Retirement Taxes – The Simply Retirement Podcast

Helping Women Make Better Retirement Decisions After Life Changes (Ep. 114)

By The Simply Retirement Podcast | July 22, 2026

Retirement decisions often happen during life’s most emotional moments. When you’re grieving, retiring, or suddenly making financial choices on your own, how do you know you’re asking the right questions or talking to the right people?

In this episode, I share a story from a recent anniversary trip that reminded me why retirement planning is about much more than investments.

Through conversations with women facing divorce, widowhood, and retirement, I explain how decisions around Social Security, beneficiary designations, retirement accounts, taxes, and financial guidance are often connected in ways people don’t realize. We also talk about why every financial advisor approaches retirement differently, why asking the right questions matters, and how finding guidance that fits your situation can influence retirement for years to come.

Key takeaways:

Why retirement decisions made after losing a spouse deserve thoughtful guidance before taking action
How Social Security timing can affect lifetime retirement income and future financial flexibility
Why beneficiary designations and retirement accounts often create unexpected challenges for widows
How communication between financial and tax professionals can improve retirement decisions
Questions women should ask before choosing retirement guidance during major life transitions
And more!

Resources:

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Inherited IRA Options Every Widow Should Understand (Ep. 113)

By The Simply Retirement Podcast | July 15, 2026

Losing a spouse often brings emotional and financial decisions that can affect your future for years to come.

What happens when one of the largest assets you inherit is a retirement account? How do you know which choices may affect taxes, healthcare costs, income planning, and retirement flexibility?

In this episode, I discuss one of the most important financial decisions many widows face after losing a spouse: what to do with an inherited IRA or retirement account. I explain the unique options available to surviving spouses, how inherited IRAs differ from rolling assets into your own IRA, and why those choices can influence retirement income, taxes, healthcare costs, and required distributions.

We also share a real client example, common mistakes to avoid, and five key questions every surviving spouse should ask before making a permanent decision about inherited retirement assets.

Key Takeaways:

Why surviving spouses often have retirement account options unavailable to other beneficiaries
How inherited IRA decisions may affect taxes, healthcare costs, and retirement income flexibility
Why age differences between spouses can influence future required minimum distributions
Common mistakes widows make when using inherited retirement assets for large expenses
Five questions that can help guide decisions before making permanent account changes
And more!

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Retirement Tax Cliffs: The Hidden Costs Every Woman Should Understand (Ep. 112)

By The Simply Retirement Podcast | July 8, 2026

Retirement taxes aren’t always as straightforward as they seem. A decision that looks harmless today could create unexpected tax consequences, higher Medicare premiums, or reduced flexibility later.

How do income sources, tax brackets, Social Security, and healthcare costs all work together in retirement? What happens when a major life event changes your filing status and reshapes your financial picture?

In this episode, I discuss several retirement tax cliffs that can quietly affect retirement income planning, especially for women who are widowed, divorced, or managing finances independently. I explain how required minimum distributions, Social Security taxation, Medicare IRMAA surcharges, and healthcare subsidies can interact in ways many retirees don’t anticipate. We also share planning considerations that may help create greater flexibility, reduce surprises, and improve long-term retirement income decisions.

Key takeaways:

How widowhood or divorce can trigger tax changes that affect income, Medicare costs, and planning flexibility
Why required minimum distributions may create ripple effects beyond simply increasing taxable income
How Social Security taxation can rise unexpectedly when additional retirement income enters the picture
Why Medicare IRMAA surcharges often surprise retirees years after a financial decision is made
Ways proactive tax planning may help create flexibility and reduce unintended retirement expenses
And more!

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7 Questions Every Woman Should Ask Before Hiring a Financial Advisor (Ep. 94)

By The Simply Retirement Podcast | March 4, 2026

Choosing a financial advisor is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as you approach retirement, especially if you’re navigating it on your own.

Yet many women don’t realize how much clarity and confidence can come from simply asking the right questions before committing to a long-term relationship.

In this episode, I walk through seven essential questions every woman should consider before hiring or changing a financial advisor. We discuss why so many women change advisors after losing a spouse, how to evaluate an advisor’s process, and what to listen for when recommendations are presented. I also explain why retirement income planning, Social Security strategy, and tax coordination require a different level of focus than simply saving for retirement, and how to think about value beyond just the advisory fee.

Key Takeaways:

Why the commonly cited statistic about women changing advisors highlights the need for better conversations
The importance of understanding an advisor’s process before agreeing to work together
How to evaluate whether recommendations truly align with your goals, values, and concerns
Why retirement income planning, Social Security, and tax strategy require specialized focus
How to assess value beyond fees, including adaptability, communication, and long-term partnership
And more!

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Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) Explained: Risks, Timing, and Tax Planning Strategies (Ep. 92)

By The Simply Retirement Podcast | February 18, 2026

RMDs are one of those retirement rules that feel simple on the surface, until the tax consequences show up years later.

In this episode, I walk through what required minimum distributions are, when they start, and why missing or mismanaging them can quietly raise taxes, Medicare costs, and long-term financial stress. I explain how planning early creates flexibility, especially for women navigating retirement transitions, widowhood, or income changes. We also cover practical strategies that can help reduce the tax impact without turning retirement upside down.

Key takeaways:

How required minimum distributions work and when they begin under current law
The penalties and long-term damage caused by missed or unplanned RMDs
How RMDs can increase taxes on Social Security and Medicare premiums
Using qualified charitable distributions to reduce taxable income
Timing strategies like Roth conversions and filling lower tax brackets
And more!

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This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute tax advice. Converting to a Roth IRA is a taxable event and may increase your current-year tax liability. Roth conversions cannot be undone. Individuals should consult a qualified tax professional regarding their specific circumstances.

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