WCI #446: Managing Taxes in Retirement with Sean Mullaney

Today we're joined by Sean Mullaney, an author and CPA who presented at this year's Bogleheads conference. We dive into smart ways to manage your taxes in retirement and explore the strategies that can make a meaningful difference over the long run. Sean walks us through when Roth conversions shine, when they don't, and how tax, retirement, and estate planning all fit together. If you want to feel more prepared for the financial side of retirement, this is an episode you won't want to miss. The discussion is intended to be for general educational purposes and is not tax, legal, or investment advice for any individual. Dr. Dahle and The White Coat Investor podcast do not endorse Sean Mullaney, Mullaney Financial & Tax, Inc. and their services. Median American wealth statistic source: https://www.ubs.com/us/en/wealth-management/insights/global-wealth-report.html Today's episode is brought to us by SoFi , the folks who help you get your money right. Paying off student debt quickly and getting your finances back on track isn't easy, but that's where SoFi can help — they have exclusive, low rates designed to help medical residents refinance student loans—and that could end up saving you thousands of dollars, helping you get out of student debt sooner. SoFi also offers the ability to lower your payments to just $100 a month* while you're still in residency. And if you're already out of residency, SoFi's got you covered there too. For more information, go to https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/Sofi SoFi Student Loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Additional terms and conditions apply. NMLS 696891. The White Coat Investor has been helping doctors, dentists, and other high-income professionals with their money since 2011. Our free personal finance resource covers an array of topics including how to use your retirement accounts, getting a doctor mortgage loan, how to manage your student loans, buying physician disability and malpractice insurance, asset allocation & asset location, how to invest in real estate, and so much more. We will help you learn how to manage your finances like a pro so you can stop worrying about money and start living your best life. If you're a high-income professional and ready to get a "fair shake" on Wall Street, The White Coat Investor is for you! Find 1000's of written articles on the blog: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com Our YouTube channel if you prefer watching videos to learn: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/youtube Student Loan Advice for all your student loan needs: https://studentloanadvice.com Join the community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewhitecoatinvestor Join the community on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WCInvestor Join the community on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewhitecoatinvestor Join the community on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/whitecoatinvestor Learn faster with our Online Courses: https://whitecoatinvestor.teachable.com Sign up for our Newsletter here: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/free-monthly-newsletter 00:00 WCI Podcast #446 04:25 Sean Mullaney, CPA Interview 06:00 5 Phases of Retirement 09:40 Early Retirement 16:00 The Golden Years of Retirement 23:38 IRMA 26:51 Taking Social Security 31:33 Qualified Charitable Distributions 37:22 Required Minimum Distributions 42:27 Widow Tax Trap 47:14 RMDs Are Not Bad 50:05 Roth vs. Traditional 55:03 Buy, Borrow, & Die 01:00:06 Tax Planning To and Through Early Retirement