The mechanics of converting during the gap years, step by step A few months ago, I wrote about the most dangerous years of retirement, the quiet stretch between your last paycheck and your first Required Minimum Distribution. That piece made the case for why those years matter. This one is
Income-Growth Framework
Why the goals conversation should always come before the product Rene came in with a folder. That's usually a good sign. It means someone is organized, prepared, and taking this seriously. But as I started going through the documents she'd brought, something became clear within the
The Behavioral Side
For many retirees, the problem is not a lack of funds. It is feeling unsafe using what they have. This is the retirement failure no one discusses. The financial industry obsesses over solvency, projections, simulations, withdrawal rates, and not running out of money. These matter, but only measure one kind
Here is a number worth sitting with. If you are 60 years old with $800,000 in a traditional IRA, and you earn a modest 6% annually between now and age 73, you will arrive at your first Required Minimum Distribution with roughly $1.7 million in that account. You
The Behavioral Side
Why Most Retirees Die With Their Savings Intact, and Their Best Years Behind Them For decades, the financial industry has warned retirees about one thing: running out of money. That fear drives nearly every planning conversation. It's a real risk, worth attention. But there is a second failure
The Behavioral Side
The Income Floor Effect
The Behavioral Side
Every spring, I sit down with a stack of tax returns. My clients are mostly retirees or people within a few years of retirement. By now, I’ve reviewed enough 1099s and IRA statements to spot the patterns before I even get to the numbers. Most of my clients did
The Behavioral Side
The hidden return nobody measures, and why it may be your most valuable asset
The Behavioral Side
Most retirement anxiety is not about a specific threat. It is about a cloud.
The Behavioral Side
*Before we begin, this week’s piece is shorter than usual due to the end of tax season and other demands. I wanted to ensure it was worth your time. People tell me retirement planning is hard because it is complicated. The tax rules are confusing. Social Security has more
The Behavioral Side
The hardest part about retirement taxes is that they usually become important long before they become visible.
The Behavioral Side
The market didn't change. Your relationship to it did.