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Free Retirement Guides

Plain-English answers to the money questions retirees actually ask, on Social Security, Medicare and IRMAA, taxes, RMDs, and retirement income. Every guide is free, no sign-up required, and pairs with a calculator so you can run your own numbers. Written by the Retirement Literacy Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Retirement Income

How Much Income Does $250,000 Generate?Realistic monthly income from $250k, and what changes it. How Much Income Does $500,000 Generate?What a half-million can safely pay you each month in retirement. How Much Income Does $750,000 Generate?Turning $750k into a dependable retirement paycheck. How Much Income Does $1 Million Generate?The real monthly income a $1M nest egg produces. Pension: Lump Sum vs. Monthly AnnuityHow to weigh a one-time payout against guaranteed lifetime income. Turn Your 401(k) Into a Monthly PaycheckWays to build steady income from a lump sum.

Safe Money & Rates

MYGA vs. CD: Which Is Better for Retirees?Guaranteed rates, taxes, and liquidity compared plainly. The Best Alternatives to CDs for RetireesSafe-money options that can beat a CD without market risk. Are Fixed Annuities Safe?How guarantees, carrier ratings, and state protections work. How to Protect Savings From a Market CrashGuardrails so a downturn doesn't derail your retirement. Sequence of Returns Risk ExplainedWhy the order of returns early in retirement matters most.

Social Security

How Much of Your Social Security Is Taxable?Up to 85% can be taxed. Here's what drives the number. Should You Take Social Security at 62 or 70?The break-even math, and why waiting can add six figures. The Social Security Bridge StrategySpend other assets to delay and lock in a bigger check for life.

Taxes, RMDs & Medicare

How to Reduce Taxes on Your RMDsRoth conversions, QCDs, and timing that lower lifetime tax. The RMD Tax TorpedoHow required distributions can spike your taxes. What to Do With RMD Money You Don't NeedSmart moves for distributions you're forced to take. Inherited IRA: The 10-Year RuleThe SECURE Act trap for heirs, and how to soften it. How to Avoid IRMAAThe income cliffs that raise Medicare premiums, and how to dodge them. The Widow's Penalty TaxWhy a survivor often pays more tax on less income.

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