Retirement & Social Security
Cash-Balance Plans vs Traditional Pensions
Cash-balance plans are pensions dressed up as accounts, with pay credits and interest credits. Here is how they differ from…
The PBGC Maximum Guarantee in 2026
If a pension plan fails in 2026, the PBGC guarantees up to $7,789.77 a month for a 65-year-old. Here is…
Cost-of-Living Adjustments on Pensions
Social Security rises with inflation every year, but most private pensions never do. Here is what that gap costs and…
Rolling a Lump-Sum Pension Into an IRA
A direct rollover moves a lump-sum pension to an IRA with no tax withheld. Take the check yourself and 20…
Single Life or Joint Survivor: Choosing a Pension Payout
A single-life pension pays more each month but stops at your death. Here is how survivor options work, and why…
Catch-Up Contributions After 50, and the New 60 to 63 Rule
Savers 50 and up can add $8,000 to a 401(k) in 2026, and ages 60 to 63 get $11,250. A…
The Backdoor Roth, Explained Plainly
The backdoor Roth lets high earners fund a Roth IRA through a conversion. Here is how the two steps work…
Traditional or Roth: Paying the Tax Now or Later
Traditional accounts delay the tax bill and Roth accounts prepay it. Here is how to pick based on your bracket…
Required Minimum Distributions: The Age and the Math
RMDs now start at age 73. Here is how the yearly withdrawal is calculated, the deadlines that matter, and the…
Your Medicare Annual Notice of Change: What to Read
Every fall your Medicare plan mails an Annual Notice of Change listing next year’s costs and coverage. Here are the…