In this episode of 'Retire with Style', Wade Pfau and Alex Murguia discuss the non-financial aspects of retirement with Jason Rizkallah. They explore how relationships change during retirement, the importance of maintaining social connections, and the need for communication between spouses. The conversation also touches on balancing time spent together and apart, as well as the significance of leading a healthy lifestyle in retirement. The hosts emphasize the importance of planning and discussing these changes before and during retirement to ensure a smooth transition. In this conversation, Jason Rizkallah discusses the various lifestyle changes that come with retirement, emphasizing the importance of building new routines, finding purpose, and maintaining social connections. He highlights the challenges of unstructured time and the need to adapt to aging, while also encouraging a positive outlook on these transitions. The discussion covers practical strategies for navigating retirement successfully, including the importance of planning and fostering relationships. Listen now to learn more!

Takeaways

• Relationships may change significantly after retirement.
• Engaging in hobbies can help meet new people.
• Communication with your spouse about retirement goals is crucial.
• Expect changes in household roles after retirement.
• Discussing financial plans is important for a successful retirement.
• Balancing time together and apart is key to a healthy relationship.
• Planning for family obligations is necessary in retirement.
• Mental and physical health are both important in retirement.
• It's never too late to have important conversations about retirement. Most folks operate under a routine to some degree.
• Creating a new routine is important in retirement.
• You have to make an effort to maintain social connections.
• Avoid the trap of doing nothing in retirement

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Retirement Planning 02:07 Navigating Relationship Changes in Retirement 12:51 Balancing Time Together and Apart 18:46 Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle in Retirement 19:36 Building New Routines in Retirement 24:06 Transforming Lifestyle Changes into Opportunities 29:37 Navigating Unstructured Time 31:34 Strengthening Relationships in Retirement 33:40 Embracing Aging and Its Challenges

Links

Join Our Next Live Q&A Session! We’re hosting our next Retire With Style YouTube Live Q&A on Wednesday, June 3rd at 12:00 PM ET. Wade and Alex will be answering your retirement planning questions live!

✅ Submit your question in advance at retirewithstyle.com ✅ Or join us live and ask your question in the chat

Come be part of the conversation—your questions often inspire future episodes! 📺 Subscribe to the Retire With Style YouTube Channel to be notified when we go live!

📘 New Release: The Retirement Planning Guidebook (3rd Edition) Wade Pfau’s must-read Retirement Planning Guidebook just got even better. The 3rd Edition is now available and packed with the latest updates to help you design your retirement strategy with confidence. Grab your copy on Amazon or your favorite book retailer: https://books2read.com/Retirement

This episode is sponsored by McLean Asset Management. Visit https://www.mcleanam.com/retirement-income-planning-llm/ to download McLean’s free eBook, “Retirement Income Planning”

This episode of Retire With Style explores the non-financial aspects of retirement, focusing on how retirees can build purpose, identity, and fulfillment beyond just having enough money. Wade Pfau, Alex Murguia, and guest Jason Rizkallah discuss the importance of “retiring to something, not from something,” emphasizing that retirement planning should begin with envisioning the life you want before determining the financial resources needed to support it. The conversation covers common retirement misconceptions, the emotional transition away from work-based identity, the risks of isolation and lack of purpose, and the value of testing retirement goals before fully committing to them. They also explore phased retirement, evolving relationships, and how work can still play a meaningful role in retirement for those who genuinely enjoy it. Listen now to learn more!

• Retirement planning should start with defining the life you want to live, not just calculating numbers and investment returns.

• A healthier retirement mindset is to retire to something meaningful rather than simply escaping a job you dislike.

• Many people discover that goals they postponed for decades are not actually priorities once retirement arrives.

• Testing retirement activities before fully committing, such as renting an RV before buying one, can help avoid costly mistakes and disappointment.

• Work often provides structure, identity, relationships, and purpose, all of which can feel suddenly absent in retirement.

• Retirement can create emotional challenges like isolation, inertia, or depression if retirees lack meaningful goals or social engagement.

• Many couples choose to retire around the same time regardless of age differences, creating new relationship dynamics that require communication and planning.

• Over 40% of retirees leave work earlier than expected due to health issues, caregiving responsibilities, or job loss, making early planning especially important.

• Some retirees continue working in a limited or consulting capacity because they genuinely enjoy their profession and value staying engaged.

• Financial plans work best when investments are designed to support a clearly defined retirement lifestyle rather than determining the lifestyle afterward.

