Required minimum distributions tend to sneak up on people, mostly because they’re easy to ignore until the year they actually start. Today I’ll talk about six popular moves people make before RMDs kick in and explain why each one gets so much attention. More importantly, I give you my take on whether those strategies actually hold up or just sound good on paper.

I'll cover familiar ideas like Roth conversions, spending traditional IRAs first, charitable distributions, annuities, and even the option of continuing to work longer. Some of these can be really useful tools when used in the right situation, while others are often oversold or misunderstood. The goal here is not to chase every tactic, but to understand which levers actually matter for your taxes, income, and psychological well-being.