04/29/2026
Would it surprise you to know that good tax planning is not about paying the least in taxes this year?
The real goal is different: pay taxes when the rate is lowest and avoid getting forced into higher rates when you have no choice.
Here's what that actually looks like in practice.
When income drops, like a career transition, a gap year, or the early years of retirement, your tax bracket often drops with it.
That's a planning window.
It’s when we consider tactics like Roth Conversions, where we accelerate pre-tax retirement money into a Roth, because you're choosing what rate you pay, and when.
The alternative plays out the other way. Required minimum distributions start at 73, whether you need the money or not. They stack on top of Social Security, investment income, and everything else.
By then, the lower brackets are already full, and every dollar stacks your tax bill.
The bracket you leave empty in a low-income year is the one that costs you later.
If you're within five years of retirement, this is exactly the kind of conversation worth having before the window closes.
