Leaving a large traditional IRA to your kids can be one ofthe most expensive retirement mistakes a family makes. In this episode of *A Smarter Way to Retire*, Tony Leonardi, CFP®, explains the difference betweenthe tax you pay on withdrawals during your lifetime and the tax your heirs may pay on the remaining pre-tax balance under the 10-year rule.

A traditional IRA is tax-deferred, not tax-free. You pay taxon what you take out. What is still in the account at death is still pre-tax —and most non-spouse heirs generally must empty that remaining balance within 10 years.

If you have a sizable IRA or 401(k) you don’t need to spend,this episode will change how you think about Leave-On assets, inherited IRAs, and tax-efficient legacy planning.

You’ll learn: 

• Why inherited traditional IRAs do not get a step-up inbasis 

• How the 10-year rule can push your kids into higher taxbrackets 

• The difference between Live-On assets and Leave-Onassets 

• Why you usually cannot maximize tax savings for yourselfand your heirs at the same time 

• 4 strategies that may help: spend the IRA first, Rothconversions, distribute and reinvest, and the Smart Legacy Tax Shield 

Example discussed: a $1.5 million IRA that grows to about$2.1 million — with a potential tax bill of $700,000 to $850,000 for the next generation.

Free resources: 

📘 Book: *A Smarter Way toRetire* — https://www.leonardifamilywealthcare.com 

📘 Smart Tax Shield LegacyPlaybook — https://www.leonardifamilywealthcare.com 

📘 Roth IRA ConversionPlaybook, 2026 Edition —https://www.leonardifamilywealthcare.com/roth-ira-conversion-playbook 

Want to see how much of your portfolio is Live-On vsLeave-On? Book a complimentary 15-minute call and Smart Retirement Model (while calendar openings last): 

https://www.leonardifamilywealthcare.com 

Listen on Apple Podcasts: 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-smarter-way-to-retire/id1793796703 

Listen on Spotify: 

https://open.spotify.com/show/643N9lbuQYiXXc188Rb1z8 

Subscribe for weekly retirement income planning,tax-efficient retirement strategies, and legacy planning. 

Please refer to the website for full disclosures andadditional resources.

#RetirementPlanning #TaxEfficientRetirement #InheritedIRA#RothConversion #EstatePlanning #CFP #ASmarterWayToRetire #LegacyPlanning #RMD#WealthPreservation

This content is for educational purposes only and should notbe considered tax, legal, or investment advice. Life insurance and annuitiesare long-term products subject to underwriting and the claims-paying ability ofthe issuing company. Results vary based on individual circumstances.

Once you retire, investing becomes a differentgame. Market drops no longer help you buy more shares — they force you to sell more shares.

Combined with the 50/100 Rule, early volatility can permanently damage a retirement plan.

In this episode, Tony Leonardi explains the twoforces working against retirees and what you can do about them.

Most retirement plans look fine when everything goes smoothly. Real life rarely does.

In this episode of A Smarter Way to Retire, Tony Leonardi walks through how to stress-test a three-bucket retirement income plan against the challenges that actually show up:

• Sequence of returns risk in the early years

• Higher inflation

•Longevity (living into your 90s or beyond)

• Elevated spending periods

• Asset allocation inside each bucket

• Combined stresses

You’ll also get a quick review of the three buckets and see why this structure is built with difficult conditions in mind.

Timestamps:

0:00 – Introduction & garden update

1:45 – Quick review of the 3-bucket approach

4:30 – Why stress-testing matters

6:15 – Key scenarios we test

11:40 – How the three buckets respond under stress

14:20 – Practical example

16:30 – What to do with the results

18:00 – Next steps & Smart Retirement Model

Want to see how your own plan holds up? Book a complimentary 15-minutecall: LeonardiFamilyWealthcare.com

#RetirementPlanning #ThreeBucketStrategy #SequenceOfReturns#RetirementIncome #TonyLeonardiCFP

How should you actually withdraw money from your retirement savings once you stop working?

In this episode, I walk through practical withdrawalstrategies using the three-bucket retirement income approach. You’ll learn:

- Why you should generally spend from Bucket 1 first 

- How to refill Bucket 1 without increasing risk 

- The “slow drip” method using dividends and interest 

- Why Bucket 3 should usually be protected 

- How tax location fits into the three-bucket framework 

- Common withdrawal mistakes that can quietly damage aplan 

This is the natural follow-up to last week’s episode on howto invest each of the three buckets.

If you’d like to see how this strategy could work with yourown numbers, I’m offering to build your Smart Retirement Model at no cost or obligation while openings remain. 

Book a quick call here:https://www.leonardifamilywealthcare.com

Subscribe for weekly retirement planning insights. 

There really is a smarter way to retire.

