Retirement Answers

The first five years after you stop working can make or break your retirement—not because of how much you saved, but because of how you start spending it. Listen in as Jacob breaks down the big shifts that hit early retirees: your investments now need to fund income (and sequence-of-return risk matters), you need a clear income plan with a five-year runway, and this may be the best tax-planning window you’ll ever get before Social Security and RMDs show up. He also explains why spending is often higher than expected early on and why flexibility matters. Finally, he warns against making permanent moves—investment, lifestyle, or relationship decisions—based on temporary market conditions or the emotional adjustment of retirement.👉 Work With Us: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started ✅ Get your Important Numbers 2026 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2026-important-numbers Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.Tune to find out:00:00 Intro01:20 Shift From Saving02:19 Sequence Risk Explained06:01 Income Runway Buckets09:29 Tax Planning Window13:28 Roth Conversion Strategy16:17 Flexible Spending Plan19:44 Avoid Permanent Moves24:33 Final Thoughts Next Steps

What if you could pull $100,000 from your portfolio this year to live on, but only $30,000 or $40,000 of it actually counted as taxable income? It sounds too good to be true, but for a lot of retirees, it's completely possible. In this episode, I break down a strategy called income stacking, how to pull from cash, brokerage, IRA, and Roth accounts in the right combination, and why paying $0 in taxes isn't always the smartest move.Tune into this episode to find out:(00:18) The $100,000 question: what if only $30–40K of it was actually taxable?(00:42) Why retirement gives you control over how your paycheck—and your taxes—are built(01:03) The #1 mistake: treating withdrawals as "one account at a time"(02:18) Introducing income stacking and how it reframes your withdrawal strategy(03:03) Why Social Security can be taxed anywhere from 0% to 85%(03:36) A real example: building $100,000 of income from four different account types(05:39) How the standard deduction makes your first IRA dollars tax-free(06:21) The 0% long-term capital gains bracket (and how high it actually goes)(08:48) Why paying $0 in taxes isn't always the goal(09:36) The smarter target: filling up the right tax brackets on purpose(11:39) How managing your IRA today can reduce tomorrow's Social Security taxes👉 Work With Us: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started ✅ Get your Important Numbers 2026 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2026-important-numbers Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke Jacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

Have you ever wondered if your HSA contributions could cause unexpected issues as you approach retirement? In this episode, I highlight potential risks and mistakes that individuals near or in retirement might encounter with their HSAs. Specifically around scenarios such as switching into an HSA plan mid-year, transitioning out of an HSA plan mid-year, and moving from an HSA plan to Medicare. 👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started✅ Get your Important Numbers 2026 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2026-important-numbersEmail: [email protected]: https://www.rivertreewealth.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobdukeJacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.00:00 Intro00:35 Understanding HSA Contributions and Limits04:50 Scenario 1: Switching to an HSA Plan Mid-Year07:42 Scenario 2: Switching Out of an HSA Plan Mid-Year12:59 Scenario 3: Transitioning from HSA to Medicare18:27 Key Takeaways and Final Thoughts

If you're 50+ and making catching catch-up contributions to your employer 401k plan, this episode is for you. In 2026, you might have to change how you save to your employer plan if you earn to much money. In this episode, I share what you need to know about these new rules and how you can save with intention.👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started✅ Get your Important Numbers 2026 PDF here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/2026-important-numbersEmail: [email protected]: https://www.rivertreewealth.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobdukeJacob Duke, CFP, MBA is the founder of Rivertree Wealth and the host of the Retirement Answers podcast.DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as tax, legal, or investment advice. All content is for educational purposes only.00:00 Intro00:43 Updated Contribution Limits for 202601:25 Special Catch-Up Contributions for Ages 60-6302:16 IRA Contribution Limits for 202603:13 New Rules for High Earners05:22 Nuances and Exceptions11:03 Strategizing Your Contributions15:51 Conclusion & Final Thoughts