For people 55 and over with $100,000 or more in a 401(k), 403(b) or traditional IRA
Your IRA has a silent partner. The IRS decides when it gets paid.
You saved pre-tax, like you were told. The tax didn’t go away. It’s waiting inside the account.
Reading time: 1 minuteUpdated October 2026
Dear saver,
You skipped the tax on every dollar you put in. That was a good deal. But it was a postponement, not a pardon. Withdrawals from a traditional IRA “are taxable in the year you receive them.”1
Here’s what most people are never shown:
The IRS sets the schedule. You generally must start withdrawals at 73,2 whether you need the money or not. Each one lands on top of your Social Security, and can raise your Medicare premium two years later.4
The bill can jump the year after one of you dies. The survivor usually files as single,5 and one Social Security check stops.6 The IRA stays.
$11,504
2026 federal tax on $100,000 of taxable income, married filing jointly.3
Simple illustration at 2026 IRS brackets, same taxable income both ways. Real situations differ.
Your kids inherit the tax. Most heirs who aren’t a spouse must empty the account “within ten years.”2 Every dollar is taxable to them, on top of their own paychecks.
Each year’s low-bracket room ends December 31. A Roth conversion counts as income “for the year that you converted” it, and it “cannot be recharacterized.”1
“Isn’t converting just paying the tax early?”
Sometimes, yes. Pay a higher rate now than you would later, and you’ve made the bill bigger. For some people the honest answer is “leave it alone.” That’s why it has to be run with your own numbers, and checked by your CPA.
What happens next
Answer four quick questions. See roughly how much tax is still owed inside your account. Then, if you want, a free 15-minute call by phone. No statements needed. If what you have is already working, we’ll tell you.
The call is with an independent, licensed insurance agent, not a CPA. Educational only, not tax or legal advice.
See the tax bill inside your account
Four quick questions. Round numbers only, no account details. Your estimate shows on screen.
How old are you?
Roughly how much is in pre-tax retirement accounts?
401(k), 403(b), traditional IRA. Not Roth accounts.
In retirement, about how much other income do you expect each year?
Social Security, pensions, work, rent. Before tax. Not counting withdrawals from the account above.
How do you file your taxes?
Would you be open to a quick, no-pressure call with a specialist?
You’ll see your estimate either way.
Where should we send your estimate?
It’s ready now. We’ll also show it on the next screen.
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Sources and notes
IRS Publication 590-B (2025), Distributions from IRAs: “distributions from a traditional IRA are taxable in the year you receive them” (page reviewed April 30, 2026), irs.gov/publications/p590b. IRS Publication 590-A (2025), Converting From Any Traditional IRA Into a Roth IRA: converted amounts “are normally included in income on your return for the year that you converted them,” and conversions made in tax years beginning after December 31, 2017 “cannot be recharacterized” (page reviewed April 30, 2026), irs.gov/publications/p590a.
IRS, Retirement plan and IRA required minimum distributions FAQs: “You generally must start taking withdrawals from your traditional IRA, SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, and retirement plan accounts when you reach age 73” (page reviewed January 29, 2026), irs.gov/retirement-plans/retirement-plan-and-ira-required-minimum-distributions-faqs (reviewed October 8, 2026). Same page: an RMD not taken “may be subject to an excise tax of 25%, 10% if the RMD is timely corrected within two years”; for account owners who died after December 31, 2019, “the entire balance of the deceased participant’s account must be distributed within ten years,” with exceptions for a surviving spouse, a minor child, a disabled or chronically ill person, or a person not more than ten years younger. Your CPA can confirm your own start year.
IRS, IR-2025-103, “IRS releases tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2026” (October 9, 2025): rates 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, 37%; 12% over $24,800 joint / $12,400 single; 22% over $100,800 / $50,400; 24% over $211,400 / $105,700; 32% over $403,550 / $201,775; 35% over $512,450 / $256,225; 37% over $768,700 / $640,600. Standard deduction $32,200 joint, $16,100 single. Worked example on $100,000 of taxable income: joint, 10% × $24,800 + 12% × $75,200 = $11,504; single, 10% × $12,400 + 12% × $38,000 + 22% × $49,600 = $16,712. irs.gov/newsroom/irs-releases-tax-inflation-adjustments-for-tax-year-2026-including-amendments-from-the-one-big-beautiful-bill
CMS, 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles (November 14, 2025), cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles; Medicare.gov, 2026 Medicare costs (Product No. 11579): standard Part B $202.90/month; $284.10 above $109,000 single / $218,000 joint, based on the return from 2 years earlier.
IRS Publication 501 (2025), Dependents, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information, irs.gov/publications/p501 (reviewed October 8, 2026): “If your spouse died during the year, you are considered married for the whole year and can choose married filing jointly.” Qualifying surviving spouse status, which keeps joint rates for the 2 years after the year of death, requires a qualifying person (generally a dependent child) living with you. Otherwise the survivor generally files as single.
Social Security Administration, If You Are the Survivor, ssa.gov/benefits/survivors/ifyou.html (reviewed October 8, 2026): a surviving spouse already receiving benefits gets the higher of their own benefit or the survivor benefit, not both.
Educational only, not tax or legal advice. Talk to your CPA or tax preparer before you convert or withdraw anything.
Preview — nothing was sent. No booking, no text, no email.
Video: 90s “what happens on our call” from Kyle — HeyGen clone
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Put it on your calendar now. Your specialist calls you; you don’t need to dial.
What to bring to your 15 minutes
Nothing is required. If they’re handy: your latest 401(k), 403(b) or IRA statements. A rough idea is fine too.
Last year’s tax return, if you can find it. Page 1 is enough.
Your CPA’s name, so anything we find can go to them in writing.
Your spouse or partner, if they share decisions about this money.
Your questions. Write them down so none get missed.
This is not a high-pressure sales call. Your specialist will look at what sits in pre-tax accounts, roughly what tax is still owed on it, and whether doing anything before December 31 is worth it. If what you have is already working, they’ll tell you.
See you .
Educational only, not tax or legal advice. Your CPA should review any decision.
Your specialist will call from (XXX) XXX-XXXXplaceholder: routed number. Save it so you know it’s them.