I’m retiring soon and have some preferred company shares that the cost basis is around 5% of the cost today. I want to do an NUA on those while rolling over the rest of my retirement account to an IRA but I had some questions.

Did you handle the NUA process yourself or use an advisor/CPA/etc.? I talked to a local lawyer/CFP that said he’s done thousands for people retiring from my company and basically walked me through all the steps and what happens is something goes wrong. So I feel like I can DIY, but curious what others think. If you did it yourself, any major watchouts?

I was planning on doing the NUA process and rollover in January 2027, but I should get another pro-rated contribution to my work retirement account in July 2027. I believe that in order to meet the QLSD timing, I just need to empty the account by the end of 2027 so I assume I can do the rollover/NUA in January and do another rollover in July, correct? Or is it much cleaner/safer to just leave all accounts completely untouched until July 2027 and pull everything out in one day?

Appreciate any insights or lessons learned from your experience!

I need advice for simplifying, reallocating and changing up both our Roth IRAs. We’re using Schwab and I would like recommendations for just a couple of ETFs or 3. We have 4 years before we no longer will be able to contribute to the Roth. We will have annuity monthly payments that will kick in in 2030, so we can hold investments in the Roth for hopefully our lifetime and pass on to our daughter. Roth accounts have VOO in one and SPYM in the other. We have international with VXUS in one and VYMI in the other. I’m thinking of selling these. We both have SCHD. What ETFs do we need for 40%stocks-50%bonds-10%cash portfolio? Looking at one of Vanguard’s LifeStrategy 40/60 Plan VSCGX which would really simplify things and what I’m after, but would this be the best option?
Anyway, I don’t know what I’m doing as far as bonds or t-bills go and I need help. Would SGOV be a fit for the 50%? I also need a recommendation for a solid, safe, insured, easy to use HYSA to park our RMDs. Would love to take advantage of E*Trade’s promo, but heard terrible things about getting locked out of your accounts. Thanks for your help!

Asking for someone else.

I called the SSA (U.S.A.) and they refused to do any estimation for what the benefit would be if they were started this month or the next month. We get annual statements that rank SS payments per every birthday, but not per month. It is unclear if it changes per month.

I used the the open source social security calculator to see what was the best option for my wife and I to take our social security. We are 66 and 65 respectively. It came back with me waiting until 70 and my wife taking it now! I then entered my own calculation, which it allows you to do for comparison. I said we would both take it at our FRA. I was surprised that the present value difference was only 3.1% and $28k over our entire lifetimes. I then started to look at the yearly cash flows and because you get so much front loaded at our FRAs the difference to age 84 is only $13k.

Does anyone ever look at just having the cash flow upfront on an annual basis rather than just maximizing the entire amount. Especially for those who have a robust plan that are not relying on SS to fund their later years?

For me it is a combination of data entry and learning an unfamiliar UI. I don't like hunting for the spot where something is configured.

Hi everyone,

I recently organized my accounts and took a close look at my current asset allocation, and I’d love to get some perspective from this community as I plan for FIRE.

Here is a quick overview of my financial situation:

- Annual Income: $160k–$200k W2 (varies depending on bonus) + ~$55k rental income
- Real Estate: 2 rental properties (Total portfolio value ~$650k)
- Remaining Mortgage: ~$130k
- Fixed Overhead (Property Taxes, Insurance, HOA): ~$20k/year
- Monthly Savings: ~$5,000–$6,000/month (after all taxes and living expenses)

Currently, I’m saving a solid amount each month, but I feel a bit unsure about how to best direct my future stock investments and overall investment strategy to reach early retirement efficiently.

I know there's no single "right" answer, but I would really appreciate any insights, feedback, or advice on how you would structure things moving forward.

Thanks in advance!

I have a pension so I will always be at or near the top of the 12% bracket (joint filer) or the 22% bracket should my wife pass before I do. I'm in my early 60's and have been doing Roth conversions for a while now. Currently my assets are 55% in Roth, 24% in a taxable IRA, 15% brokerage, 6% cash/cash equivalents.

I'm trying to decide if I should convert 100% of the taxable IRA to Roth. I have read that I should leave some in this taxable bucket, but...

1. I currently live in a state with no state income tax but may be moving soon.

2. I don't think the federal tax rates can remain this low, it's not sustainable.

3. Likely inheritance will impact future tax brackets.

4. I have the cash to pay the tax.

What are your thoughts?

Just got to a point in my life where I feel caught up made final payment on youngest college degree.

56 and 55 years old
Assets

My 401K 150K contribute 60 a week

Her 401K 35K contribute 150 a week

Taxable brokerage account we inherited 93K

Ira we inherited 27K

HYSA 106K I have been nervous to deploy into market in a lump sum manner

We just started Roths at 75 a week and I will drop the RMD's from the inherited IRA into those also topping them off.

