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Do You Pay Taxes on a 401(k) Loan? The Rule, the Three Taxable Exceptions and the 1099-R Codes
No, you do not pay taxes on a 401(k) loan repaid on schedule, and it does not go on Form 1040. IRC 72(p)(2) excludes a […]
Can You Do a QCD From an Inherited IRA? Yes, Once the Beneficiary Is 70½ (2026 Matrix)
Yes, you can do a QCD from an inherited IRA, but only if you, the beneficiary, are at least 70½ on the day the custodian […]
Can I Roll My 401(k) Into an Annuity? The 3 Routes, the Tax Rules, and What a $210,000 QLAC Does to RMDs
Yes, you can roll your 401(k) into an annuity once the plan allows a distribution, usually at separation from service or age 59½. A direct […]
The Rubber Duck Rule for Retirement Tax Planning: 14 Questions to Say Out Loud Before a 2026 Roth Conversion
The rubber duck rule for retirement tax planning means explaining a tax move, such as a Roth conversion, out loud one step at a time […]
Mega Backdoor Roth Withdrawal Rules: Which Dollars Come Out First, Layer by Layer
Mega backdoor Roth withdrawal rules depend on where the money sits. In a Roth IRA, after-tax contributions rolled in come out before earnings, free of […]
Do You Pay Capital Gains on a Traditional IRA? The 2026 Rule and Its Costs
No. You do not pay capital gains tax when investments are sold inside a traditional IRA, because IRC 408(e)(1) exempts the account from income tax. […]
Average Retirement Savings for Married Couples by Age: 2025 Federal Reserve Data
Average retirement savings for married couples by age, per the Federal Reserve’s 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances: among married or partnered households holding accounts, the […]
$2 Million in 401k at Retirement: What It Pays, What the IRS Takes, and When RMDs Start (2026 Model)
$2 million in a 401k at retirement supports a first-year withdrawal of $60,000 to $100,000 at a 3% to 5% rate. For a married couple […]
Can You Roll an IRA Into a 401(k)? Yes, If the Plan Accepts It and the Money Is Pre-Tax
Yes, you can roll an IRA into a 401(k) when two conditions hold: the 401(k) plan document accepts incoming rollovers (plans are not required to), […]
401k vs Brokerage Account: What $10,000 a Year Nets After Tax (2026)
In the 401k vs brokerage account choice, a 401(k) trades access for tax breaks: contributions are deductible, growth is untaxed and many employers add a […]