A lot of retirement withdrawal advice is simple: Something like 1.) Spend your brokerage account first, then 2.) Use our pre-tax accounts, and 3.) save the Roth assets for last. But when you really study it, does that always make the most sense?

In this episode, Michael Custer CFP®, EA walks through a different way to think about retirement income. Instead of following a rigid order, this conversation explores how blending accounts, trying to use tax brackets intentionally, and thinking about asset location may create more flexibility and hopefully reduce your taxes over your lifetime.

Using a “retirement coffee shop” metaphor, we break down how each account works, where taxes show up, and how small decisions each year can shape the bigger picture.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐥𝐥 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧

💭 Why the common “spend this account first” rule may not fit your retirement income plan

💭 How brokerage accounts could be more tax efficient than many people think

💭 The role of standard deductions and lower tax brackets in retirement income planning

💭 How “use it or lose it” tax opportunities may be used each year

💭 When it may make sense to pull from multiple accounts instead of just one

💭 How required minimum distributions (RMDs) can impact future tax brackets and Medicare costs

💭 The difference between asset allocation and asset location—and why both matter

💭 How tax gain harvesting works and when it may create low or even zero federal tax outcomes on capital gains

💭 Why Roth accounts are often treated as long-term flexibility tools, not just “last to use” assets

Retirement isn’t just about what you’ve saved—it’s about how you can use it.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐰𝐞'𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞?

We’re here to make retirement planning feel less intimidating by helping people think through their strategies and plans through clear relatable financial topics!

💬 Questions or Want to Connect?

🌐 𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞: www.custerfinancialadvisors.com

📧 𝐄𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥: custerfinancialadvisors@lpl.com

Chapters:

00:00 Breaking the Normal Retirement Withdrawal Advice

01:17 What if We're More Tax Efficient?

02:10 Different Type of Accounts

03:37 Generating Income in Retirement

04:21 Pros/Cons of Different Account Types

06:49 Free Tax Refills?!

08:39 Why Not Spend Accounts One at a Time?

10:55 Using Tax-Gain Harvesting

13:18 Implementing Asset Location

16:29 Crafting Your Custom Income for Retirement

Disclosures:

Harborfront Financial Group is a Registered Investment Advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Registration as an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training, and the content of this communication has not been approved or verified by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or by any state securities authority.

The information contained in this material is intended to provide general information about Harborfront Financial Group and its services. It is not intended to offer investment advice. Investment advice will only be given after a client engages our services by executing the appropriate investment services agreement. Information regarding investment products and services are provided solely to read about our investment philosophy and our strategies. You should not rely on any information provided on our web site in making investment decisions.

Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through Harborfront Financial Group, a Registered Investment Advisor. Harborfront Financial Group and Custer Financial Advisors are separate entities from LPL Financial.

This is a hypothetical example and is not representative of any specific situation. Your results will vary. The hypothetical rates of return used do not reflect the deduction of fees and charges inherent to investing. All investing involves risk including loss of principal. No strategy assures success or protects against loss.

Homeowners do have access to valuable tax deductions and strategies but most people only know about one or two of them. In this episode, Michael Custer CFP®, EA explores some of the most common tax planning tools available on your primary home.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮'𝐥𝐥 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧!

💭 The mortgage interest deduction: Who qualifies, the limits, and why many people don't use it.

💭 Property tax deductions, including the recent increase to the amounts allowed.

💭 The home sale capital gains exclusion

💭 How home improvements could increase your cost basis and may reduce your taxable gain when you sell

💭 The home office deduction for self-employed business owners — what "exclusive use" means

💭 The Augusta Rule: How renting your home for up to 14 days a year may be completely tax-free

Whether you're wondering if you can deduct mortgage interest, thinking about selling your home, or just looking for ways to pay less in taxes, this episode could help you find strategies worth exploring.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐰𝐞'𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞?

We’re here to make retirement planning feel less intimidating by helping people think through their strategies and plans through clear relatable financial topics!

💬 Questions or Want to Connect?

🌐 𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞: www.custerfinancialadvisors.com

📧 𝐄𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥: custerfinancialadvisors@lpl.com

Chapters:

00:00 Home Tax Strategies

01:31 Wife's Resident Match Day!

02:56 Deduction for Mortgage Interest Paid?