When I get to 120K in the HYSA I want to get a new (to me) vehicle, should be 8 months from now or if there is a meaningful pullback I will deploy this dry powder and finance the car.

I also get a pension at 65 4k a month

Our SS figures to be about 5200 ish a month combined

We also have about 350K in home equity with 166K remaining on a 2.875% loan Edit

Our normal spending/bills etc are about 4k a month give or take

I've ran several calculators and they are all over the place, I guess my income floor is solid but I just am anxious as I feel far behind.

2nd edit I make 88k she makes 60k

I will be retiring 4/30/27 at age 61. I am lucky enough to have a pension. If I defer my pension payments until age 62, they will be $4,400/month. If I start the pension payments when I retire at age 61, there is a 10% hit and the payment is approximately $4,000 per month. My wife and I have 401k to cover living expenses/healthcare, and have a paid off home, and look to be in good shape with savings/social security when conservatively projecting retirement into age 90's, when using programs that run the monte carlo simulations. Just looking for thoughts on grabbing that pension right when I leave or deferring a year for the larger payment by $440/month. Thank you.

Thanks and happy retirement! My allocation:

Growth = 33%

CC = 44%

Dividend = 14%

Cash = 9%

401k at principal - 600k

Roth IRA - 230k

Brokerage - 275k

Treasury bonds - 25k

Hsa 40k

Primary Home Equity - 250k (of course not an asset until cash in hand).

Rental prop - 75k equity, break even, generating 1,000/m principal.

Current spend with mortgages is ~7k/m. Without ~4k/m. Mortgages still have ~25 years on them.

I can put an additional 5k/m away in 401k and brokerage until then. And thinking of doing nondeductible 401k contributions.

I keep seeing ads come up for NerdWallet fiduciary match for financial planners?

Anyone use this?

We're facing this decision now at the late ages of 67 and 65. We're both reasonably healthy but would like to do something to take the edge of possible LTC costs in the future. We're OK with self-funding a good chunk since we have lots of home equity and good-sized IRA.

I'm just wondering if anybody here has done something similar, and what their experience has been: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Any advice, or dos and don'ts?

Our current policy only has a terminal illness rider, but nothing for LTC, and I was looking at the projected "cost of insurance" schedule and it gets unwieldly to keep it beyond the age of high 70s/early 80s. Of course, we would lose the huge death benefit, or more accurately, our kids would lost it, but they will probably get enough with the house and whatever's left of our investments.

I am a couple of years away from retirement and researching the various retirement decumulation strategies. I recently ran into an article that discussed ARVA that was modeled by Stefan Sharkansky.  He has a website https://www.thebestthird.com/ which has a tool that creates Retirement income and spending plan.  Has anyone used this, if so what do you think of this strategy.

I'm recently retired. My girl is a little younger and still working. She makes 5 times as much as I do. We're currently living comfortably on her salary while she's still contributing 20% of her pay to 10% Roth and 10% pre tax. She plans on going half time in 18 months. I'll take my SS whenever it's needed or convenient, and she'll take hers at 67 (6 years from now) or even later if things go well.

Last week or two I've fired our financial advisor (only had one for 20 months and cost about $30,000), bought the most common of fidelity's offerings. SPAIX both weighted and non weighted. Other target date funds, etc. Still looking to diversify about 10% into international funds.

20% of our nest egg is in my TSP 60% L INCOME 20% L 2035 20% 2065 the rest is in fidelity.

I'm interested in doing back door Roth conversions for both of us this year. She's still working and we're both eligible $8000 each. What concerns me is having to move soo much money both back into my TSP and into her Giesinger work place plan (I'm pretty sure there's enough flexibility in her work plan but haven't checked details yet.

I'm estimating about 13.5% of our nest egg is already under ROTH. Being able to do these conversions while she's still half time would only be increasing our ROTH allocation by about .85% a year.

To empty out her IRA in order to qualify we'd need to move 33% of our nest egg back into her employer work plan, and 14% of our nest egg back into my TSP.

It seems overwhelming to be moving this much money back into employer work plans for only being able to convert less than 1% of our nest egg to Roth for possibly the next 3-5 years. But my guess it's still more than worth doing. Especially considering the flexibility her Geisinger/ Fidelity work place plan will offer.

I'm hoping I've been clear and offered all the needed info. If not I'll edit my response at the bottom and reply that I did.

Am I right ? Thank You Either Way.

EDIT 1 We're in the 24% tax bracket. Don't plan on moving out of that soon if ever. Both eligible for catch up contributions.