Social Security beneficiaries could receive another meaningful increase in their monthly benefits in 2027.

While the 2027 Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) has not yet been officially announced, current estimates suggest benefits could increase by approximately 3.5% to 3.7%.

Imagine spending 40 years saving for retirement.

You've built a $1.5 million portfolio, paid down your mortgage, picked your retirement date, and you're finally ready to walk away from your last day of work.

Then, six months after you retire, the stock market crashes.

Your $1.5 million portfolio falls 25% and is suddenly worth approximately $1.125 million. At the same time, you no longer have a paycheck coming in and need to begin withdrawing money from your investments to pay your bills.

Avoid 5 common retirement tax mistakes involving Social Security, Medicare IRMAA, Roth conversions, IRA withdrawals, state taxes, and tax withholding.

Learn how the Roth IRA 5-year rule works, including withdrawals, Roth conversions, the age 59½ rule, and what happens when you transfer your Roth IRA.

Medicare generally doesn't cover the ongoing custodial care many retirees may eventually need. Learn four ways to prepare for long-term care expenses, including Medicaid, self-insuring, hybrid insurance, and traditional long-term care insurance.

Bonds are supposed to be the “safe” part of a retirement portfolio. So when retirees open their investment statements and see their bond funds declining, it naturally raises some questions:

Why are my bonds losing value? Should I sell them? And are bonds still a good investment for retirement?

For many Americans, one of the biggest fears surrounding retirement isn't dying too soon—it's living long enough to run out of money.

According to Allianz Life's 2026 Annual Retirement Study, two out of three people surveyed said they were more worried about running out of money during their lifetime than about dying prematurely. And running out of retirement savings isn't a concern limited to people who haven't saved enough. Poor spending decisions, unexpected healthcare expenses, market declines, and inflation can put even substantial retirement portfolios under pressure.

One of the most common questions I receive from clients approaching retirement is:

“Which investment account should I withdraw from first?”

Should you spend down your 401(k) or traditional IRA? Should you use your taxable brokerage account first? When should you tap your Roth IRA? Or does it make sense to withdraw from a combination of accounts?

Unfortunately, there isn't a universal withdrawal order that works for every retiree.

The most tax-efficient retirement withdrawal strategy depends on several factors, including your age, tax bracket, Social Security claiming strategy, healthcare coverage, future required minimum distributions (RMDs), and estate planning goals.

Receiving Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) as part of your compensation package can be an exciting reward for your hard work—but it also comes with important tax considerations and financial planning decisions. Whether you work for Disney, ESPN, Amazon, Google, Apple, Microsoft, or another publicly traded company, understanding how RSUs work can help you avoid costly mistakes and make more informed investment decisions.

For many homeowners, selling a house is one of the largest financial transactions they'll ever make. With home values reaching record highs across much of the United States, many sellers are enjoying decades of appreciation—but they're also discovering that selling a home can create an unexpected tax bill.

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the median existing-home sales price increased 1.8% year-over-year in June 2025, marking the 36th consecutive month of annual price appreciation. While rising home values have significantly increased homeowners' wealth, they have also increased the likelihood that a portion of a home's appreciation may be taxable.

The passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) introduced one of the newest savings vehicles available to American families: the Trump Account. Officially launched on July 4, 2026, these tax-advantaged investment accounts are designed to help children begin building long-term wealth from an early age.

Even more appealing, certain children qualify for a free $1,000 government contribution, while others may be eligible for an additional $250 private foundation grant.

Understanding Medicare's Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) could save you hundreds—or even thousands—of dollars each year.

Most retirees assume that once they enroll in Medicare, they'll simply pay the standard monthly premium. Unfortunately, that's not always the case.

If your income exceeds certain thresholds, Medicare can charge you significantly more for both Part B and Part D coverage through a surcharge known as the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA).

One of the most common questions I receive from retirees and pre-retirees is:

"Should I move out of index funds when the stock market becomes more volatile?"

Many investors have heard that professional fund managers are able to navigate difficult markets better than index funds because they can actively buy and sell investments as conditions change.

If you've ever looked at your retirement accounts and wondered:

• "Is my money really safe at Fidelity?"

• "What would happen if Charles Schwab went bankrupt?"

• "Could I lose my investments if my brokerage firm collapsed?"

You're certainly not alone.

While taxable brokerage accounts don't receive the same attention as Roth IRAs, they offer unique tax advantages that can make them an excellent complement to your retirement strategy. In some cases, careful planning may even allow you to pay 0% federal capital gains tax on investments held in a taxable brokerage account.

Variable annuities are often marketed as a safe and reliable solution for retirees seeking guaranteed income. Attend enough retirement dinner seminars and chances are you'll hear a presentation promoting the benefits of a variable annuity.

While these products can offer certain guarantees, many retirees are unaware of the substantial fees, restrictions, and long-term drawbacks that often accompany them.

According to the FBI, financial scams continue to rise every year, costing Americans billions of dollars annually. Unfortunately, retirees are often prime targets because scammers know they may have accumulated significant retirement savings, investment accounts, and home equity over a lifetime of hard work.

For many retirees, reaching age 73 brings a new retirement planning challenge:

Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs).

If you’ve spent decades saving in tax-deferred retirement accounts like IRAs and 401(k)s, the IRS eventually wants its share. That means you can’t simply leave the money untouched forever—at some point, you must begin withdrawing a minimum amount each year and paying taxes on those distributions.

Social Security is one of the most important sources of retirement income for millions of Americans. Yet many retirees don’t fully understand how spousal Social Security benefits work—or worse, they may unknowingly leave money on the table.

I recently discovered this exact issue while reviewing a client’s retirement income plan. They were entitled to a significantly higher Social Security benefit but had unknowingly missed out on additional monthly income.

If you are married, divorced, or approaching retirement, understanding how spousal Social Security benefits work could have a major impact on your retirement cash flow.

One of the most common questions I hear from pre-retirees and retirees is:

“Can I just live off the dividends from my portfolio in retirement?”

It’s an understandable question. The idea of living off passive income—never having to sell investments, simply collecting dividend checks—sounds appealing.

But is building a dividend-only retirement portfolio actually the best strategy?