Category: Retirement
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Avoid IRMAA Surcharges: A 2026 Medicare Premium Playbook for Retirees
/ April 16th, 2026
Most retirees budget for Medicare premiums. What they don’t budget for is paying 2–3x more than their neighbor for the exact same coverage. That’s what IRMAA does. If your income crosses certain thresholds, Medicare adds a surcharge to your Part B and Part D premiums—sometimes totaling $10,000+ per year for a married couple. The worst
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QCDs Explained: Tax-Smart Giving From Your IRA After 70½
/ February 28th, 2026If you’re over 70½ and still writing checks to charity from your bank account, you could be leaving thousands of dollars on the table every year. Here’s why: A qualified charitable distribution (QCD) lets you send money directly from your IRA to a charity — and that amount doesn’t count as taxable income. That means
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California Retirement Taxes: What High-Income Retirees Need to Know
/ January 5th, 2026
Living in California can be the payoff after a long career, yet California retirement often looks different once paychecks stop. You may have fewer levers than you did during your working years, while your mix of accounts, investments, and housing costs can still push your numbers around in surprising ways. Your focus shifts toward keeping
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Do You Need a Trust? Estate Planning Basics for Retirees
/ January 3rd, 2026Retirement is a natural point to tighten the way your estate plan is built. You have worked for years to build savings and protect your lifestyle, and now the focus shifts toward how those resources move and who can act on your behalf. Clear direction lowers the chance of delays, conflict, or costly mistakes. For
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Part-Year California Residency: Smart Tax Planning for Retirees Who Relocate
/ January 1st, 2026Relocating in retirement can feel like a fresh start: lower living costs, closer family, better weather, or a slower pace. Yet the financial side of a move often hinges on one sneaky detail – residency. Get that detail wrong, and you can be paying high taxes longer than you expected, even after you’ve unpacked the
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Retiring in San Diego? Here’s How to Minimize Taxes on Your Retirement Income
/ September 22nd, 2025
San Diego has long been a magnet for retirees, and it’s easy to see why. With its temperate climate, beautiful beaches, vibrant cultural scene, and top-tier healthcare options, it offers an ideal lifestyle for those in their golden years. But paradise comes at a price. California is known for its relatively high tax burden, and
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How to Lower Taxes in Retirement: A Step-by-Step Guide (2025 Updated)
/ January 1st, 2025
Recently, a new client visited our office. He had a good problem: he had saved too much money! With most of his money in a traditional IRA account, he was worried about the taxes. He came to us wanting to know how to lower taxes in retirement. Fortunately, there are many ways to lighten taxes in retirement
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Today I’m sharing how the new Inherited IRA Rules might stick your retirement account beneficiaries with a large tax bill. In fact, if your family trust is a beneficiary on any of your retirement accounts, the new tax law could cost your loved ones dearly. If you want to understand what to look for and
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What You Should Know About Retiring Early (And Staying Retired)
/ June 24th, 2020Financial independence bloggers have made the idea of “early retirement” all the rage over the last few years. If you earn plenty of money and invest it wisely, early retirement enthusiasts claim that you can quit work earlier than your peers and enjoy decades of freedom before you reach old age. The good news is,
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5 Things Retirees Need to Know About the CARES Act
/ March 31st, 2020Today we are sharing a summary of the CARES Act (a.k.a Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economics Security Act). It was passed by the U.S. Government on March 26th, 2020 and it’s the largest economic stimulus bill in history. The CARES Act provides financial support for: Individuals & Families Small Businesses Corporations Healthcare Providers State Governments
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