No. A family meeting is about structure, not amounts: where things are, who to call, and who does what. Here is what to say first, what to show, and the words to use if one of your kids asks for the number anyway.
A trust is one piece of the paperwork. The family meeting is the conversation that makes it work, and Thanksgiving is the one day most families are already in the same house.
Part 7 of The Rule That Taxes Your Retirement. For most children who inherit an IRA, the lifetime stretch is gone: the account must be emptied within ten years, often during their highest-earning years. Who can still stretch, where a Roth fits, and the checklist to work through now.
Part 6 of The Rule That Taxes Your Retirement. If you give to charity anyway, a Qualified Charitable Distribution sends IRA money straight to the charity without it counting as your income, and it counts toward your RMD. Up to $111,000 a person in 2026, from age 70½.
Part 5 of The Rule That Taxes Your Retirement. An RMD is income, and income moves other numbers. Medicare sets its IRMAA surcharge from your tax return two years earlier, so a 2026 RMD can raise your 2028 premiums. The first lines, and what it costs a couple to cross one.
Part 4 of The Rule That Taxes Your Retirement. A missed RMD used to cost half of what you should have taken. Today it's 25%, or 10% if you fix it in time, and the IRS can waive it entirely. Why a review before December 31 matters.
“My full trust is in you folks and always has been since the beginning.”
— Dana B., ARA client since 2019
“Best decision we made years ago in AZ was finding American Retirement Advisors!”
— Ellen K., Scottsdale
“I told my friends I was in the same position and talked to American Retirement Advisors and got my questions answered.”
— Rod H., ARA client
“I was talking to a family friend yesterday and told him what a wonderful job Marc did.”
— Susan S., Mesa
“He comes highly recommended by close friends. I only want to talk to David Edge.”
— Gene M., referred client
“This is my first year in Medicare and your input was extremely helpful.”
— Randy B., new client
We start by learning what you want to accomplish and what you have to work with. We can't help if we don't know the full picture.
We keep the best of what you already have, replace what can be better, and make sure nothing is falling through the cracks.
As life changes, so should your plan. We lock in an annual review to make sure everything is still working for you.
Part 5 of Dental Care in Retirement. Since 2022, a Medicare Advantage plan may pay for routine dental even when your dentist has opted out of Medicare. How networks and out-of-network care work, and six questions to ask before your next visit.
Part 4 of Dental Care in Retirement. Many Medicare Advantage plans include dental, and a lot of it goes unused. Where to find the dental section in your plan's papers, what 'preventive' and 'comprehensive' really mean, and the limits to look for.
Part 3 of Dental Care in Retirement. Before you sign up for any dental plan, there are other places to look: your own dentist, dental schools and hygiene clinics in the Phoenix area and Las Vegas, community health centers, and Medicaid if you qualify.
Part 2 of Dental Care in Retirement. A dental discount plan and a dental insurance policy work very differently. In our example, the same policy costs $1,780 or $1,155 for the year, depending on when you need the crown.
Part 7 of The Rule That Taxes Your Retirement. For most children who inherit an IRA, the lifetime stretch is gone: the account must be emptied within ten years, often during their highest-earning years. Who can still stretch, where a Roth fits, and the checklist to work through now.
Part 6 of The Rule That Taxes Your Retirement. If you give to charity anyway, a Qualified Charitable Distribution sends IRA money straight to the charity without it counting as your income, and it counts toward your RMD. Up to $111,000 a person in 2026, from age 70½.
Part 5 of The Rule That Taxes Your Retirement. An RMD is income, and income moves other numbers. Medicare sets its IRMAA surcharge from your tax return two years earlier, so a 2026 RMD can raise your 2028 premiums. The first lines, and what it costs a couple to cross one.
Part 4 of The Rule That Taxes Your Retirement. A missed RMD used to cost half of what you should have taken. Today it's 25%, or 10% if you fix it in time, and the IRS can waive it entirely. Why a review before December 31 matters.
No. A family meeting is about structure, not amounts: where things are, who to call, and who does what. Here is what to say first, what to show, and the words to use if one of your kids asks for the number anyway.
A trust is one piece of the paperwork. The family meeting is the conversation that makes it work, and Thanksgiving is the one day most families are already in the same house.
Part 7 of The Rule That Taxes Your Retirement. For most children who inherit an IRA, the lifetime stretch is gone: the account must be emptied within ten years, often during their highest-earning years. Who can still stretch, where a Roth fits, and the checklist to work through now.
David closed Fiscal Fridays with a picture worth keeping: Medicare is one room in your house, and your income and your family's plan live there too. A simple once-a-year walk through all three rooms.
