by ff | Aug 12, 2026 | Retirement Planning
If you’re one of the shrinking number of workers with an old-style pension, the lump-sum-vs-annuity choice is usually a one-time, irreversible decision made under time pressure. The math behind it is more knowable than it feels. How Interest Rates Drive the...
by ff | Aug 12, 2026 | Retirement Planning
When to claim Social Security is one of the largest financial decisions most retirees make, and it’s often decided casually — based on when someone stops working, not on the actual math of what each claiming age is worth. The Fixed Math Behind Each Age The...
by ff | Aug 12, 2026 | Retirement Planning
Target-date funds are the default investment in most 401(k) plans for a reason — but “default” doesn’t automatically mean “best for you.” The real difference between a target-date fund and a DIY portfolio usually comes down to one...
by ff | Aug 12, 2026 | Retirement Planning
There are two real ways to pull from a retirement account before 59½ without the 10% early-withdrawal penalty: Rule 72(t)/SEPP, and the Rule of 55. They work completely differently, and confusing them leads to the wrong account decision at exactly the wrong time....
by ff | Aug 12, 2026 | Retirement Planning
Required Minimum Distributions aren’t optional, and the penalty for missing one is steep enough that “I forgot” is an expensive mistake. Here’s how the 2026 rules actually work. The Age-73 Start Date Under SECURE 2.0, RMDs from Traditional IRAs...
by ff | Aug 12, 2026 | Retirement Planning
Starting January 1, 2026, a SECURE 2.0 provision changes how high earners age 50+ can make catch-up contributions — and for many, it removes the pre-tax option entirely. The 2026 Catch-Up Limits Beyond the standard $24,500 employee deferral limit (see our full...
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