You don’t build a great retirement by guessing the market’s next swing; you build it by owning your tax future. To mark our 800th show, we sit down with Ed Slott, America’s IRA expert, to map a clear path from tax-deferred uncertainty to tax-free control. We revisit the 2010 Roth conversion opening and draw a straight line to today’s unusually wide, still-low tax brackets that make strategic conversions a rare bargain. Ed explains why “tax laws are written in pencil” and how bracket-filling, not RMD minimums, is the mindset that protects your wealth.

From there, we tackle the Secure Act’s 10-year rule and how it reshapes legacy planning. If you’re counting on traditional IRAs to serve your children well, think again. Compressing distributions into a decade often collides with peak earnings and higher brackets, turning inheritance into a tax headache. We outline smarter tools: Roth IRAs for tax-free growth and withdrawals, and permanent life insurance for income tax-free wealth transfer, control, and larger net inheritances. This is where the single greatest income tax benefit in the code does the heavy lifting.

Finally, we get practical about peace of mind. Guaranteed income changes behavior and lowers stress, especially when markets feel like a casino. We walk through how annuities can create a reliable base for essential expenses, reduce sequence risk, and free you to invest the rest with confidence. Place those guarantees inside a Roth and you’ve upgraded to guaranteed, tax-free income you can tap when needed. If your goal is freedom from taxes, worry, risk, and bad advice, this conversation gives you a plan you can put to work now.

If you’re ready to keep more and share less, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs a tax-smart retirement plan. For a free consultation, call 866-780-7233 or visit Ozarksretirement.com.

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To learn more about Brad Pistole and the Ozark Retirement Group, please visit www.ozarksretirement.com