Will my money last?
We map your spending, Social Security, any pension and your savings year by year, including inflation, so you can see how long your income holds up and where it may need help.
Retirement income planning
Retirees · Already retired
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Already Retired? Make Sure Your Income Lasts as Long as You Do.
Retirement is not a one-time decision. Taxes, required minimum distributions, Medicare costs and prices change every year, and so does life. A free second opinion shows whether your income plan is still on track, and what to adjust if it is not.
- See whether your income keeps up with rising costs
- Plan for RMDs and Medicare premiums before they surprise you
- Protect the spouse who may one day be on their own
Every session is free. No pressure, no obligation. In Orlando or by video.
Income That
Lasts
Lasts
Fewer Tax
Surprises
Surprises
Medicare &
Healthcare
Healthcare
Protect Your
Spouse
Spouse
Why retirees need a plan, too
Retirement changes every year. Your plan should too.
The plan you made when you retired was built on the rules, prices and health you had then. Most of those have changed since.
Required minimum distributions grow, Medicare premiums move with your income, prices rise and families change. None of it is a reason to worry. It is a reason to look at the whole picture once a year, so small issues get fixed while they are still small.
Signs it is time for a second opinion
- Your tax bill was bigger than you expected
- Your Medicare premium went up and you are not sure why
- You are spending more than you planned, or worry that you might be
- You lost a spouse, or your health has changed
- Your will and beneficiary forms have not been reviewed in years
- Your CPA, attorney and advisors never talk to each other
Rules that keep working after you retire
Four numbers every retiree should know
These rules quietly shape your income and your tax bill every year. Knowing them ahead of time is what turns a surprise into a plan.
Up to 85%of your Social Security benefits can be taxable, depending on your other income
2 yearshow far back Medicare looks at your income to set your Part B and Part D premiums
73 or 75the age required minimum distributions begin from most pre-tax retirement accounts
1 checkstops when a spouse dies. The survivor keeps the larger Social Security benefit, not both
RMDs begin at 73 if you were born 1951 to 1959 and at 75 if born in 1960 or later. Medicare income-related premium adjustments generally use your tax return from two years earlier. Sources: SSA.gov, Medicare.gov, IRS.gov. Your own numbers depend on your situation.
Your yearly retirement check-up
A simple calendar for a well-kept retirement
The same few steps, at the same time each year. Save this list or bring it to your free session.
- January
Set this year’s income
- Note your Social Security cost-of-living raise
- Look up this year’s RMD amounts
- Decide which accounts pay for what
- Update your monthly budget
- Spring
Review your taxes
- Look at last year’s return with fresh eyes
- Check how close you are to the next bracket
- Ask about charitable giving from your IRA
- Plan any income you can time
- Summer
Check your protection
- Review life and long-term care coverage
- Talk with family about your wishes
- Make sure someone knows where everything is
- Check home and umbrella coverage
- Oct 15 to Dec 7
Medicare open enrollment
- Read your plan’s annual notice of change
- Compare drug plans and Medicare Advantage options
- Check that your doctors are still covered
- Switch only if it helps you
- December
Close out the year
- Take any RMD by December 31
- Review beneficiaries and documents
- Note any life changes for next year
- Book your yearly review
60-second self check
Is your retirement plan still on track?
Answer eight quick questions. You will see what is working and what may need a fresh look. Nothing is saved or sent.
1. I know how much I can spend each year without worrying about running out.
2. My income plan accounts for inflation and rising healthcare costs.
3. I know my RMD amounts and have a plan for the taxes on them.
4. I know whether my income could raise my Medicare premiums.
5. If something happened to me, my spouse or family would know what income they would have and what to do.
6. I have a plan if I ever need long-term care.
7. My will, powers of attorney and beneficiary forms were reviewed in the last few years.
8. Someone looks at my taxes, income, Medicare and estate plan together, not separately.
Answer all eight to see your result. 0 of 8 answered.
What a retirement second opinion covers
Five areas we review together
Each one affects the others. A change in one place can raise your taxes or your Medicare premium somewhere else, so we look at all five at once.
Am I paying more tax than I need to?
RMDs, Social Security taxes and the order you draw from accounts all work together. Small changes in timing can lower your lifetime tax bill. Roth conversions are taxable in the year of conversion and may not be appropriate for everyone.
Tax-efficient strategiesIs my coverage still the right fit?
Plans change their costs and doctor networks every year. We check your coverage and how your income affects your premiums, so you are not overpaying.
Medicare planningWhat happens when one of us is gone?