Chapters

03:20 Understanding Purpose and Passion in Retirement 05:03 Transitioning Mindsets: Retiring To Something 08:10 The Importance of Finding Your Passion 11:02 Exploring Hobbies and Interests 13:29 Real-Life Examples of Retirement Aspirations 16:20 Coping with Unmet Expectations in Retirement 18:42 Trial Runs: Testing Retirement Activities 20:16 Exploring Retirement Activities 23:04 The Impact of Work Identity on Retirement 27:32 Navigating Relationships in Retirement 32:34 The Shift in Retirement Mindset 36:20 Phased Retirement and Continuing Work

Links

📘 New Release: The Retirement Planning Guidebook (3rd Edition) Wade Pfau’s must-read Retirement Planning Guidebook just got even better. The 3rd Edition is now available and packed with the latest updates to help you design your retirement strategy with confidence. Grab your copy on Amazon or your favorite book retailer: https://books2read.com/Retirement

This episode is sponsored by Retirement Researcher https://retirementresearcher.com/. Download their free eBook, 8 Tips to Becoming A Retirement Income Investor at retirementresearcher.com/8tips

This episode of Retire with Style continues the Retirement Planning Guidebook series by focusing on how tax planning changes when legacy and estate considerations are incorporated into the retirement planning process. Wade and Alex break down key estate planning concepts in a practical way, including step-up in basis rules, Roth conversion decisions tied to beneficiaries’ future tax brackets, inherited IRA distribution rules under the SECURE Act, gifting strategies, estate tax exemptions, and how trusts and life insurance can be used to manage estate taxes and liquidity needs. The conversation emphasizes that retirement tax planning is not just about maximizing your own after-tax income, but also about improving the after-tax outcomes for heirs and charities. Listen now to learn more.

Key Takeaways

• Retirement tax planning changes significantly when leaving a legacy becomes a priority, especially regarding how different account types are spent down.
• Taxable brokerage accounts receive a step-up in basis at death, allowing heirs to avoid capital gains taxes on appreciation that occurred during the original owner’s lifetime.
• Roth conversions can become more attractive if beneficiaries are expected to inherit assets during their peak earning years and face higher tax rates than the retiree.
• Equal inheritances before taxes do not always produce equal inheritances after taxes, making asset location across heirs an important estate planning consideration.
• In 2026, the federal estate tax exemption is $15 million per person, but future legislative changes could lower those limits substantially.
• Several states impose their own estate or inheritance taxes, meaning some households may face state-level estate planning concerns even if they avoid federal estate taxes.
• Annual gifting rules allow individuals to transfer up to $19,000 per recipient each year without reducing their lifetime estate tax exemption.
• Life insurance can provide liquidity for estates and, when structured through irrevocable trusts, may help move future appreciation outside of the taxable estate.
• The SECURE Act replaced many lifetime “stretch IRA” strategies with 10-year distribution windows for most non-spousal beneficiaries.
• Inherited Roth IRAs still require distributions within the required timeframe, but those withdrawals are generally income tax-free to beneficiaries.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Retirement Planning Guidebook 03:10 Tax Planning and Legacy Considerations 05:55 Strategies for Tax-Efficient Inheritance 09:11 Understanding Estate Taxes 11:55 Gifting Strategies and Limits 14:49 Life Insurance and Estate Planning 18:00 RMDs on Inherited Accounts

Links

📘 New Release: The Retirement Planning Guidebook (3rd Edition) Wade Pfau’s must-read Retirement Planning Guidebook just got even better. The 3rd Edition is now available and packed with the latest updates to help you design your retirement strategy with confidence. Grab your copy on Amazon or your favorite book retailer: https://books2read.com/Retirement

This episode is sponsored by McLean Asset Management. Visit https://www.mcleanam.com/retirement-income-planning-llm/ to download McLean’s free eBook, “Retirement Income Planning”

In this episode of Retire With Style, Wade Pfau and Alex Murguia walk through the foundational elements of estate, legacy, and incapacity planning from Chapter 11 of the Retirement Planning Guidebook. They discuss why estate planning is about far more than drafting a will, including how to organize important financial and personal documents, avoid common beneficiary designation mistakes, understand the role of trusts and probate, and prepare powers of attorney and healthcare directives before they are needed. The conversation emphasizes the importance of making life easier for loved ones during emergencies or incapacity, while also highlighting why professional estate planning guidance can help retirees avoid costly and emotionally difficult mistakes. Listen now to learn more!

