You're 63. You've done the right things. And now the market is doing what the market does, and it doesn't care about your timeline.

In this episode of The Perfect Retirement Plan?, Phillip Smith speaks directly to the person two years out from retirement who's watching their portfolio move and wondering whether the plan they built still means what they thought it meant. This isn't a market forecast. It's a conversation about what volatility actually is, why it hits differently at 63 than it did at 43, and what a well-structured retirement plan is designed to do when things get rough.

Topics include sequence of returns risk, loss aversion and behavioral decision making, income guardrails, the real cost of going to cash, and how to stress test your retirement plan before the stakes get any higher.

#RetirementPlanning #MarketVolatility #RetirementIncome #SequenceOfReturnsRisk

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of The Perfect Retirement Plan?, and remember: it's not about having the smartest financial advisor, the most money saved, or the highest probability of retirement success. The perfect retirement plan, for you, is the one you act on.

Phillip Smith, TPCP CRPC AIF | Financial Planner https://www.linkedin.com/in/tidepoolwealth/

Tidepool Wealth Strategies https://www.tidepoolwealth.com/

450 Country Club Road, Suite 350 | Eugene, OR | 97401

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of The Perfect Retirement Plan, and remember: it's not about having the smartest financial advisor, the most money saved, or the highest probability of retirement success. The perfect retirement plan, for you – is the one you act on.

Phillip Smith, CRPC AIF | Financial Planner
Tidepool Wealth Strategies
450 Country Club Road, Suite 350 | Eugene, OR | 97401

____________________________________________________________________________________________
Additional Disclosures:
The opinions contained in this material are those of the author, and not a recommendation or solicitation to buy or sell investment products. This information is from sources believed to be reliable, but Cetera Wealth Services, LLC cannot guarantee or represent that it is accurate or complete.
All investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. There is no assurance that any investment strategy will be successful.

The IRS decides when you're required to start taking money out of your retirement accounts and most people aren't ready for what comes next.

In this episode of The Perfect Retirement Plan?, Phillip Smith breaks down Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), what they are, how they're calculated, and why they trigger a chain reaction most retirees don't see coming.

Whether you're approaching RMD age or already taking distributions, this episode covers the tax implications, Medicare premium surcharges (IRMAA), Roth conversion strategies, inherited IRA rules, and how to coordinate RMDs with Social Security and pension income so you're planning ahead, not scrambling to catch up.

Chapters:

00:00 The retirement surprise nobody asks for

01:26 What RMDs actually are (and why they exist)

01:55 The tax deferral deal you made with the IRS

02:56 How RMDs are calculated

04:36 Why delaying RMD age doesn't reduce taxes

07:07 RMD rules by account type: IRAs vs. 401(k)s

08:09 Why multiple accounts create compounding complexity

09:35 RMDs stacked on Social Security and pensions

11:32 How RMDs can trigger more Social Security taxation

13:15 IRMAA and Medicare premium surcharges explained

14:12 Inherited IRA rules and the 10 year rule

15:33 Roth conversions and managing RMD pressure

18:30 3 action steps to take now

19:55 Why good RMD planning is boring in the best way

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of The Perfect Retirement Plan, and remember: it's not about having the smartest financial advisor, the most money saved, or the highest probability of retirement success. The perfect retirement plan, for you – is the one you act on.

Phillip Smith, CRPC AIF | Financial Planner
Tidepool Wealth Strategies
450 Country Club Road, Suite 350 | Eugene, OR | 97401

____________________________________________________________________________________________
Additional Disclosures:
The opinions contained in this material are those of the author, and not a recommendation or solicitation to buy or sell investment products. This information is from sources believed to be reliable, but Cetera Wealth Services, LLC cannot guarantee or represent that it is accurate or complete.
All investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. There is no assurance that any investment strategy will be successful.

Do you have old 401(k)s, multiple IRAs, a Roth account, maybe even an inherited IRA…and you’re not quite sure what to do with all of them?

In this episode of The Perfect Retirement Plan?, we answer one of the most common retirement planning questions for people close to retirement: What do I do with all these retirement accounts?

If you’ve changed jobs over the years, you may have accumulated multiple 401(k)s, 403(b)s, traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, and possibly annuities. That’s not a mistake. But scattered accounts can create unnecessary complexity around required minimum distributions (RMDs), beneficiary designations, tax planning, Roth conversions, and estate strategy.

Chapters:

00:00 – “I keep retirement accounts everywhere…”
01:31 – Why this question is so common
02:57 – Real-life example: 5 employers, 5 plans
03:52 – 22 accounts and the legacy problem
05:46 – The “eggs in one basket” myth
07:40 – RMD rules and avoidable penalties
08:39 – Beneficiary forms override your will
10:01 – What simplification really means
12:24 – 3 practical action steps

If you’re within 5–7 years of retirement, or already retired, this episode can help you simplify your retirement accounts, reduce tax risk, and create a clearer retirement income structure.

Subscribe for clear, tax-smart retirement planning guidance designed for professionals nearing retirement.

#RetirementPlanning #401kRollover #RetirementAccounts #RMDs

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of The Perfect Retirement Plan, and remember: it's not about having the smartest financial advisor, the most money saved, or the highest probability of retirement success. The perfect retirement plan, for you – is the one you act on.

Phillip Smith, CRPC AIF | Financial Planner
Tidepool Wealth Strategies
450 Country Club Road, Suite 350 | Eugene, OR | 97401

____________________________________________________________________________________________
Additional Disclosures:
The opinions contained in this material are those of the author, and not a recommendation or solicitation to buy or sell investment products. This information is from sources believed to be reliable, but Cetera Wealth Services, LLC cannot guarantee or represent that it is accurate or complete.
All investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. There is no assurance that any investment strategy will be successful.