Service 02 — Fee-Only · Fiduciary · Minnesota

Retirement Planning

Social Security optimization, RMD strategy, income sequencing, and a roadmap to the retirement you have worked to build.

$1.46M
median amount households
need to retire comfortably
01 Investments02 Retirement03 Tax Planning04 Insurance05 College Savings06 Home Purchase07 Emergency Fund08 Budgeting09 Other Goals
Planning PrincipleFill lower tax brackets to avoid future higher tax brackets. The years before RMDs are your biggest planning window.
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Retirement is an income problem, not a savings problem.

The goal is not to accumulate the largest possible account balance. The goal is to convert what you have into reliable income that covers your spending for 25–30 years — while managing taxes, inflation, sequence risk, and healthcare.

Those are four distinct engineering problems. Most retirement plans address one or two of them. A comprehensive plan addresses all four — and shows you the numbers behind every decision.

Income Sources
Social Security
401(k) / Traditional IRA withdrawals
Roth IRA distributions (tax-free)
Pension (if applicable)
Rental or part-time income
Spending Categories
Essential expenses (housing, food, utilities)
Healthcare and Medicare premiums
Federal and state income taxes
Discretionary (travel, family, gifts)
Long-term care reserve
The Retirement Income Gap
Guaranteed income vs. spending need — most households have a gap that portfolio withdrawals must fill
Social Security StrategyTiming is worth $100,000 or more in lifetime benefits
Cumulative Benefits by Claiming Age
$2,000/month at Full Retirement Age (67) · breakeven analysis by age
Age 62 — Early
$1,400/month
30% permanent reduction. Makes sense if health is poor or income is urgently needed. Rarely optimal for married couples with longevity on their side.
Age 67 — Full
$2,000/month
Your full benefit. A reasonable default for average health expectations. Often not the optimal choice for those in good health with other income.
Age 70 — Delayed
$2,480/month
24% higher than full retirement age. Break-even vs. claiming at 67 is roughly age 82. The best longevity insurance available — and it's free.
Married Couple Strategy
For a married couple, the optimal strategy typically has the lower earner claim early (providing income now) while the higher earner delays to 70 (maximizing the survivor benefit for whichever spouse lives longer). This one decision can be worth $150,000+ in lifetime benefits.
RMD Strategy & Roth ConversionsThe window between retirement and age 73 is critical

Required Minimum Distributions begin at age 73. Without planning, large pre-tax balances generate RMDs that push income into higher brackets, increase Medicare premiums (IRMAA), and cause more Social Security to be taxable.

The years between retirement and age 73 often represent a low-income window — before Social Security and RMDs both kick in. Roth conversions in that window can meaningfully reduce lifetime taxes.

Age 60–67
The Roth conversion window
Income is often lower before Social Security and RMDs begin. Convert traditional IRA funds to Roth at lower rates. Fill the 12% or 22% bracket — not above it.
Age 67–73
Bridge and optimize
Draw from taxable accounts first. Continue conversions where bracket allows. Delay Social Security if health and other income permit.
Age 73+
RMD management
RMDs begin. Coordinate with Social Security income, Medicare IRMAA thresholds, and qualified charitable distributions to minimize annual tax impact.
Roth Conversion Impact on Lifetime Taxes
Cumulative federal taxes paid — with vs. without pre-retirement Roth conversions