The Retirement COLLAB Blog

The “Rule of 55” is a useful tool for early retirement. However, retiring early is a relatively new concept, so the mechanics of withdrawing funds from retirement accounts can be a little complex. If you know the rules and exceptions, you can easily patch together a penalty-free withdrawal strategy to fund your retirement.

We want to preface by saying the starting point isn’t access to your retirement accounts; it’s what you want retirement to look like. This is why going through a comprehensive review like our COLLAB™ Financial Planning Process is a must. You want to uncover your deeper “why” and design your ideal retirement lifestyle before ironing out the nuanced details.

Many employer 401 (k) plans offer an option to purchase an annuity. But should you? This isn’t a decision to be made lightly.

Annuities can be overly complex and expensive products. An annuity can be a useful tool in certain situations, but there’s more to the situation than many people realize. You really need to think through your long-term retirement income and tax situation.

Annuities and required minimum distributions (RMDs) are some of the most confusing and buzzworthy topics in retirement. But do you need to worry about either one? Maybe, maybe not.

Annuities often create confusion because of their complexity and the high-pressure sales tactics used to get you to buy them. RMDs are annoying because nobody wants to be forced to do anything in retirement, let alone pay taxes on top of it. It’s important to understand what type of annuity you’re talking about, whether RMDs are going to be an issue for you, and what alternatives you might have.

Annuities are often sold as "tax-advantaged," but what do taxes actually look like when you’re in retirement? It’s important to understand the "wait now, pay later" nature of tax-deferred growth and annuity taxation. Retirement isn’t the time to get caught off guard by tax surprises.

The name of the game is keeping more of your retirement check and not overpaying Uncle Sam. The first step in maximizing your tax strategy is understanding what you have and how your investments are taxed. This is an essential part of a comprehensive financial plan to make the most of your retirement savings.

Is an annuity you purchased 5, 10, or 15 years ago worth keeping? Many retirees enter retirement with more savings than they need. If you’re not sure you need your old annuity or whole life policy, you’re not alone.

It’s important to evaluate whether your old annuity contract still serves a purpose in your portfolio or if it's dragging down your retirement plan. We want to move beyond the "annuities are good or bad" debate and discover what’s best for your specific situation.

Looking for financial advice can be confusing and overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be. The financial industry uses ambiguous and overlapping terms, but what do they really mean?

If you’re like most people, you just need an honest answer to tough financial questions. Yet, when you start looking for help, you’re met with a variety of terms like adviser, advicer, manager, and planner – all with the words financial, wealth, fiduciary, and investment added to spice things up.

This post was last updated on March 31, 2026, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.

Before 2026 ends, retirees need to make sure they’ve covered all their bases for taxes, charitable giving, RMDs, and more. With recent changes from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, there’s even more to consider for your retirement checklist. Whether you’re thinking about retirement, currently transitioning into retirement, or are already fully retired, there are many items on the to-do list.

This post was last updated on March 31, 2026, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.

Social Security changes from the 'One, Big, Beautiful Bill' could have the longest-lasting impacts on your retirement. Healthcare and tax reforms have dominated headlines, but they also have numerous secondary effects.

The One Big Beautiful Bill affects retirees in many ways. But how will it change Medicare? Although it’s too early to tell, there will be some immediate changes and several potential long-term impacts you need to be aware of.

We provided a broader overview in our article, "How the One Big Beautiful Bill Affects Retirees." Now we’re going to discuss how this new law impacts Medicare and what you can do to prepare.

There’s a ton of noise out there regarding the One Big Beautiful Bill. But how does it affect retirees? For many retirees, there won’t be any major game changers, but there are some key changes you need to know.

Fortunately, there are no significant changes to tax bracket structures. However, there were several changes to standard and itemized deductions, as well as increased gift and estate tax exemptions. We also get some new deductions, lose others, and see many modified credits, deductions, and phase-outs.