Keep more of what
you’ve earned.
Tax strategy in retirement isn’t about tricks, it’s about knowing which buckets your money lives in, when to convert, when to defer, and how to coordinate with your CPA. We’re in that conversation with you.
Taxes are the single largest expense most retirees face, bigger than healthcare, bigger than housing. Yet most people retire without a tax strategy, leaving tens of thousands of dollars on the table over their lifetime.
At our firm, tax planning is built into every retirement plan we create. We coordinate your withdrawal strategy, Roth conversions, charitable giving, and bracket management to minimize your lifetime tax bill, legally.
Everything that
actually moves the plan.
Built around your life
Taxes are the single largest expense most retirees face, bigger than healthcare, bigger than housing. Yet most people retire without a tax strategy, leaving tens of thousands of dollars on the table over their lifetime.
Our approach
We analyze your tax situation across multiple years, not just the current year. Sometimes paying more tax now (through a Roth conversion, for example) saves you significantly more later. We model these scenarios so you can see the math.
The details that matter
Key strategies we implement include tax-bracket management, strategic Roth conversions, qualified charitable distributions, capital gains harvesting, and loss harvesting.
Why us
Tax planning in retirement is fundamentally different from tax planning during your working years. We specialize in the retirement phase, where the rules around RMDs, Social Security taxation, and estate taxes create unique opportunities.
A firm built for this.
Tax planning in retirement is fundamentally different from tax planning during your working years. We specialize in the retirement phase, where the rules around RMDs, Social Security taxation, and estate taxes create unique opportunities.
We coordinate with your CPA or tax preparer to ensure your financial plan and tax return are aligned. If you don't have a CPA, we can recommend one who understands retirement taxation.
Honest answers.
How can I reduce taxes in retirement?
The most impactful strategies include optimizing your withdrawal order (which accounts to pull from each year), strategic Roth conversions during low-income years, qualified charitable distributions from your IRA, and careful income timing across your retirement years.
What is a Roth conversion and is it worth it?
A Roth conversion moves money from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. You pay tax on the conversion now, but the money grows tax-free and isn't subject to RMDs. It's often worth it in years when your income is lower, like early retirement before Social Security kicks in.
Does Illinois tax retirement income?
Illinois doesn't tax retirement income from pensions, Social Security, or retirement account distributions. However, Illinois has a flat 4.95% income tax on earned income, and property taxes in the Northern Suburbs are among the highest in the country. We account for all of this in your plan.
Common questions about tax strategies.
Tax Strategies in your
community.
Let’s build the plan.
One free conversation. We’ll look at where you are and show you what a real plan looks like.