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Taxes & Retirement Rules

Understand the tax rules that affect retirement income, withdrawals, inherited accounts, Roth conversions, RMDs, and other retirement decisions.

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01 Filing & State Taxes Learn how federal and state tax rules can affect retirees, including filing requirements, retirement-income taxes, and state-specific tax treatment. 02 Withdrawals & Conversions Understand RMDs, Roth conversions, early withdrawals, inherited retirement accounts, and the tax rules that apply when moving or taking…

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Taxes & Retirement Rules articles

Recent guides and practical explanations from across this topic.

What is tax-loss harvesting and how can a fiduciary advisor help? Withdrawals & Conversions
• 23 min read

What is tax-loss harvesting and how can a fiduciary advisor help?

Key takeaways What is tax-loss harvesting? When an investment loses value, that loss sits unrealized in the portfolio. It doesn’t…
Ricardo Ramirez Ricardo Ramirez
State tax credits for small businesses: How owners can lower tax bills Filing & State Taxes
• 17 min read

State tax credits for small businesses: How owners can lower tax bills

Key takeaways How can small businesses find state tax credits? Many business owners miss valid state-level tax incentives because standard…
Kate Farley Kate Farley
9 states with no state income tax for retirees Filing & State Taxes
• 12 min read

9 states with no state income tax for retirees

Key takeaways Choosing where to retire involves more variables than most people expect. Climate, cost of living, proximity to family,…
Ricardo Ramirez Ricardo Ramirez
Making sense of the most common IRS retirement forms using plain English Filing & State Taxes
• 11 min read

Making sense of the most common IRS retirement forms using plain English

Key takeaways Every January and May, a certain kind of mail arrives that most retirees don’t quite know what to…
Ricardo Ramirez Ricardo Ramirez
The 10% early withdrawal penalty: Rules and exceptions Withdrawals & Conversions
• 10 min read

The 10% early withdrawal penalty: Rules and exceptions

Key takeaways Before age 59½, pulling money from a retirement account triggers two tax obligations that most people treat as…
Ricardo Ramirez Ricardo Ramirez
What are required minimum distributions (RMDs)? Withdrawals & Conversions
• 15 min read

What are required minimum distributions (RMDs)?

Key takeaways At some point, the IRS requires that money held in tax-deferred retirement accounts begin moving out. The logic…
Ricardo Ramirez Ricardo Ramirez
What is a Roth conversion? A beginner’s guide Withdrawals & Conversions
• 17 min read

What is a Roth conversion? A beginner’s guide

Key takeaways Most retirement accounts work on a tax-deferred basis. Contributions reduce taxable income today, and taxes come due when…
Ricardo Ramirez Ricardo Ramirez
Inherited IRAs: New rules for beneficiaries Withdrawals & Conversions
• 14 min read

Inherited IRAs: New rules for beneficiaries

Key takeaways Inheriting an IRA used to be straightforward. A non-spouse beneficiary could spread withdrawals over their own lifetime, letting…
Ricardo Ramirez Ricardo Ramirez

Tax decisions often depend on where retirement income comes from and when it is received.

Accounts and income Social Security