Our Latest
Articles

How selling stock is taxed in retirement in 2026: the 0%, 15%, and 20% long-term capital-gains brackets, how ordinary income fills them first, and the Social Security, NIIT, and Medicare IRMAA effects. Educational, primary-sourced. Not advice.

Yes, you can fund a Roth and traditional IRA in the same year, but they share one 2026 limit: $7,500, or $8,600 if 50+. See how to split it, income limits, and rules.

Should retirees itemize in 2026? Compare the standard deduction (with the age-65 add-on) against Schedule A, including the new SALT cap, QCDs, and senior deductions.

Qualifying surviving spouse (QSS) lets a widowed taxpayer keep married-filing-jointly brackets and the $32,200 (2026) standard deduction for two years. See the five IRS tests, the timeline, and how QSS compares to head of household.

Municipal bond interest is generally free of federal income tax, but it still counts in Social Security taxation, Medicare IRMAA, and AMT. See the 2026 rules.

How leaving a Roth IRA to heirs works in 2026: tax-free qualified distributions, the 10-year rule, eligible designated beneficiaries, spousal options, and key figures.

How to find the Roth conversion break even, in years and as a break-even tax rate (BETR), using 2026 brackets, IRMAA, RMD, and 5-year-rule mechanics. Educational, not advice.

How much to convert to Roth in 2026: use the bracket-filling method with the 12% MFJ ceiling ($100,800), plus IRMAA, NIIT, and Social Security guardrails. Educational, not advice.

The pro rata rule on a Roth conversion taxes you by basis divided by total IRA value. See the Form 8606 formula, a worked example, and how to reduce the hit.