A down market does not let you skip your required minimum distribution, but it does not have to wreck your retirement either. Here are 7 strategies for taking RMDs in a bear market, from pulling cash first to QCDs, in-kind transfers, and down-market Roth conversions.
Between retirement and RMD age sits a Roth conversion window most retirees walk right past. Danny Gudorf explains the gap years, the sweet spot for how much to convert, and when converting doesn't make sense at all.
How much do you need to retire in Ohio? For most Dayton-area couples, a comfortable retirement runs $75,000 to $100,000 a year, and the savings it takes depends on how much Social Security already covers. Here's what each spending tier costs, what it takes in savings, and how Ohio taxes the money you draw.
Midwest cities took nearly a third of the top 30 spots on U.S. News' 2026 Best Places to Retire list. Here's what the best places to retire in the Midwest actually cost, which cities stand out, and how each state taxes your Social Security, IRA, and pension income.
Medicare IRMAA charges can significantly increase costs for higher-income retirees. This article breaks down the 2025 IRMAA brackets, how they’re calculated, and strategies to lower future Medicare premiums. Learn how to minimize IRMAA through tax planning, charitable giving, and appeals while keeping your retirement healthcare costs under control.
Trump Accounts opened for contributions on July 4, and grandparents want to know if they should fund one for their grandkids. The $1,000 government deposit is nice. The hidden Roth conversion strategy buried inside these accounts is the part that could genuinely change a grandchild's financial life. Here is how it works, and how we pair it with a 529.
Most families wait, and the money lands at 60 when it is welcome but no longer transformative. Danny Gudorf makes the case for giving money to adult children during the decade that shapes their lives, ages 26 to 34, and walks through the 2026 gift tax rules that make it simpler than most people fear.
A new $6,000 senior bonus deduction took effect for tax year 2025, and most retirees do not know it exists. How much you receive depends on your income -- and your income responds to decisions you make about distributions, conversions, and investment sales. Here is what the deduction is, who qualifies, and how to use it as a planning tool.
Not sure how to find a financial advisor in Dayton? Here's exactly what to look for, what to skip, and why fiduciary status matters most.
You don't need a perfect retirement plan. You need a well-built one. Here's the difference -- and why over-optimization is keeping people from retiring on plans that would have worked fine.
What are the pros and cons of retiring in Ohio? Social Security and estates go untaxed, and overall prices run about 7% below the national average. The catches are winter, property taxes, and a school district income tax that reaches pensions and IRA withdrawals in about 150 districts.
A more diversified portfolio beat the 60/40 by about 5 percentage points in 2025 -- the biggest gap since 2009. But the 60/40 has beaten diversified benchmarks over the trailing 20 years. Here is what the data actually shows and what it means for your retirement portfolio.