"SS when I take it."

Since you are the higher earner, plan on 70. Or frankly, 72, since they'll doubtless push it back by the time you get there.

"I have no idea how long I will work but I want the option to hang it up at 61-62."

I'd advise working at least until you go on Medicare at 65; otherwise you're paying for your health insurance in the 4 most expensive years of your life.

I always told myself I would retire as early as possible, and absolutely before I turned 65. Then I got there, and had no desire to stop doing what I do. Of course, the draw is I only do what I want to do; it's been that way for 38 years.

MB,

It wouldn't hurt!

Years ago, a client of mine who worked at the investment firm I was going through remarked to me, "It's really easy to muck with tax rates in retirement."

I didn't realize exactly what he meant until I got there. Frankly, the control I have is MUCH MORE than I ever imagined would occur. And the opportunities keep coming.

For example, it literally makes no sense for me not to take monies out of a taxable IRA, and turn around and fully fund my Roth IRA and my "spousal" Roth IRA ... which can be done if either spouse earns enough.

The real key though is how we got here: automatic monthly savings, the first and 15th of every month. Then, when we paid off our mortgage, doubling the savings.

Now, the bride spends most of her time planning vacations.

"obama was and is a lying douche bag"

You can always tell the folks ashamed of Trump: they have to pretend his worst habits belong to someone with a (D) after their name.

"should be comfortably well off"

Excellent! Congrats on your retirement. Here are a couple of withdrawal tips I share with my clients:

The higher SS recipient at 70 should wait until 70 to take SS, if possible. Ideally, both wait, if you can afford it.

Before taking SS, see if taking money out of a Taxable IRA is a better option in the meantime, Why? When taking a pension AND Social Security, they each make the other more taxable. There are also tax pockets where a higher percentage of taxable SS might be triggered, so what you thought was a 22% bracket is really a 31% bracket.

Also, consider Roth conversions, ESPECIALLY if you're below the 22% federal bracket. Remember, RMDs will be required the year you turn 73 (75 if born in 1960 or later), and will be based on your Taxable IRA balance on January 1st. The more you've relied on your taxable IRAs, the less your RMDs will be.

The bride and I are in a sweet spot: she's fully retired, I'm still working, so we've got enough room in our tax bracket to take extra out of our Taxable IRAs (at a low tax rate), and turn around and fully fund our Roth IRAs, something we wouldn't be able to afford normally. This will draw down our taxable IRAs, while feathering our Roth IRAs. Once we start taking SS, we'll take out just enough from Taxable IRAs to get us right below the higher tax bracket, and then withdraw from Roths whatever else we want/need.

Meanwhile, we'll get to pay taxes where we want, when we want, and at the rate we want.

Happy retirement!

" They advised Truman that such an invasion would result in U.S. casualties of up to 1 million. "

And up to 20 million Japanese, since they would refuse to surrender, as had happened everywhere else.

Truman's ultimate reasoning was: How could he face the mother of a dead soldier and tell her he could've ended the war sooner but chose not to?

Truman was well-known to study a problem, make a decision, and not second-guess.

" Obama ... despises the country"

Do the lies you tell yourself help you sleep better at night?

" After all these years, you still haven't bothered to read the two page letter..."

Haven't you noticed? That's Bellringer's M.O.

He only learns enough for his talking points. For example, he didn't watch the J6 hearings because he said they were too "partisan".

Meanwhile, anyone who actually watched, noticed all but two of the folks who testified were longtime Republicans.

Bell ringer is either pretending to be stupid, or isn't pretending.

"the Jan 6 committee's files that they destroyed."

Nothing was destroyed; it's all online.

What "news" outlet is lying to you?

" these Advantage companies ... "

As a former Trustee of a health plan, I always warn people against Medicare Advantage. My mantra: "Advantage plans only advantage the insurer."

"51 former intelligence agents claim the laptop story has all of the halmarks of Russian disinformation"

Gee ... no provenance, other than Russian hands, about the son of a candidate, right before an election, and hawked by a known political operative who had been to Russia, and admitted he wanted the story published before the hard drive inspected.

