Money
Social Security timing, withdrawal strategy, required minimum distributions, and the tax moves most people miss.
Cornerstone guides
Long-term care: the retirement cost nobody plans for
About 70% of people turning 65 today will need some form of long-term care. About 80% have no financial plan for it. Here's what it costs, what doesn't cover it, and how people approach funding it.
Read guide →Healthcare in retirement: what Medicare covers, what it doesn't, and what that gap actually costs
Most people assume Medicare takes care of it. It doesn't. Here's what the coverage actually looks like — and the numbers behind the gap.
Read guide →Roth conversions in retirement: is it worth it?
Paying tax now to avoid it later only makes sense under certain conditions. Here's how to think through whether yours qualify.
Read guide →How your Social Security benefit is calculated
The formula behind your number — and what actually raises or lowers it.
Read guide →The real cost of claiming Social Security at 62
Claiming early feels rational, but the reduction is permanent. Here's what the numbers actually look like.
Read guide →More articles
IRMAA: when Medicare costs more because of your income
A surcharge most people don't see coming, based on income from two years ago. Here's how it works and how it's calculated.
Read →Required minimum distributions, explained
At 73, the IRS requires you to start withdrawing from tax-deferred accounts — whether you need the money or not. Here's how RMDs work, what they cost if you miss them, and how people plan around them.
Read →Social Security and taxes: when benefits become taxable
Up to 85% of your benefit can be taxable, depending on your other income. Here's the math.
Read →Withdrawal strategy basics: which account to draw from first
The order in which you draw down retirement accounts affects how long your money lasts and how much you pay in taxes. Here's how people typically think through the sequencing.
Read →Working in retirement and Social Security: what changes
Earning income before your FRA can temporarily reduce benefits. Here's how it works.
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