the dense jargon of Social Security. The "Social Security 5-Year Rule" is a perfect example. Clients come to me confused, worried, and unsure if they qualify for the benefits they’ve paid...