Takeaways

• Beneficiary designations override your will, making regular reviews critically important after major life changes.
• Estate planning is not just about distributing assets; it is also about preparing others to manage your affairs during incapacity.
• Organizing financial accounts, insurance policies, passwords, and important documents can significantly reduce stress for loved ones.
• Living trusts can help avoid probate and maintain privacy while providing more control over asset distribution.
• Testamentary trusts may be cheaper to create, but they generally do not avoid probate.
• Financial powers of attorney should be established before cognitive decline or incapacity becomes an issue.
• Banks may still create obstacles for powers of attorney, which is why proactive setup and verification are important.
• Healthcare directives and living wills should be discussed openly with family members, not simply stored away in a folder.
• Estate planning should include practical details like pet care instructions, funeral wishes, and emergency contacts.
• DIY estate planning mistakes can unintentionally disinherit family members or undermine years of careful financial planning.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Retirement Planning 01:01 Estate Planning Essentials 06:08 Organizing Personal Information 11:18 Insurance Policies and Their Importance 15:04 Understanding Beneficiary Designations 20:01 The Role of Trusts in Estate Planning 23:43 Power of Attorney Explained 28:11 Healthcare Directives and Final Wishes

Links

📘 New Release: The Retirement Planning Guidebook (3rd Edition) Wade Pfau’s must-read Retirement Planning Guidebook just got even better. The 3rd Edition is now available and packed with the latest updates to help you design your retirement strategy with confidence. Grab your copy on Amazon or your favorite book retailer: https://books2read.com/Retirement

This episode is sponsored by Retirement Researcher https://retirementresearcher.com/. Download their free eBook, 8 Tips to Becoming A Retirement Income Investor at retirementresearcher.com/8tips

In this episode of Retire with Style, Wade and Alex continue their discussion of retirement tax pitfalls. They focus on how small increases in income can trigger disproportionately large financial consequences through lost benefits and higher effective tax rates. The conversation highlights key risks such as Affordable Care Act subsidy cliffs, Medicare IRMA surcharges, required minimum distributions, and deduction phaseouts, emphasizing that careful income management is essential to avoid cascading tax impacts in retirement. Listen now to learn more!

Key Takeaways

• Exceeding the ACA income threshold by even $1 can eliminate tens of thousands of dollars in health insurance subsidies.
• Pre-Medicare retirees must carefully manage income to avoid losing ACA benefits.
• Income at ages 63–64 can both reduce ACA subsidies now and increase Medicare premiums later.
• Small increases in income can create extremely high effective marginal tax rates due to benefit cliffs.
• Required minimum distributions can force unwanted income that triggers multiple tax consequences.
• The RMD “cliff” is really a series of overlapping tax effects rather than a single event.
• Roth conversions can help reduce future tax burdens by lowering tax-deferred account balances.
• Qualified charitable distributions are more tax-efficient than taking withdrawals and donating afterward.
• Deduction phaseouts can quietly increase effective tax rates beyond stated tax brackets.
• Strategic income sourcing can help retirees avoid triggering costly tax thresholds.

Chapters

00:00 – Why Retirement Taxes Are More Than Just Tax Brackets

01:35 – The ACA Subsidy Cliff (The $1 Mistake That Costs $20K+)

08:35 – The Double Hit: ACA + IRMA

11:35 – The RMD “Cliff” and Forced Income Problems

17:55 – Smart Mitigation Strategies (Roth Conversions + QCDs)

20:45 – Hidden Tax Traps: Deduction Phaseouts

30:00 – The Big Picture: Managing Income to Avoid Tax Cascades

Links

📘 New Release: The Retirement Planning Guidebook (3rd Edition) Wade Pfau’s must-read Retirement Planning Guidebook just got even better. The 3rd Edition is now available and packed with the latest updates to help you design your retirement strategy with confidence. Grab your copy on Amazon or your favorite book retailer: https://books2read.com/Retirement

This episode is sponsored by McLean Asset Management. Visit https://www.mcleanam.com/retirement-income-planning-llm/ to download McLean’s free eBook, “Retirement Income Planning”

In this episode of 'Retire with Style', Wade Pfau and Alex Murguia delve into the intricacies of tax planning as part of retirement strategy. They discuss the importance of asset location in retirement accounts, the pitfalls that retirees face regarding taxes, and strategies for effective tax planning. The conversation emphasizes the need for careful consideration of how different types of income can impact tax liabilities, including Social Security and Medicare premiums. The hosts also highlight the significance of rebalancing portfolios in a tax-efficient manner and the benefits of utilizing tax maps for better financial planning. Listen now to learn more!

Takeaways

• Asset allocation should come before asset location in retirement planning.
• Tax-efficient asset classes should be prioritized in taxable accounts.
• Rebalancing in tax-advantaged accounts avoids generating taxable income.
• Understanding the social security tax torpedo is crucial for retirees.
• Roth conversions can be strategically timed to minimize tax impact.
• Medicare premiums can significantly increase based on income levels.
• Effective tax planning can lead to substantial savings in retirement.
• Utilizing buffer assets can help manage tax liabilities effectively.
• Tax maps can guide retirees in making informed financial decisions.
• Regularly reviewing tax strategies is essential for optimal retirement planning.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Retirement Planning and Tax Strategies 02:52 Understanding Asset Location in Retirement Accounts 17:34 Tax Pitfalls in Retirement Planning 30:02 Strategies for Effective Tax Planning

