Frank Finly — Retirement Planning & Tax Strategies

The Roth conversion ladder lets early retirees access retirement funds tax-free before 59½. Here is the 5-year plan.


Topics covered:
roth conversion ladder, early retirement roth strategy.

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https://frankfinly.com/taxes/roth-conversion-ladder?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=roth-conversion-ladder

Free retirement planning tools:
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Sources mentioned:
- IRS Publication 590-B — Distributions from IRAs (5-year rule) — https://www.irs.gov/publications/p590b
- IRS — Retirement Topics: Tax on Early Distributions — https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-participant-employee/retirement-topics-tax-on-early-distributions
- IRS — Rollovers of Retirement Plan and IRA Distributions — https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-participant-employee/rollovers-of-retirement-plan-and-ira-distributions

How much could your Roth IRA be worth at retirement? Compare tax-free Roth growth against a taxable account and see the real dollar difference over time.


Topics covered: roth ira calculator.

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https://frankfinly.com/retirement/roth-ira-calculator?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=roth-ira-calculator

Free retirement planning tools:

https://frankfinly.com?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=roth-ira-calculator

Sources mentioned:
- IRS — Roth IRAs — https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/roth-iras
- IRS Publication 590-A — Contributions to IRAs — https://www.irs.gov/publications/p590a
- IRS Publication 590-B — Distributions from IRAs (5-year rule, 59½) — https://www.irs.gov/publications/p590b
- IRS Notice 2025-67 — 2026 Amounts Relating to Retirement Plans and IRAs — https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-25-67.pdf

Pre-tax or Roth 401(k)? The decision is driven by your tax bracket now versus in retirement — but two SECURE 2.0 changes make the Roth more attractive in 2026 than ever before.


Topics covered: roth 401k vs 401k.

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https://frankfinly.com/retirement/roth-401k-vs-traditional-401k-2026?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=roth-401k-vs-traditional-401k-2026

Free retirement planning tools:
https://frankfinly.com?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=roth-401k-vs-traditional-401k-2026

Sources mentioned:
- IRS — Roth Comparison Chart — https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/roth-comparison-chart
- IRS — SECURE 2.0 Act Changes — https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/secure-20-act-changes

Medicare Part B premiums in 2026 start at $185/month but can exceed $600 with IRMAA. Here is what determines your cost.


Topics covered: medicare part b premium 2026.

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https://frankfinly.com/taxes/medicare-part-b-premiums-2026?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=medicare-part-b-premiums-2026

Free retirement planning tools:
https://frankfinly.com?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=medicare-part-b-premiums-2026

Sources mentioned:
- Medicare.gov — What does Medicare cost? — https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/medicare-basics/what-does-medicare-cost

- SSA — Medicare Premiums: Rules for Higher-Income Beneficiaries (IRMAA) — https://www.ssa.gov/medicare/part-d-extra-help/medicare-premiums-rules-higher-income-beneficiaries

Your birth year determines your full retirement age and how much Social Security you get. Here is a complete breakdown by year.


Topics covered: social security raising retirement age.

Read the full article:
https://frankfinly.com/retirement/social-security-by-birth-year?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=social-security-by-birth-year

Free retirement planning tools:
https://frankfinly.com?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=social-security-by-birth-year

Sources mentioned:
- SSA — Full Retirement Age Chart by Birth Year — https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/agereduction.html
- SSA — Delayed Retirement Credits and Early Retirement Reductions — https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/delayret.html
- SSA — Benefit Formula (AIME / PIA) — https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/Benefits.html

The same retirement income can cost you $6,000 more in California than Florida — every year. Learn which states are most tax-friendly for retirees and what factors matter beyond the headline numbers.


Topics covered: states that don't tax retirement income, states that don't tax retirement.

Read the full article:
https://frankfinly.com/taxes/state-tax-comparison?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=state-tax-comparison

Free retirement planning tools:
https://frankfinly.com?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=state-tax-comparison

Sources mentioned:
- Tax Foundation — State Individual Income Tax Rates — https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/state/state-individual-income-tax-rates-and-brackets/

- Tax Foundation — Property Taxes by State — https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/state/property-taxes-by-state/

- Tax Foundation — State and Local Sales Tax Rates — https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/state/2024-sales-taxes/

- Tax Foundation — State Treatment of Retirement Income — https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/state/state-individual-income-tax-rates-and-brackets/

Not all retirement income is taxed equally. These five strategies can help you build a stream of tax-free income in retirement.

Topics covered:
tax free retirement account, tax free retirement income, tax free retirement strategies.

Read the full article:
https://frankfinly.com/taxes/tax-free-retirement-income?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=tax-free-retirement-income

Free retirement planning tools:
https://frankfinly.com?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=tax-free-retirement-income

Sources mentioned:
- IRS — Roth IRAs — https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/roth-iras

- IRS Publication 969 — Health Savings Accounts — https://www.irs.gov/publications/p969

- IRS — Tax-Exempt Interest (Municipal Bonds) — https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc403

- IRS — Life Insurance Policy Loans (Modified Endowment Contracts) — https://www.irs.gov/publications/p525

Retirement isn't about reaching an age — it's about reaching a number. Here's how to figure out if your money can support your life for potentially 30+ years without a paycheck.


Topics covered:
when can i retire, how to know when to retire, am i ready to retire.

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https://frankfinly.com/retirement/when-can-i-retire?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=when-can-i-retire

Free retirement planning tools:
https://frankfinly.com?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=when-can-i-retire

Sources mentioned:
- Bengen (1994) — Determining Withdrawal Rates Using Historical Data (the 4% rule) — https://www.financialplanningassociation.org/article/journal/MAR04-determining-withdrawal-rates-using-historical-data

- SSA — Benefit Formula (AIME / PIA) — https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/Benefits.html

- SSA — Delayed Retirement Credits and Early Retirement Reductions — https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/delayret.html

- IRS — Retirement Topics: Exceptions to Tax on Early Distributions (72(t) SEPP) — https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-participant-employee/retirement-topics-exceptions-to-tax-on-early-distributions

The RMD rules have changed twice in recent years, catching many retirees off guard. Here's exactly what you need to know about when distributions must begin, how they're calculated, and what happens if you miss the deadline.


Topics covered: rmd rules, required minimum distribution, rmd deadlines, rmd 2026.

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Free retirement planning tools

Sources mentioned:
- IRS Publication 590-B — Distributions from IRAs (RMD rules, penalties)

Is $1 million enough to retire? We run the numbers on withdrawals, taxes, and Social Security to give you the real answer.

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Free retirement planning tools

Sources mentioned:
- IRS — Federal Income Tax Rates and Brackets
- IRS Topic 551 — Standard Deduction
- IRS Topic 409 — Capital Gains and Losses
- IRS Publication 915 — Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits (taxation rules)
- IRS — Retirement Topics: Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)