Retirement Planning Resources

Timing, Claiming Strategies & Survivor Benefits

When to claim. Spousal and survivor benefits. How the earnings test works. Whether delaying makes sense for you.

Parts A, B, C, D — and Supplement Plans

Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage. Enrollment windows. The cost of late enrollment. Supplement plan options.

What They Are, When They Start & How to Plan

When RMDs start (age 73 under current law). How to calculate them. The tax impact and strategies to manage it.

When, Why & How Much to Convert

Why the years before age 73 are a narrow window. The 5-year rule. How conversions interact with Medicare premiums.

What to Do with a Former Employer's Plan

Direct vs. indirect rollovers. When a rollover IRA makes sense — and when it doesn't. Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA).

Lump Sum vs. Monthly Pension Income

How to evaluate a pension buyout offer. The break-even calculation. Tax implications and rollover mechanics.

Costs, Probability & Your Funding Options

What long-term care actually costs in California. The probability of needing it. Hybrid policies and self-insuring.

Wills, Trusts & Beneficiary Designations

Probate vs. non-probate. Revocable living trusts. Beneficiary designations. The 10-year inherited IRA rule.

Turning Savings Into a Paycheck

Sequence-of-returns risk. The bucket strategy. Floor vs. upside portfolios. How guaranteed income sources change the math.