Within ten years of retirement? Some decisions are hard to undo.
The years just before and after you stop working include choices that are hard to reverse. We help you see them coming and think through them in a sensible order.
The decisions that tend to come up
When to stop, or whether to phase down
The date you choose can affect many of your other decisions.
When to claim Social Security
Claiming earlier or later changes your monthly benefit and may affect a spouse’s benefit.
What to do about a pension
Many pensions ask you to choose a payout option once, with no do-over.
Whether a Roth conversion makes sense
The years between retiring and required withdrawals can be a planning window. Talk to your tax professional before acting.
How to cover health insurance before Medicare
If you retire before 65, there is a gap to plan for.
How to handle a market drop early in retirement
Significant losses early in retirement can have a larger effect when you are also taking withdrawals, because you’re drawing money out while prices are down. This is called sequence-of-returns risk. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.
What to do with an old 401(k)
Options include leaving it, rolling it over, or converting it. Each has different features, costs and protections.
Living in New Hampshire
New Hampshire’s income tax rules differ from those in many other states, property taxes can matter, and if you’ve worked across the border in Massachusetts, state pension and tax rules can add wrinkles. Tax laws change and individual circumstances vary, so we look at your specifics with your tax professional.
Required withdrawals
At some age, the IRS requires you to start taking money out of most pre-tax retirement accounts. That age depends on the year you were born.
Start with a conversation
This page is educational. It is not tax, legal or investment advice.