Plan•Protect•Prosper
A Retirement Clarity Guide · Free
7Retirement Tax Mistakes That Could Cost You Thousands
The avoidable errors that quietly shrink retirement income, and what to do about each one while you still have time. Withdrawals, Roth conversions, Social Security, Medicare premiums, required withdrawals and more.
Why taxes decide so much
Most people focus on how much they save. Far fewer focus on how much they keep.
In retirement, taxes work differently than they did while you were working. A few overlooked decisions can quietly cost thousands of dollars, and most people never see the connection until it is too late to fix.
This short guide shows you the 7 most common mistakes, so you can find out which ones apply to you while you still have time to act.
The good news
Nearly every mistake in this guide is avoidable, and most are fixable if you catch them early enough.
Inside this guide
7 costly mistakes, and what to do instead
Each one is easy to make and expensive to discover late. The guide explains what each mistake can cost and exactly what to do instead.
- 1
Mistake one
Treating retirement savings as one big bucket
Why looking at your savings as one number can cost you control over your taxes every single year.
- 2
Mistake two
Withdrawing from accounts in the wrong order
The withdrawal decision that is fully in your control, and why so many retirees make it by accident.
- 3
Mistake three
Wasting the low bracket window
A stretch of years many people let slip by without ever realizing an opportunity was open.
- 4
Mistake four
Overlooking how Social Security gets taxed
How one extra withdrawal can raise your tax bill by more than you would expect.
- 5
Mistake five
Tripping a Medicare premium surcharge
How a decision you make today could raise your Medicare premiums years from now.
- 6
Mistake six
Mishandling required withdrawals
The costly slip ups people make once withdrawals become mandatory, and the penalty that can follow.
- 7
Mistake seven
Leaving a tax problem to the people you love
Why your IRA may not reach your children the way you expect.
Bonus
Your Retirement Tax Checklist
13 yes or no questions to work through every fall, while there is still time to act before December 31.
Timing matters
The biggest opportunities open in a short window. Do you know when yours closes?
For many people it is already open, and they don't know it. The guide shows you how to spot it.
This guide is for you if
You've done the saving. Now keep more of it.
- You're within about 10 years of retirement, or recently retired, and want to avoid surprises at tax time.
- Most of your savings sit in a 401(k) or IRA, and you're not sure how much tax you'll owe when you take it out.
- You want to protect your Medicare premiums, your Social Security and what you leave to your family.
Bonus inside
Your one page Retirement Tax Checklist
13 questions in four areas. If you can't answer them with confidence, the guide is for you.
Know your position
Use the window
Watch the thresholds
Deadlines and legacy
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From the author
Hi, I'm Roger Fishel.
I help people who are close to retirement, or already there, turn what they've saved into income they can count on. Again and again I see the same thing: families who saved well, then lose more than they need to because nobody showed them how taxes work in retirement.
I wrote this guide to show you the mistakes to watch for in plain English. Use it on your own, or bring your questions to a free Retirement Clarity Review and we'll look at your situation together.
Plan. Protect. Prosper.
Questions
Before you download
Is the guide really free?
Yes. There's no cost and no credit card. Fill in the short form and the PDF is yours.
Will someone pressure me?
No. You'll get the guide and a few helpful follow-up emails, and Roger's team may reach out once to make sure it arrived and answer any questions. There's no sales pitch, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
I'm already retired. Is it too late?
Not at all. Several mistakes in the guide are decisions retirees face every year, including how Social Security is taxed, Medicare premium surcharges, required withdrawals and what you leave to your family.
Is this tax advice?
No. The guide is for general education only. Neither the firm nor its agents or representatives may give tax or legal advice, so please talk with a qualified tax professional about your own situation before you act.
How do I receive it?
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