#RetirementIncome #RetirementPlanning #ThreeBucketStrategy#SequenceOfReturns #TonyLeonardiCFP

Once you’ve organized your retirement savings into threebuckets, the next important question is how to invest the money *inside* each one.

In this episode, Tony Leonardi, CFP® explains why a singleallocation (like 60/40 or 70/30) applied to your entire portfolio often fallsshort — and how matching investment strategy to the job of each bucket cancreate a more intentional approach.

You’ll learn:

- Why investing *in* retirement is different from investing*for* retirement

- How the Early Retirement Income Bucket is generallyinvested more conservatively for stability and availability

- Why the Longer-Term Live On Bucket often uses a balancedor moderately growth-oriented mix

- How the Leave On Bucket can support a higher growthallocation due to its longer time horizon

- Key principles and common mistakes when applying amulti-bucket investment approach

This discussion is high-level and educational. The rightinvestment mix depends on individual circumstances, risk tolerance, time horizon, and overall plan. Actual investment decisions should be made as part of a coordinated strategy with your advisor.

**Free Resources:**

- Take the Smart Retirement Strategy Quiz:LeonardiFamilyWealthcare.com/quiz

- Download the Roth IRA Conversion Playbook (Free)

- Download the Smart Tax Shield Legacy Playbook (Free)

**Timestamps:** 

00:00 – Introduction & Series Recap 

01:41 – Keeping the Discussion High-Level 

03:05 – The Common Mistake of One-Size-Fits-AllAllocations 

04:18 – Why the 3-Bucket Framework Helps 

04:47 – Bucket 1: Early Retirement Income Bucket 

06:48 – Bucket 2: Longer-Term Live On Bucket 

08:55 – Bucket 3: Leave On Bucket 

10:35 – Key Principles for Investing Across the Buckets 

12:22 – Common Mistakes to Avoid 

13:43 – The Role of Financial Modeling 

14:23 – Quiz, Playbooks & Next Steps

If you’d like to explore how a three-bucket investmentapproach might apply to your situation, you can book a complimentary 15-minutecall at LeonardiFamilyWealthcare.com.

Please refer to the website for full disclosures andadditional resources.

#RetirementPlanning #3BucketStrategy #AssetAllocation#RetirementInvesting #SmartRetirement

Once you’ve organized your retirement savings into three buckets, the next important step is learning how to fund them in a tax-efficient way.

In this episode, Tony Leonardi, CFP® explains how to strategically fill each of the three buckets — the Early Retirement Income Bucket, the Longer-TermLive On Bucket, and the Leave On Bucket — while considering taxes, RMDs, IRMAA, and legacy planning.

You’ll learn:

-Why the best way to fund each bucket depends on your specific situation

-When it makes sense to use taxable vs. tax-deferred accounts in Bucket 1

-How to use Roth conversions and strategic withdrawals in Bucket 2

-Why Bucket 3 is often ideal for Roth conversions and legacy strategies

Free Resources:

-Take the Smart Retirement Strategy Quiz:LeonardiFamilyWealthcare.com/quiz

-Download the Roth IRA Conversion Playbook (Free)

-Download the Smart Tax Shield Legacy Playbook (Free)

Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction & 3-Bucket Recap 02:17 – Refining TaxWithdrawal Strategies

04:47 – Bucket 1: Early Retirement Income Bucket Funding09:21 – Bucket 2: Longer-Term Live On Bucket Strategies 12:37 – Bucket 3: Leave On Bucket & Legacy Planning 14:18 – Key Principles for Tax-EfficientFunding

16:44 – Why Personalization Matters + CTA

If you’d like help building and funding your own 3-bucket retirement plan, book a complimentary 15-minute call at LeonardiFamilyWealthcare.com.

#RetirementPlanning #TaxEfficientRetirement #3BucketStrategy#RothConversions #SmartRetirement

Most people only think about two buckets of retirement money— what they’ll spend and what they’ll leave to their kids. But there’s a critical third bucket that can make a significant difference, especially in the early years of retirement.

In this episode, Tony Leonardi, CFP® explains why adding an**Early Retirement Income Bucket** (designed to cover the first 3–5 years of retirement spending) can be helpful for **helping to protect** against Sequenceof Returns Risk.

You’ll learn:

- Why the traditional two-bucket approach is often notenough

- How Sequence of Returns Risk can impact early retirement

- The purpose of the Early Retirement Income Bucket

- How the 3-bucket system gives you better clarity andstructure

This episode builds on our conversation about Live On vsLeave On assets and introduces a practical framework for the early years of retirement.

Free Resources:

- Take the Smart Retirement Strategy Quiz →LeonardiFamilyWealthcare.com/quiz

- Book a complimentary Smart Retirement Model call

If you’re within 5 years of retirement or recently retired,this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

#RetirementPlanning #SequenceOfReturns #3BucketStrategy#EarlyRetirement

Many people know long-term care is expensive and that theymight need it one day, but they haven’t actually addressed it in their retirement plan. As a result, the concern often lingers in the background like a dark cloud.

