RetirePro Weekly · October 12, 2026
Use the gap years before RMDs
💡 Tip of the Week
After you retire and before required minimum distributions begin at 73, your income may sit in the 10 or 12 percent federal bracket. Converting $15,000 to a Roth IRA in that window adds only $1,800 in tax today but removes future RMDs taxed at 22 percent or higher. Run the numbers in RetirePro to see exactly how much you can convert each year without pushing into the next bracket. The tool also tracks the five-year clock on each conversion so you avoid surprises.
🎯 Inside RetirePro
RetirePro shows your projected tax bracket year-by-year so you can spot Roth conversion windows before RMDs hit at 73.
Model My Tax Plan →📰 Featured in this issue
ACA Open Enrollment 2027 Opens November 1: The Decision Tree for Coverage Before 65
ACA Marketplace Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026 – January 15, 2027. Here's the decision tree for subsidies, the income cliff, the Roth conversion collision, COBRA versus Marketplace, and the 60-to-65 healthcare bridge.
Your First RMD Deadline Is December 31, 2026 — And the Penalty for Missing It Is 25%
If you turned 73 in 2026, December 31 is your deadline for the first Required Minimum Distribution. Here's how to calculate it, the one-time April 1 extension, the aggregation and QCD rules, and how an RMD interacts with a Roth conversion.
Medicare Open Enrollment 2027 Ends December 7: The Decision Tree That Saves Real Money
Medicare Open Enrollment runs October 15 – December 7, 2026 for 2027 coverage. Here's a step-by-step decision tree for comparing Part D drug plans and Advantage plans, avoiding IRMAA surprises, and coordinating the choice with a Roth conversion.
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