In Episode 7 of Retirement Tax Matters we tackle a critical, yet often emotionally challenging, aspect of HNW retirement planning: the significant tax bracket shock a surviving spouse can face. We reveal how a married couple's ~$250,000 taxable income, typically in the 24% bracket, can jump to a 35% bracket for a surviving spouse due to the shift from married filing jointly to individual rates, compounded by growing RMDs and even higher Medicare premiums.

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.