Stacy Gaucys, Licensed Agent with New York Life

06/09/2026

The article highlights how different withdrawal strategies may affect taxes during retirement.

Test your retirement tax knowledge with our short quiz.

06/08/2026

Great players don’t get there alone. Behind every player on the world stage is someone who believed in them, challenged them, and helped them grow.

The Assist shares the stories behind U.S. Men’s National Team players Tyler Adams, Tim Ream, and Matt Turner — and the coaches and mentors who shaped their journey.

I hope you’ll take a few minutes to watch these stories. And if you’d like to talk about your own goals, I’d be happy to connect.

Watch the series here:
https://bit.ly/4cSyoZx

05/26/2026

$1M in your 401(k)…
what tax-free income have you planned?

It’s a simple question—but most people don’t have an answer.

Because we’re taught to focus on the number.
Grow the account. Max it out. Hit the milestone.

But a 401(k) is **pre-tax money**.

Which means when you retire and start taking income, every withdrawal is taxable. And depending on how much you’ve saved, you may be creating a larger tax bill than you expected.

So the real question isn’t:
“How much do I have?”

It’s:
**“How much of this can I actually use?”**

A $1M balance might look like security.
But after taxes, that number tells a different story.

And if your entire strategy lives in one tax bucket, you lose flexibility:
– No control over when or how much you’re taxed
– Required minimum distributions later on
– Potential to be pushed into higher tax brackets

This is why tax diversification matters.

Not all retirement income should be taxed the same way.

Some taxable.
Some tax-deferred.
And some **tax-free**.

Because in retirement, it’s not about the biggest number on paper—
it’s about what actually hits your bank account each month.

Take a few minutes this week and ask yourself:
If your 401(k) is your main plan… what’s your tax-free income plan?

If you’ve thought this through already, what approach are you taking?

05/22/2026

Understand how income levels can affect IRMAA surcharges and Social Security taxation—and how factors like part-time work or volunteering may play a role.

Avoid rising IRMAA surcharges and discover how volunteering and part-time work keep more of your Social Security benefits tax-free.

05/20/2026

The master of comedy may have had a cynical view of life, but his philosophy can provide a blueprint for how retirees should live out their golden years.

05/18/2026

Home care and assisted living costs for older adults and people with disabilities have surged over the past five years, straining affordability for middle class families who struggle to pick up the tab, AARP said in a March 12 report.

Home care, assisted living costs for older adults have surged over the past five years, straining affordability for middle class families, AARP said.

05/14/2026

If you have life insurance through work, there’s a gap most people never calculate.

Employer coverage is usually 1–2× your salary. So if you earn $200K, that’s $200K–$400K in protection.

Now think about what your family would actually need:
– Mortgage paid off or would your family have to move?
– College for the kids or years of loan debt?
– 5–10 years of income replacement, or 1 or 2 years at most?
– Final expenses taken out of it?

For many families, especially with kids, the real number lands closer to 10–15× income.

That means a typical workplace policy might only cover about a year of real needs.

Work coverage isn’t a full safety net—it’s a starting point.

Don’t guess—get specific. Write the number down. Most people avoid this part, and that’s where the real clarity comes in.

If you’re under 50 with dependents, take 10 minutes this week:
Add up what your family would need. Compare it to what you have.

If you want a second set of eyes on your numbers, I’m happy to sanity check it with you—no pressure, just clarity.

Curious—when you ran your numbers, how did your work coverage stack up?

05/12/2026

Changing jobs? Your 401(k) decision matters more than you think.

Most people default to rolling their 401(k) into their new employer’s plan. It’s simple—but not always the smartest move.

Here’s why:

Employer 401(k)s often come with:
• Limited investment options
• Higher or layered fees you may not even realize you’re paying
• Little control over how your money is managed

When you roll your 401(k) into your own IRA, everything changes:
• You choose your investments — managed funds, diversified portfolios
• You control your strategy — aggressive, conservative, or somewhere in between
• You can potentially reduce fees and improve long-term growth
• Your money stays with you — not tied to any employer

This isn’t a one-size-fits-all decision. The right move depends on your goals, your timeline, and your risk tolerance.

That’s where I come in.

As a 401(k) guidance expert, I help you:
✔️ Understand the hidden fees
✔️ Compare your options clearly
✔️ Build a strategy that actually fits YOUR future

Don’t just move your money — make a smart move... and remember...YOU HAVE OPTIONS!

Message me to get started.

05/12/2026

For many business owners, the company is the estate plan. But will there be enough liquidity to:
—Cover estate costs?
—Keep the business running?
—Treat your heirs fairly?
If you’re not sure, reach out to me and let’s talk about some proven ways to protect what you’ve built.

04/30/2026

Tax-deferred retirement accounts are great for lowering your tax bill today—but taxes will eventually need to be paid when the money is withdrawn. Tax diversification may help you keep more of your retirement income. https://nyl.co/3P0lWgS