A Real Retirement Tax Plan, Start to Finish

A case study built on a real client family: John and Mary, both 58 with $4.8 million saved and two years from retirement. Same portfolio, same spending, run two ways, and the projection finishes $1.1 million apart in lifetime taxes. Bobby Hapanowicz shows the three moves: withdrawal order, Roth conversions in the tax trough, and aiming each account at the right heir. ▶️ WATCH NEXT 👇 Your 401(k) Was Never Fully Yours SUBSCRIBE TO SEASONS OF WEALTH ON YOUTUBE @hapanowicz-financial 🤔 ABOUT THIS VIDEO In this video, Bobby Hapanowicz follows a couple retiring at 60 with $3 million in pre-tax 401(k) and IRA accounts, a $1.5 million brokerage account, and a small Roth, from their first projection to a finished retirement tax plan. You'll see why the default plan (spend the brokerage first, leave the IRA alone) builds an RMD wall at 75 with roughly $330,000 of taxable income and nobody working. Move one confirms the money lasts to age 100. Move two fills the tax trough: changing the withdrawal order alone is projected to save about $450,000 in lifetime taxes, and adding Roth conversions to the top of the 12% bracket is projected to save over $1.1 million. Move three aims each account at the person who will inherit it under the SECURE Act 10-year rule, including leaving the IRA to charity and the Roth and brokerage accounts to the kids. He closes with the three questions to bring to your advisor and CPA before your next plan review. 📖 Chapter Timestamps 0:00 Same $4.8M portfolio, two finishes $1 million apart 1:02 Meet John and Mary: both 58, retiring at 60 1:30 The balance sheet: $3M pre-tax, $1.5M brokerage, $100K Roth 2:03 Move 1: make sure the money lasts to age 100 2:29 The tax trough and the RMD wall at 75 3:03 Move 2: fill the trough with withdrawal order (worth about $450K) 4:20 Roth conversions to the top of the 12% bracket 4:55 Four checks: capital gains, Medicare, kids' brackets, the bracket 5:34 Results: $1.1M less lifetime tax, about $1M more at age 100 6:02 The honest part: $9K behind in year one 6:18 What the estate is made of at 95 7:23 Move 3: aim each account at who inherits it (SECURE Act 10-year rule) 8:36 Leaving the IRA to charity, Roth and brokerage to the kids 9:12 The three moves on one screen 10:28 Three questions for your advisor and CPA 11:13 Why the low-tax years exist at all (watch next) ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ABOUT HAPANOWICZ FINANCIAL Bobby Hapanowicz helps pre-retirees within a few years of their last paycheck — typically with $2M–$10M in investable assets — navigate Social Security timing, Roth conversions, RMDs, and retirement tax planning. Hapanowicz Financial is based in Pittsburgh and serves clients nationally. ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ⚠️ DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational and informational purposes only and is not individualized investment, tax, or legal advice. Investment advisory services are offered through Hapanowicz & Associates Financial Services, Inc., an SEC-registered investment adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation. #HapanowiczFinancial #SeasonsOfWealth #BobbyHapanowicz