Retirement planning,
explained in plain English.
A free, professional-grade library for the decisions that define your retirement: Social Security, taxes, Medicare, and income. Written by real advisors, and always free.
Strong income base. Your tax strategy is the biggest opportunity.
How to Check a Financial Advisor's Record in 8 Minutes
Search adviserinfo.sec.gov and brokercheck.finra.org, read Form ADV Items 5, 9, 10 and 14, and learn which disclosures are noise and which are walk aways.
What a Financial Advisor Costs in 2026: 4 Fee Models
How much does a financial advisor cost in 2026? A plain English review of the four fee models: percentage of assets, flat retainer, hourly, and subscription.
Income Planning · 11 minHow Annuity Agents Get Paid, and Why You Never See It
An annuity commission is paid by the carrier, not billed to you. A review of the four channels that sell annuities, how each is paid, and what to ask.
Money Math · 11 min12 Questions to Ask a Financial Advisor Before Hiring
Twelve questions to ask a financial advisor before hiring, with what a strong answer sounds like, what a weak answer sounds like, and why each one matters.
Small decisions, decades of difference.
01Social SecurityClaiming strategies, spousal benefits, taxation, and timing.2 articles →
02Tax PlanningBracket math, withdrawal ordering, QCDs, and the tax torpedo.4 articles →
03Income PlanningSafe withdrawal rates, buckets, bond ladders, sequence risk.7 articles →
04Roth ConversionsWhen conversions pay off, IRMAA interaction, 5-year rules.2 articles →
05Estate PlanningExemption, step-up basis, trusts, and beneficiary designations.1 article →
06Money MathHistorical returns, fee impact, inflation, behavioral finance.14 articles →
07InvestingPortfolio basics, asset allocation, legendary investors, and market history.20 articles →Every corner of retirement.
Current IRS · SSA · CMS dataNot ready to talk yet? Run the numbers.
Retirement Readiness
Grade your full plan across income, taxes, healthcare, and protection in about two minutes.
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Project your savings trajectory with realistic, current assumptions.
START →Social Security
Compare claiming at 62, 67, and 70, translated into your own dollars.
START →The 2026 numbers, in one place.
The thresholds that actually move your plan, kept current, sourced, and explained. The page retirees keep open in a tab.
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