Social Security Disability 5-Year Rule: Work Credits, DLI & 2026 Rules
The Social Security Disability 5-year rule usually means this: if your disability begins at age 31 or older, you generally need at least 20 Social Security work credits…
Retirement Planning Archive
Previous retirement articles across income, withdrawals, Social Security, Medicare, IRAs, 401(k)s, annuities and retirement tax planning.
Borrow Against Stocks or Sell? SBLOC, Taxes & IRMAA
Compare borrowing against stocks with selling: SBLOC interest, capital-gains tax, IRMAA timing, maintenance-call risk, and when each choice makes sense.
Asset Location: Where to Hold Investments for Lower Taxes
Asset location decides which account holds your stocks, bonds and funds. Compare taxable, traditional and Roth tradeoffs, including IRMAA, RMDs and liquidity.
Working Past 65? When to Enroll in Medicare Part B
If you are still working at 65, you do not automatically need Medicare Part B on your 65th birthday. You may be able to delay Part B without…
Medicare Hold Harmless Rule: Why It Doesn’t Protect You From IRMAA
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 premiums from eating…
Does Social Security Count Toward IRMAA? How the Tax Trap Works
Does Social Security count toward IRMAA? Yes, but not in the way many retirees assume. IRMAA uses modified adjusted gross income, and only the taxable portion of your…
Roth Conversion Ladder for Early Retirement: Build the 5 Year Bridge
A Roth conversion ladder can create a rolling source of Roth IRA principal before age 59½. It cannot pay next month’s bills. Each taxable conversion has its own…
Roth Conversion Before Medicare: Your IRMAA Golden Window
The best Roth conversion years before Medicare are not a fixed age range. The safer way to find your Roth conversion “Golden Window” is to count backward from…
Should You Do a Roth Conversion If It Triggers IRMAA?
A Roth conversion can be worth doing even if it causes higher Medicare IRMAA premiums. The mistake is treating IRMAA as an automatic veto instead of one more…
Should You Delay Social Security to Avoid IRMAA? 62 vs. 70
Delaying Social Security can create more room for Roth conversions before benefits begin. But it can also produce a larger taxable benefit later. Claiming at 62 can reduce…