Links

📘 New Release: The Retirement Planning Guidebook (3rd Edition) Wade Pfau’s must-read Retirement Planning Guidebook just got even better. The 3rd Edition is now available and packed with the latest updates to help you design your retirement strategy with confidence. Grab your copy on Amazon or your favorite book retailer: https://books2read.com/Retirement

This episode is sponsored by Retirement Researcher https://retirementresearcher.com/. Download their free eBook, 8 Tips to Becoming A Retirement Income Investor at retirementresearcher.com/8tips

This week on Retire with Style, Alex and Wade focus on how retirees can improve tax efficiency to maximize after-tax spending power. They walk through the structure of the tax system, emphasizing the importance of understanding adjusted gross income (AGI), above-the-line and below-the-line deductions, and how different tax rules interact. They also introduce the concept of tax diversification across taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free accounts, explaining how each account type is taxed and how strategic use of all three can create more flexibility and better long-term outcomes. The discussion highlights that tax planning is not about loopholes, but about working within the rules to avoid unnecessary taxes and unintended consequences. Listen now to learn more!

Takeaways

• Tax efficiency is about increasing after-tax spending power, not just minimizing taxes in a single year
• Adjusted gross income (AGI) is a critical planning lever since many tax rules, phaseouts, and surcharges are tied to it
• Above-the-line deductions (like retirement contributions and HSAs) directly reduce AGI and are especially valuable
• Below-the-line deductions (standard or itemized) reduce taxable income but do not help with AGI-based thresholds
• Many retirees default to the standard deduction, but itemizing can be beneficial in certain situations (e.g., high state taxes, charitable giving)
• Tax diversification across three account types (taxable, tax-deferred, Roth) provides flexibility in managing taxes over time
• Taxable brokerage accounts can be efficient for long-term investing due to favorable capital gains treatment and a step-up in basis at death
• Tax-deferred accounts offer upfront deductions and compounding benefits, but create future ordinary income and required minimum distributions
• Roth accounts provide tax-free growth and withdrawals, making them valuable for long-term tax control and legacy planning
• Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) offer unique “triple tax advantages,” combining deduction, tax-deferred growth, and tax-free withdrawals for medical expenses

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Retirement Planning 01:19 Follow-Up on Reverse Mortgages 04:58 Understanding Tax Efficiency in Retirement 16:15 Tax Diversification Strategies 24:26 Exploring Roth Accounts and HSAs

Links

📘 New Release: The Retirement Planning Guidebook (3rd Edition) Wade Pfau’s must-read Retirement Planning Guidebook just got even better. The 3rd Edition is now available and packed with the latest updates to help you design your retirement strategy with confidence. Grab your copy on Amazon or your favorite book retailer: https://books2read.com/Retirement

This episode is sponsored by McLean Asset Management. Visit https://www.mcleanam.com/retirement-income-planning-llm/ to download McLean’s free eBook, “Retirement Income Planning”

In this episode of Retire with Style, Wade and Alex continue the breakdown of the Retirement Planning Guidebook Third Edition. Focusing on one of the most overlooked but impactful retirement decisions: housing. Wade and Alex challenge the common assumption that retirees will downsize or relocate, showing that most people actually stay put and often even move into larger homes. The conversation then shifts to how to evaluate where you live through the lens of aging, covering practical considerations like mobility, social connections, healthcare access, and home design. They also introduce the financial implications of housing decisions, including whether carrying a mortgage into retirement adds unnecessary risk. Listen now to learn more!

Takeaways

• Most retirees don’t move, and mobility declines with age
• Downsizing is less common than expected and often doesn’t happen
• Housing decisions should prioritize mobility, social connection, and support
• Walkability and access to amenities become more important over time
• Proximity to healthcare and transportation is critical
• Aging in place requires home modifications and planning ahead
• Technology can help extend independence and safety at home
• Carrying a mortgage into retirement can increase financial risk
• Paying off a mortgage is often about peace of mind vs. optimization

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Retirement Income Challenge Overview 03:00 Wade's Retirement Planning Guidebook Insights 05:59 Housing Decisions in Retirement 08:53 Characteristics of a Good Place to Live 11:57 Considerations for Aging in Place 14:45 Long-Term Housing Affordability and Community 18:04 Health Care and Transportation Options 21:02 Technology and Home Adaptations 23:45 Carrying a Mortgage into Retirement

Links

📘 New Release: The Retirement Planning Guidebook (3rd Edition) Wade Pfau’s must-read Retirement Planning Guidebook just got even better. The 3rd Edition is now available and packed with the latest updates to help you design your retirement strategy with confidence. Grab your copy on Amazon or your favorite book retailer: https://books2read.com/Retirement

This episode is sponsored by McLean Asset Management. Visit https://www.mcleanam.com/retirement-income-planning-llm/ to download McLean’s free eBook, “Retirement Income Planning”