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Podcast Episode Breakdown

Six Smart Moves for RMDs + Bridging the Social Security Gap
(0:00) Welcome & overview of how to spend more and pay less tax
(2:15) Retirement Headline: Six ways to turn unwanted RMDs into meaningful money moves
(29:00) Listener Question: What’s the smartest way to cover the income gap from age 60 to 70?

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Retirement Headline: Six Smart Moves for RMDs You Don’t Need

Source: Retirement Daily at TheStreet.com
​Author: Greg Hammond

Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) are a tax reality in your mid-70s, whether you need the money or not. Left unmanaged, they can raise your taxable income, spike Medicare premiums, and increase the taxability of Social Security.

Greg Hammond’s article offers six strategies to make RMDs less of a burden—and more of an opportunity:

1. Reinvest in a Taxable Brokerage Account

Let your RMD dollars continue growing. Pay the tax, invest the rest. Bonus: no RMD rules on brokerage accounts.

2. Make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)

Donate directly from your IRA. Lowers your AGI and satisfies your RMD—without inflating your tax bill. Kicks in at age 70½.

3. Fund Permanent Life Insurance

Hammond suggests it, but I’m not a fan. Tax benefits don’t outweigh the downsides—especially if you’re sacrificing investment growth or delaying your family’s benefit until you’re 106.

4. Cover the Taxes on a Roth Conversion

You can’t convert your RMD, but you can use the RMD to pay the taxes on converting other IRA assets—moving more into tax-free territory.

5. Fund a 529 Plan for Education

Help the next generation avoid student debt. Your RMDs can seed tax-advantaged accounts for grandkids, nieces, or nephews.

6. Give to Your Family

Simple. Effective. And incredibly impactful. You can gift up to $19,000 per person annually ($38,000 as a couple). Warm hands > cold hands.

Key Insight:​
If your RMDs are higher than what you’d normally withdraw, you’ve missed the Perfect RMD window. That’s okay—just don’t let the tax tail wag the financial dog. Plan proactively and review annually.

Quick Reminder:​
Don’t spend money just for the tax deduction. That math never works.

Listener Question of the Week

“How do I cover the income gap from retirement (e.g., age 60) to when I claim Social Security (e.g., age 70)?”

My Take:

• This is where guardrails shine.
• We use the portfolio to "borrow" against future guaranteed income.
• That means we can spend more than usual (e.g., 6–8%) in early retirement, with a clear plan to reduce withdrawals once Social Security kicks in.
• If markets cooperate, great. If not, we turn on Social Security early or reduce spending slightly.
• This strategy unlocks fun now without compromising the long-term plan.

Bottom Line:​
You don’t need to wait until age 70 for a raise—just plan to spend wisely and taper down when your benefits begin. Your future self will thank you, and your present self gets to make more memories.

Resources Mentioned

• ​Click here to read Smart Moves for RMDs, by Greg Hammond
• ​Click here to order my book, Retirement Starts Today: Your non-financial guide to an even better retirement

That's it for our three hundred and eighty-second installment of "Every Day is Saturday." As always, I read (and usually reply to) every listener email. Got a question? Hit reply—you just might hear your name on the show.

Enjoy your “Saturday,”
​Benjamin Brandt