RMD Planning Guide: Minimize Taxes on Required Minimum Distributions
Missing an RMD triggers a 25% IRS penalty — $5,000+ on a typical account. The 2026 Uniform Lifetime Table, SECURE 2.0 rules, and Roth workaround.
RMD & IRMAA Guide (2026): Medicare Surcharges and the 2-Year Lookback
RMDs and IRMAA are tightly coupled: a required minimum distribution at age 73+ pushes your MAGI, which two years later sets your Medicare Part B and Part D surcharges. Plan the conversion years before RMDs start and you can avoid the surcharge entirely.
This is the smallest hub but the most consequential per-dollar: an IRMAA tier-jump costs $1,000-$8,000 per couple per year, and the planning window is narrow.
RMD mechanics
How to Fill Your Tax Bracket in Early Retirement (Before RMDs
The years between early retirement and age 73 are your best shot at low tax rates. Here's exactly how to fill your bracket with Roth conversions, capital gains harvesting, and strategic withdrawals.
IRMAA brackets and the 2-year lookback
IRMAA Brackets 2026: Medicare Surcharges Explained
One dollar over $106K MAGI adds $840/yr to Medicare premiums per person. See the 2026 IRMAA brackets and the 4 MAGI levers that dodge the hike.
$6,936 Medicare Trap: IRMAA Lookback Hits Early Retirees
Medicare uses income from 2 years ago to set premiums. That lookback adds up to $6,936/yr per person. The SSA-44 form can fix it in 30 days.
Your 2027 COLA Raise May Cost $4,000 in Medicare Surcharges
2027 COLA projections rising to 3.2%. A bigger SS raise pushes your MAGI higher, potentially triggering IRMAA surcharges of $851-$5,070/year.
QCDs and Medicare-friendly giving
How QCDs Slash Your Medicare IRMAA Surcharge in 2026
Qualified charitable distributions can eliminate IRMAA surcharges, saving retirees $2,300+ per year. Here's the 2026 math, brackets, and exact strategy.
Inherited IRA (SECURE 2.0)
Inherited IRA 10-Year Rule 2026: The $125,000 Tax Trap Most
The inherited IRA 10-year rule now requires annual RMDs in 2026 for many beneficiaries. Wrong timing could cost $125K+ in extra taxes. Here's what to do.