In Episode 5 of Retirement Tax Matters, we define the Golden Window — the critical years of temporary low income after you retire but before RMDs and Social Security begin. For high-net-worth retirees with large pre-tax IRA balances, this is an ideal time to manage what is likely your largest future tax liability.

Learn how the new tax law (OBBBA) makes the higher standard deduction permanent and what the new $31,500 amount for married couples means for your 2025 tax planning. We discuss the added complexity of new income phase-outs and why proactive planning is now more critical than ever.

The passage of the recent tax legislation, One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), has created significant confusion around how Social Security will be taxed. Many retirees are asking if their benefits will now be tax-free. In this episode, Garrett Crawford breaks down the reality of the new law, explaining that the primary change is not to Social Security taxation itself, but the introduction of a new, substantial "Senior Deduction." We'll cover who qualifies for this deduction, the specific income phase-outs that could affect HNW retirees, and the critical planning dilemma it creates when considering strategic Roth conversions.

The passage of the recent tax legislation, One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), has created significant confusion around how Social Security will be taxed. Many retirees are asking if their benefits will now be tax-free. In this episode, Garrett Crawford breaks down the reality of the new law, explaining that the primary change is not to Social Security taxation itself, but the introduction of a new, substantial "Senior Deduction." We'll cover who qualifies for this deduction, the specific income phase-outs that could affect HNW retirees, and the critical planning dilemma it creates when considering strategic Roth conversions.

In our inaugural episode, Garrett Crawford, CFP®, and Adam Reed introduce the mission behind Retirement Tax Matters and our focus on providing advanced tax planning strategies for high-net-worth retirees.