"Has all the hallmarks" is accurate.

And that's why Fox, Newsmax, and OANN all passed on the story, and why the byline in the NY Post was a surprise to the "author" when she read her name.

" They had edited out Lucy talking about presents saying, "All I want is what I have coming to me. All I want is my fair share.""

Maybe they did that because it's not Lucy's line.

Charlie Brown's little sister Sally says that, right after asking for tens and twenties.

Costco: we want our workforce to resemble our clientele.

MAGA: We'll sue you for discriminating against whites!

"Whatever the reason"

The "reason" is we had Potter as a President, and now have re-elected him.

"moral depravity."

Aw, isn't that cute? The poster who voted for the guy who breaks half the Commandments on a regular basis wants to lecture others about moral depravity.

It's like the comedy writes itself!!!

" the money is not expected to be used to establish a new armed force..."

Only 2.5 % of agents carry guns. They work in the criminal division, where the IRS routinely send out agents in pairs due to the relative danger.

The "87,000 new hires" was and is a fiction. It was just the Republican Math of dividing IRS money by average salary ... as if a revamped computer system, training, and all other expenses don't exist.

Fact is, most of the money was going for the update, and to replace retiring agents.

Now ... you might read a headline like "IRS audits on small businesses up 100%". Why? Because audits are currently down over 50%, and the IRS Commissioner has a stated goal of "returning to par", meaning historical norms.

That said, the new regime will doubtless strip as much money as possible, making the IRS's goal of a high income group a fantasy ... which is the aim in the first place. Not being able to properly audit rich folks isn't a bug, it's a feature.

" George Carlin was right, it's not the politicians that suck, it's the public."

You know how dumb the average person is? Well 50% of the population is dumber than him!
~GC

" the disastrous Bidenomics."

The inflation under Biden was due, in part, to his $1400 stimulus which most economists admitted wasn't needed. Steve Rattner sounded the alarm early on, pointing out the third stimulus meant more money was infused into the economy than Covid had drained. Rattner predicted inflation.

Meanwhile, Trump had promised a 42% higher stimulus.

Is there anyone here who doesn't believe inflation would've been WORSE under Trump?

"It is written in the Bible ... "

The Bible says Methuselah lived 969 years, and Ruth had children in her 90s.

So ... clearly, you can believe it if it's in the Bible!

Circular 230 is very clear: tax advisors CANNOT use the word "certified" unless they're either a CPA, or a Certified Financial Planner.

The last thing we need at the IRS is a leader who doesn't believe in the rules.

" Let's test this will some actual numbers."

More stupidity.

All your smoke and mirrors won't change the obvious fact: renters pay property taxes indirectly.

It's intellectually dishonest to OMIT that portion of the equation.

" Why do you use this as some kind of gotcha?"

Because it's mainly Republican Sheriffs in Republican counties looking the other way because the Republicans on the Chambers of Commerce are the largest contributors to the Sheriff's re-election campaign.

And also because to date, you've only blamed the workers, and not the folks breaking the law by hiring them.

" Not all illegals steal a SS number - most just work for cash and pay nothing."

Then why aren't you arresting the owners?

Deport an illegal and you just put up a "job opening" sign.

I won't believe you're serious until you go after the guy paying cash under the table. THATs the one who's ripping you off.

" Will the property tax be paid if no illegal was renting?"

Are you actually going to pretend landlords don't include property taxes in their calculation for how much rent to charge???

You're too dumb to debate.

G'night, all.

Correction: $15 billion in SS tax.

So $190/week. That's the worker you think is ruining your life.

" one would argue with the 20M illegals deported, the demand for apartments would crater resulting in much lower rental rates for the US citizens."

One could also argue the inflation spikes will more than eat up any pretend advantage.

Deporting 25% of the produce chain is insane. Adding tariffs on top is a recipe for a Depression.

" The illegals don't pay property taxes. The home owners do."

Phenomenally stupid.

You're pretending landlords setting rents don't take property taxes into account. Nothing could be further from reality.