Retirement Income & Strategies

Social Security timing, dynamic spending, annuities, and portfolio strategies that fund retirement reliably.

More in Retirement Income & Strategies

5 articles in Retirement Income & Strategies

← Back to all sub-topics

Can I Put Home Sale Proceeds Into a Roth IRA? Three Rules, Three Strategies
Jun 3, 2026 · Retirement Income · 7 min read
Selling your home at 60 with a large gain feels like a perfect Roth IRA funding moment — but capital gains are not earned income, and the IRS has strict rules about what qualifies as a contribution source. This guide explains the three rules that limit what you can actually deposit, how the Section 121 exclusion interacts with the Roth income limits, and what to do with the proceeds that can't go into a Roth.
Roth IraHome SaleCapital Gains
The 0% Capital Gains Bracket: How to Harvest Gains Tax-Free in Retirement
May 25, 2026 · Retirement Income · 9 min read
Long-term capital gains that fall within the 0% bracket are federally tax-free — and in retirement, many households qualify. This guide covers the 2026 thresholds, how the stacking rule works, the gain harvesting mechanic (including why wash-sale rules don't apply), how gain harvesting competes with Roth conversions for the same bracket space, four hidden costs that make the '0%' rate not quite 0%, state tax reality, and the annual harvest schedule.
Capital Gains TaxGain Harvesting0 Percent Capital Gains
SECURE 2.0 Act: What Changed and What It Means for Your Retirement Plan
May 19, 2026 · Retirement Income · 13 min read
The SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 is the most significant retirement legislation in decades. This guide covers every provision that directly affects retirement planning: RMD age changes by birth year, the super catch-up for ages 60–63, the Roth catch-up mandate for high earners starting in 2026, the 529-to-Roth rollover with all seven rules, and a dozen other provisions with their effective dates.
Secure 2 ActRmdCatch Up Contributions
State Tax Domicile Change: The Step-by-Step Guide
May 19, 2026 · Retirement Income · 15 min read
Changing your state tax domicile from a high-tax state to a no-income-tax state is one of the highest-value moves available in retirement planning — but it requires specific legal steps in a specific order, contemporaneous documentation, and careful asset timing. This guide covers the legal distinction between domicile and residency, the 12-step checklist, the capital gains trap, the most common audit triggers, and state-specific rules for California, New York, New Jersey, and Florida.
DomicileState TaxesResidency Change
The Widow's Tax Penalty: How the Tax Code Punishes Surviving Spouses — and What to Do About It
May 18, 2026 · Retirement Income · 12 min read
When a spouse dies, the surviving partner typically earns less but pays dramatically more in taxes. Learn what causes the widow's penalty, how bracket collapse and RMDs work against you, and the specific strategies every couple should implement before it's too late.
Widows PenaltyRoth ConversionRmd