04:47 Property Tax Deductions?

05:39 Tax Gain Exclusion on My Home?

07:13 Converting Home to a Rental?

08:10 Improvements vs. Repairs

10:29 Home Office Deductions

12:35 Tax Free Rental of Home?

14:08 Be Careful of the Internet Advice Sometimes

Disclosures:

Harborfront Financial Group is a Registered Investment Advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Registration as an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training, and the content of this communication has not been approved or verified by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or by any state securities authority.

The information contained in this material is intended to provide general information about Harborfront Financial Group and its services. It is not intended to offer investment advice. Investment advice will only be given after a client engages our services by executing the appropriate investment services agreement. Information regarding investment products and services are provided solely to read about our investment philosophy and our strategies. You should not rely on any information provided on our web site in making investment decisions.

Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through Harborfront Financial Group, a Registered Investment Advisor. Harborfront Financial Group and Custer Financial Advisors are separate entities from LPL Financial.

This is a hypothetical example and is not representative of any specific situation. Your results will vary. The hypothetical rates of return used do not reflect the deduction of fees and charges inherent to investing. All investing involves risk including loss of principal. No strategy assures success or protects against loss.

In the previous episode, we broke down what IRMAA is and why it catches so many retirees off guard when it comes to Medicare surcharges. Now it's time to actually see it in action.

In this episode, Michael Custer CFP®, EA pulls up real retirement and tax planning software tools and walks through a live scenario — showing how Roth conversions, IRA distributions, and even paying off your home could trigger Medicare surcharges you didn't saw coming.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮'𝐥𝐋 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧!

💭 How a couple with $1.5M in pre-tax savings could increase their plan's success rate from 76% to 88% just through tax strategies

💭 Why converting up to the 22% bracket could trigger IRMAA

💭 An IRMAA-aware conversion strategy that could add to your tax-adjusted retirement assets

💭 How RMDs quietly push retirees into higher Medicare brackets in their 80s

💭 The senior enhanced deduction people don't know they're phasing out of

💭 What can happen to your Medicare bill when you pull a large IRA distribution to pay off your house

💭 Why going just slightly over the IRMAA threshold might mean you should use the whole tier instead

𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬?

💭 You may want to watch Part 1 where we cover what IRMAA is, how the cliff rule works, and why your taxable income isn't what Medicare really cares about.

Chapters:

00:00 Tax Time Bomb for Retirees?

01:09 Software Uses for Tax Planning

01:41 Background Info on Couple

02:22 Do We Need 100% Success Rate?

02:55 Exploring Roth Conversions

04:04 Improve Retirement Chances but Hitting Medicare Surcharges?

05:36 Managing RMDs and Future Taxes

06:32 Increase Retirement Spending for Better Outcomes?

07:15 Different Spending Methods in Retirement

07:53 Software for Tax Analysis Ideas

08:49 Losing Senior Tax Deductions?

10:03 Roth Conversions and Their Impact on Income

11:19 Taxes of Large Home Payoff In Retirement from Retirement Accounts

13:14 Let's Try to Avoid Paying More In Tax Than Legally Possible

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐰𝐞'𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞?

We’re here to make retirement planning feel less intimidating by helping people think through their strategies and plans through clear relatable financial topics!

💬 Questions or Want to Connect?

🌐 𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞: www.custerfinancialadvisors.com

📧 𝐄𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥: custerfinancialadvisors@lpl.com

Disclosures:

Harborfront Financial Group is a Registered Investment Advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Registration as an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training, and the content of this communication has not been approved or verified by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or by any state securities authority.

The information contained in this material is intended to provide general information about Harborfront Financial Group and its services. It is not intended to offer investment advice. Investment advice will only be given after a client engages our services by executing the appropriate investment services agreement. Information regarding investment products and services are provided solely to read about our investment philosophy and our strategies. You should not rely on any information provided on our web site in making investment decisions.

Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through Harborfront Financial Group, a Registered Investment Advisor. Harborfront Financial Group and Custer Financial Advisors are separate entities from LPL Financial.

This is a hypothetical example and is not representative of any specific situation. Your results will vary. The hypothetical rates of return used do not reflect the deduction of fees and charges inherent to investing. All investing involves risk including loss of principal. No strategy assures success or protects against loss.