Insurance

IRMAA Income Checker Tool: What Counts Toward MAGI & IRMAA?

Most IRMAA Income calculators start by asking for your MAGI. Right? Okay... but what if that is the number you are trying to figure out?...

Medicare IRMAA: Why Qualified Charitable Distributions QCDs Beat Standard Donations

You’ve been generous your whole life. In retirement, you continue to support the charities you care about, writing a check for a few thousand...

Medicare’s “Hold Harmless” Rule: The IRMAA Safety Net That Fails High Earners (2026 Guide)

You think your Social Security net benefit is statutorily guaranteed to never decrease? You’re wrong. While the "Hold Harmless" rule is designed to prevent Medicare...

Medicare’s HSA 6-Month Rule & Lookback Trap: How to Avoid the Tax Penalty

You think you’re being responsible by working past 65 and maxing out your Health Savings Account (HSA). A strategy often favored by financially savvy...

FEHB Retirees: Should You Enroll in Medicare Part B? A Cost-Benefit Analysis

If you are a federal retiree approaching age 65, your mailbox is likely full of Medicare flyers screaming about "permanent penalties" if you don't...

IEP vs. SEP: Still Working at 65? Here’s Exactly When to Enroll in Medicare

You are 66, still working, and your HR director just told you: "Don't worry about Medicare, you're covered by our plan." 10% penalty on your...

Capital Gains Spiking Your IRMAA? Use Tax-Loss Harvesting to Cut Medicare Costs (2026)

You’ve spent decades saving, only to find out that Medicare has a "success penalty." It’s called IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount), and it is...

Permanently Avoid IRMAA Surcharges with Portfolio Asset Allocation Changes 2026

You have probably spent years obsessing over Asset Allocation—how much stock vs. bond exposure you have. That is important for growth. But in retirement,...

Avoid IRMAA by Borrowing Instead of Selling: Securities-Based Lending for Retirees

top of Tier 1 After 30 years in financial planning, I've seen the difference between clients who understand leverage and those who liquidate at the...

2026 Medicare Open Enrollment: The IRMAA Checklist Every Retiree Needs

Medicare open enrollment IRMAA planning starts now—the deadline is December 7th, 2026.It’s that time of year again. Your mailbox is full of Medicare Advantage...