Retirement
I’m 72 With a Year Left Before RMDs. Here’s How I’m Shrinking Them Now.
At 72, you may find yourself one year away from required minimum distributions (RMDs), but that narrow window could still offer an opportunity to reduce future mandatory withdrawals. Converting part of a traditional individual retirement account (IRA) to a Roth IRA or taking a voluntary…
Early Retirement With a Roth Ladder: Strategy and Examples
A Roth conversion ladder can help early retirees access retirement savings before age 59 ½ without triggering the usual early withdrawal penalty. The strategy works by gradually converting pretax retirement money to a Roth IRA. However, timing is critical: Each conversion generally has its own…
We Retired at 63. Tapping Our 401(k) Before Social Security Changed Everything.
Retiring at 63 can create an income gap if you delay Social Security. One option is to use 401(k) withdrawals as a temporary bridge, which could allow you to claim a higher monthly benefit later. To determine whether this strategy might work for your retirement, you will need to figure out if the…
Mega Backdoor Roth 401(k): How to Max Tax Benefits
A mega backdoor Roth 401(k) can give high earners a way to save even more for retirement. This strategy allows them to put substantially more money into Roth savings than standard contribution limits normally allow. The strategy uses after-tax 401(k) contributions that are later converted to Roth…
I’m 40 With 25 Years to Retire. Ignoring My 401(k) Match Could Cost Me Almost $165,000.
Skipping a 401(k) match at age 40 could cost you more than the amount your employer would have contributed. You also give up potential investment growth on that money during the next 25 years. Missed contributions and earnings can add up to a substantial gap in your retirement savings. How Much…
Social Security Check at 62 vs. 70: How Much Can You Get?
Choosing between claiming Social Security at 62 or waiting until 70 can create a wide gap in your monthly income. Starting early gives you more years of payments, while delaying may increase the amount of each check. The tradeoff comes down to how long you expect to collect benefits and how much…
Social Security at 62 vs. 65: What Is the Break Even Point?
Claiming Social Security at 62 gives you three extra years of payments, but each monthly check is permanently smaller than it would be if you had waited until 65. Delaying benefits means giving up that early income in exchange for a larger monthly payment later. The break-even point shows when…
Social Security COLA vs. Medicare: Will Your COLA Cover Higher Premiums?
Each year, Social Security benefits may increase with a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), but higher Medicare premiums can reduce how much of that raise reaches your monthly budget. Since both are calculated differently, they do not necessarily move at the same rate. Comparing the dollar value of…
I’m 65 With $900k and No Pension. Here’s the Monthly Income That Actually Lasts 30 Years.
If you’re 65 with $900,000 and no pension, the income your portfolio can provide depends on how much you withdraw and the number of years your savings need to last. Taking too large a withdrawal early in retirement could increase the risk of running short later, while spending too little may…
I’m 45 With 20 Years to Retire. Ignoring My 401(k) Match Could Cost Me Almost $115,000.
At age 45, skipping your 401(k) match means giving up more than your employer’s contribution. You also lose the potential investment growth this money could earn over the next 20 years. Depending on the size of the match and the investment-return assumptions used, that could leave you with almost…