Retirement and tax, explained with numbers
Roth IRA or 401(k)? When to claim benefits? Which bracket your gains land in? Short guides with the math shown, updated for 2026.
Roth IRA vs 401(k): Which Should You Pick in 2026?
IRS limits, withdrawal rules, and the 30 vs 40 starter math.
2026 Capital Gains Tax Rates and How to Pay Less
The 0/15/20% brackets, the 3.8% surtax, and four legal cuts.
Roth Conversion Ladder: Early Retirement Hack
Move 401(k) money out penalty-free, five years at a time.
401(k) Contribution Limits 2026 Explained
$24,500 base, $8,000 catch-up, and the two-job trap.
Traditional vs Roth IRA: The Math
Breakeven tax rates and a 29-year dollar comparison.
How to Catch Up on Retirement at 50
Stacked catch-up allowances and the levers that still move.
Backdoor Roth IRA: Step-by-Step
Five steps, one form, and the pro-rata rule decoded.
Required Minimum Distributions Explained
Age 73, the 25% penalty, and how the schedule climbs.
HSA as a Retirement Secret Weapon
Three tax breaks, one account, and the receipts trick.
Pension vs 401(k): What's Better?
Guaranteed checks against compounding control.
Social Security: When to Claim
62 to 70: the breakeven ages and the survivor angle.
How Much to Retire at 60 / 65
Your spending gap times 25 to 30 — nothing more.
Tax-Loss Harvesting for Beginners
Turn red positions into deductions without leaving the market.
The 4% Rule Revisited
When 3.3% fits, when guardrails beat fixed withdrawals.
Beneficiary Forms: The Overlooked Estate Step
The form outranks the will. Check it yearly.
SEP IRA vs Solo 401k for the Self-Employed
Contribution math at $50k and $120k of profit.
Roth RMD Rules 2026
Owners: nothing required. Heirs: the 10-year rule.
How to Roll Over a 401(k) When You Switch Jobs
Direct transfer beats the 60-day check every time.
Annuities Explained: Pros and Cons
$500,000 buys about $3,000 a month for life. The catch?
States With No Tax on Retirement Income
Nine zero-tax states and the costs that offset them.
How to Avoid the Retirement Tax Trap
The Social Security, IRMAA, and RMD cascade — defused.
Mega Backdoor Roth Explained
Up to $46,000 of extra Roth room, if your plan allows.
Required Minimum Distributions Calculator
One division, two tables, worked examples.
Traditional IRA Deduction Limits 2026
Who actually gets the deduction, by filing status.
15-Minute Year-End Tax Checklist
Eight December items and two date rules.
How to Read Your 401(k) Statement in 5 Minutes
Four numbers, the match check, and fee drag in one pass.
How to Open a Roth IRA in 2026: A Walkthrough
Eligibility, provider, funding, investments, beneficiary.
Direct Rollover vs Cash-Out: Doing It Right
The $19,500 mistake hiding in a $60,000 cash-out.
What Is a 403(b)? The Nonprofit 401(k)
Same limits, two catch-ups nobody mentions.
How Social Security Benefits Are Calculated
AIME, bend points, and the 62-to-70 claiming swing.
7 Retirement Account Types, Ranked by Flexibility
From the taxable account you can empty tomorrow to annuities.
6 Signs You Are Actually on Track to Retire
Savings rate, benchmarks, the match, and a tested budget.
5 Roth Conversion Mistakes That Cost Real Money
Bracket overruns, IRMAA lookbacks, and the five-year clocks.
8 Tax Breaks Retirees Often Miss
QCDs, the 0% gains bracket, and the extra standard deduction.
7 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Financial Advisor
Fiduciary in writing, custody, fees, and the exit.
The Retirement Readiness Checklist for Every Decade
One job per decade, ten items, no heroics.
Before You Claim Social Security: A 10-Point Check
Breakeven ages, survivor effects, and the Medicare trap.
Job Change? Run This Rollover Checklist First
Vesting, loans, company stock, and the 60-day clock.
The FIRE Number Calculator: Math Behind 25x
Spending times 25, and when 30 is the honest multiplier.