In this episode, Tony Leonardi, CFP® explains how to stopavoiding the issue and start dealing with it practically using the Live On vs Leave On framework.

You’ll learn:

- Why leaving long-term care unaddressed creates unnecessarystress

- How to quantify the potential cost of care

- Three realistic ways to handle long-term care:Self-insuring with Leave On assets, Traditional long-term care insurance, andHybrid (asset-based) policies

- The pros and cons of each approach and how they impactyour overall plan

If you’ve been putting off long-term care planning becauseit feels overwhelming, this episode will help you think about it more clearly and make a conscious decision.

**Free Resources:**

- Take the Smart Retirement Strategy Quiz:LeonardiFamilyWealthcare.com/quiz

- Download the Roth IRA Conversion Playbook and Smart TaxShield Legacy Playbook (free on our website)

**Timestamps:**

00:00 – Introduction 

01:45 – Why Long-Term Care Planning Often Gets Ignored 

04:20 – Step 1: Quantify the Potential Cost 

06:10 – Option 1: Self-Insuring with Leave On Assets 

08:45 – Option 2: Traditional Long-Term Care Insurance 

11:20 – Option 3: Hybrid / Asset-Based Policies 

14:30 – Final Thoughts & Smart Retirement Model Offer

If you have substantial retirement savings and want helprunning the numbers on long-term care, book a complimentary 15-minute call atLeonardiFamilyWealthcare.com.

#LongTermCare #RetirementPlanning #LiveOnVsLeaveOn#TaxStrategy #LegacyPlanning

Most retirees make one costly mistake — they treat all their retirement savings the same way. But not all retirement dollars have the same purpose.

In this webinar, Tony Leonardi, CFP®, explains the critical distinction between Live On Assets (money you’ll spend during retirement) and Leave On Assets (money intended for your children and grandchildren).

You’ll learn:

-Roth IRA Conversion Playbook (2026 Edition)

-Smart Tax Shield Legacy Playbook

-Smart Retirement Strategy Quiz (18 unique retireeprofiles)

Free Resources Mentioned:

-Roth IRA Conversion Playbook (2026 Edition)

-Smart Tax Shield Legacy Playbook

-Smart Retirement Strategy Quiz (18 unique retireeprofiles)

All available for free at LeonardiFamilyWealthcare.com

Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction & Agenda

02:30 – The Costly Mistake Most Retirees Make

05:45 – Live On vs Leave On Assets Explained

09:20 – How We Calculate Your Two Buckets

14:10 – Why This Distinction Matters (Taxes, Risk& Legacy)

20:40 – Real Client Examples ($1.5M and $4M Portfolios)

28:15 – Smart Strategies for Each Bucket

35:00 – The Smart Retirement Strategy Quiz38:20 – Complimentary Smart Retirement Model Offer

If you have substantial retirement savings and want a more personalized plan, book a quick 15-minute call with Tony at LeonardiFamilyWealthcare.com.

#RetirementPlanning #LiveOnVsLeaveOn #TaxStrategy #LegacyPlanning#RetirementLegacy #SmartRetirement

If you have $1.5 million or more in retirement accounts — and you don’t actually need all of it to live on comfortably — this episode is for you.

In this video, Tony Leonardi, CFP®, reveals the hidden problem that affects many successful savers: Without proper planning, the IRS can end up as one of your largest “heirs” — taking two bites at the same retirement savings.

You’ll learn:

-Why RMDs and the 10-year inherited IRA rule can cost your family hundreds of thousands (or more) in taxes

-The critical distinction between Live On assets (for you) and Leave On assets (for your heirs)

-How to structure your plan more intelligently for both your lifestyle and your legacy

Whether you have strong pension income, substantial non-retirement savings, or simply more in IRAs and 401(k)s than you need, this episode will show you how to avoid the common traps most successful savers fall into.

Take the Free Smart Retirement Strategy Quiz Discover which of the 18 retiree profiles best matches your situation: → LeonardiFamilyWealthcare.com/quiz

Free Guides Mentioned:

-Roth IRA Conversion Playbook (2026 Edition)

-Smart Tax Shield Legacy Playbook

Both available for free on my website.

Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction: The $1.5M+ Retirement Trap

02:10 – Why the IRS Takes Two Bites at Your Savings

05:30 – Live On vs Leave On Assets Explained09:15 – Real Impact on You and Your Heirs

12:40 – The Smart Retirement StrategyQuiz

14:20 – Next Steps & Complimentary Smart Retirement Model Offer

If you have substantial retirement savings and want a smarter, more personalized plan, book a quick 15-minute call with me:LeonardiFamilyWealthcare.com

#RetirementPlanning #TaxStrategy #LegacyPlanning #SmartRetirement#HighNetWorth #RetirementTrap