Essays
Clear thinking on retirement income.
Essays on turning a lifetime of savings into income that lasts: tax-efficient withdrawals, Social Security timing, and protecting what you have built.
Tax Planning
What a Roth Conversion Costs Michigan Retirees Without a Structured Plan
A Roth conversion can cost more than you expect. Roth conversion Michigan tax planning takes more than a good idea from your accountant.
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Retirement Planning
The $1,000 a Month Rule for Retirees Answers the Wrong Question
The $1,000 a month rule for retirees tells you what to save. It says nothing about whether that money lasts through a bad market early in retirement.
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Michigan Retirement Tax
When to Take Social Security in Michigan Is a Calculation, Not a Birthday
Michigan doesn't tax Social Security, but when to take Social Security in Michigan still decides thousands. It is a calculation, not a birthday.
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Michigan Retirement Tax
How Much Money You Need to Retire in Michigan Depends on Your Plan, Not a Magic Number
Worried you have not saved enough? How much money you need to retire in Michigan depends far less on a magic number than on how your income is built.
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Michigan Retirement Tax
Michigan Pension Tax Changes Are Reshaping Withdrawal Strategy for Retirees in 2026
Michigan pension tax changes under PA 4 of 2023 are shifting the math on withdrawals right now. Is your retirement plan updated for 2026?
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Fiduciary Standard
The Fiduciary Standard Is the Whole Game in Retirement
Your advisor may not be legally required to put your interests first. Understanding the fiduciary standard could save Michigan retirees six figures or more.
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Michigan Retirement Tax
Michigan Does Not Tax Social Security, But Uncle Sam Still Does
Michigan does not tax Social Security, but federal taxes and Medicare surcharges still threaten your benefits. Here is what every Michigan retiree needs to know.
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Choosing an Advisor
Can a Financial Advisor Help With Retirement Planning? It Depends on the Right Kind
Your advisor helped you build wealth. But can they help you keep it? A retirement income specialist explains the gap that costs retirees dearly.
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