One Social Security check stops, and the survivor often moves to higher single tax brackets. We plan now so the spouse left behind keeps a steady income and fewer surprises.
Social Security and survivor benefitsAm I ready for a health change?
A plan for long-term care, plus an up-to-date will, powers of attorney and beneficiaries, protects your savings and spares your family hard decisions.
Estate planningWondering if your plan still fits?
Bring your latest tax return and statements. If your plan looks good, we will tell you. If not, you will know exactly what to fix.
Get a Free Second Opinion
Same savings, two different retirements
A plan you revisit beats a plan you set once
Set it and forget it
- Take the RMD each December and hope the tax bill is fine
- Learn about a Medicare premium jump from a letter
- Keep the same Medicare plan year after year
- Leave your spouse to sort it out alone someday
Reviewed every year
- Know your income and tax picture before the year starts
- Time income to help manage taxes and premiums
- Compare coverage each fall and switch only when it helps
- Leave your spouse a clear plan and one person to call
How a free second opinion works
Three simple steps, no pressure
Bring what you have
Your latest tax return, Social Security and Medicare letters and account statements. Whatever you can find is enough to start.
We look at it together
Income, taxes, Medicare, your spouse and your estate, side by side, in plain English. In Orlando or by video.
You get an honest answer
If your plan is on track, we will say so. If something needs attention, you leave with a clear list of what to fix and when.
Your guide
Hi, I’m Roger Fishel.
Many of the people I work with were already retired when we met. They had a plan, but nobody was keeping it up to date as the rules changed. My job is to be the one person who looks at the whole picture every year and explains it in plain English.
- 20+ years guiding retirement decisions
- Independent since 2021, not tied to any one company
- One person who coordinates with your CPA and attorney
Free tools for retirees
Not ready to talk yet? Start here.
CalculatorTax Bomb CalculatorSee how large your required minimum distributions could grow.
CalculatorRetirement Tax CalculatorEstimate your federal taxes in retirement, including Social Security.
CalculatorRetirement Income Gap CalculatorCheck whether your income may cover your monthly spending.
Free guide7 Retirement Tax MistakesThe avoidable errors that quietly shrink retirement income.
Questions
Already retired: common questions
Do I still need a financial plan if I am already retired?
Yes. Retirement is not a one-time decision. Required minimum distributions grow, Medicare premiums change with your income, prices rise and families change. Reviewing your income, taxes, Medicare and estate plan once a year helps you catch small issues while they are still small.
How do I know if my savings will last?
It depends on what you spend, your other income such as Social Security and pensions, taxes, inflation and your health. Mapping those year by year shows how long your income holds up and where it may need help. Our free Income Gap Calculator gives a quick hypothetical estimate, and a free second opinion looks at your full picture.
Is Social Security taxable in retirement?
It can be. Depending on your other income, up to 85% of your Social Security benefits can be subject to federal income tax. Florida has no state income tax. Neither the firm nor its agents or representatives may give tax or legal advice, so we coordinate with your tax professional.
What is IRMAA and how can it raise my Medicare premiums?
IRMAA stands for income-related monthly adjustment amount. If your income is above certain limits, you pay more for Medicare Part B and Part D. Medicare generally uses your tax return from two years earlier, so a large withdrawal or sale today can raise your premiums two years from now.
How are required minimum distributions taxed?
RMDs from pre-tax accounts such as traditional IRAs and 401(k)s are taxed as ordinary income in the year you take them. They begin at 73 if you were born from 1951 to 1959 and at 75 if born in 1960 or later. Larger RMDs can raise your tax bracket, the taxable share of your Social Security and your Medicare premiums.
What happens to income and taxes when a spouse dies?
When one spouse dies, the survivor keeps the larger of the two Social Security benefits and the smaller one stops. After the year of death, the survivor usually files taxes as single, with narrower tax brackets, so taxes can go up even as income goes down. Planning ahead can help the surviving spouse keep a steady income.
What is a qualified charitable distribution?
If you are 70 and a half or older and give to charity, you can send money directly from an IRA to a qualified charity. The gift can count toward your required minimum distribution and is not included in your taxable income. Rules apply, so check with your tax professional before you give.
How much does a retirement second opinion cost?
Nothing. Every session is free, with no pressure and no obligation. You can meet in Orlando or by video from anywhere in the country. If your plan looks good, we will tell you, and if something needs attention you will leave with clear next steps.
Your next step
You worked hard to get here. Let’s make sure it lasts.
One free conversation will show you what is working, what has changed and what to do next. No pressure and no obligation.
Get My Free Second OpinionPrefer to talk now? Call (407) 974-7100
