Blog
Retirement planning insights and practical tax strategies — grounded in real math, not rules of thumb.
May 23, 2026
In Retirement, Your Income Is a Choice: How to Engineer Your MAGI
High earners assume ACA subsidies are out of reach. But retirement changes which income counts toward MAGI. Three case studies showing how to engineer your income sources and reclaim thousands per year in subsidies and tax savings.
May 17, 2026
We Got the RMD Advice Partly Wrong — Here Is the Full Picture
Inflation makes future RMD numbers look scary, but both income and tax brackets inflate together. The real question is whether your RMD exceeds your inflation-adjusted spending — and the answer changes everything about whether you should convert.
May 17, 2026
When to Switch to a Roth 401k: What the Rules of Thumb Actually Miss
The 3x rule, RMDs, the 10-year inheritance rule, and IRMAA — why the decision to shift 401k contributions to Roth involves far more than your current tax bracket, especially for high earners.
May 16, 2026
Roth Conversion Strategy for Early Retirees: How ACA Subsidies Change the Math
Aggressive Roth conversions before 65 can quietly cost early retirees tens of thousands in lost ACA subsidies. Three case studies showing when to convert, when to wait, and why timing matters more than total amount.
May 13, 2026
Pretax vs Roth in Your 40s: Why the Standard Advice Gets It Wrong
Three real case studies showing when pretax 401k contributions actually save you the most, when Roth wins, and the hidden RMD trap that catches even high earners in their forties.
May 13, 2026
How Much Do You Really Need to Retire? Three Real Case Studies
The 80 percent rule and the magic million both mislead most retirees. Three case studies show what your actual retirement number looks like when you do the real math, including the bridge year problem early retirees miss.
May 9, 2026
How to Defuse the 401k RMD Bomb & Avoid Taxes
A massive Traditional 401k balance can trigger an RMD bomb at age 73, pushing you into higher tax brackets and IRMAA surcharges. Here is how to fix it.
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