Every dollar in a traditional IRA or 401(k) is only partly yours - the rest belongs to the IRS, at whatever rate applies when the money comes out. And starting at age 73 (75 if you were born in 1960 or later), the money must come out, on the IRS's schedule, not yours. For many retirees that means withdrawals they don't need, brackets they thought they'd escaped, up to 85% of Social Security becoming taxable, and Medicare surcharges that begin at $109,000 of income for a single filer (2026 threshold) - where crossing the line by a single dollar can add more than $1,000 a year in premiums. None of this is inevitable. It's just the default.
1. Your RMD projection - what your required withdrawals look like once RMDs begin (age 73-75, depending on your birth year), and what bracket they push you into. 2. Your conversion window - whether filling today's brackets with Roth conversions makes sense for you, including how the 2025-2028 senior deduction and Medicare thresholds shape the timing. 3. Your income floor - how much dependable monthly income your plan produces, and whether a protected income layer fits your risk tolerance. (Sometimes it doesn't - and I'll say so.)
Tory Giddens is the founder of Fort Eagle Wealth Management, a registered investment adviser in Southlake, Texas. As an investment adviser representative and fiduciary, he is legally obligated to act in your best interest. His practice focuses specifically on Roth conversions, RMD planning, and retirement tax strategy for pre-retirees. "You've spent 30 years saving the money. My job is helping you keep more of it."
Fort Eagle Wealth Management is a registered investment adviser. Registration as an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Information on this page is educational and should not be construed as personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Roth conversions create current-year taxable income and are not appropriate for everyone; consult a qualified tax professional regarding your situation. Insurance and annuity products are offered separately through Fort Eagle Life & Annuity, LLC; commissions may be earned on insurance products, which are not sold in an advisory (fiduciary) capacity. Any guarantees associated with insurance products are subject to the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurer.