Curious about your retirement savings? Our How Much Do I Need To Retire? quiz gives you an idea of where you stand and a starting point to think about your long-term planning.

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Paying taxes is no one’s favorite activity, but did you know it is possible to significantly lower your tax liability in retirement? Sometimes all the way down to zero?

In this episode, Scott and Nick break down how progressive tax brackets, capital gains, and standard deductions work together to create opportunities for tax-free income. They explore how combining standard deductions with the 0% capital gains bracket, and leveraging bonus deductions for those over age 65, can open up strategic windows for tax-free living or low-cost Roth conversions.

They also discuss why building a flexible balance sheet today matters, how asset location across brokerage and 401(k) accounts impacts your options, and how managing your reported income can assist with pre-Medicare healthcare costs.

If you want to keep more of what you earn and build flexibility into your future retirement plan, this episode provides a clear, practical guide to navigating your tax options.

Ready to learn more?

• Scott Frank on LinkedIn
• Stone Steps Financial
• Nick Covyeau on LinkedIn
• Swell Financial

Leave us a question!

Money can be confusing, but it doesn’t have to be. When you’re able to understand the complexities, you can make better decisions to improve your daily life. Connect with us at Stone Steps Financial.

Curious about your retirement savings? Our How Much Do I Need To Retire? quiz gives you an idea of where you stand and a starting point to think about your long-term planning.

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Most savings accounts for kids sit in low-yield cash or come with restrictions on how the money can be used. With the rollout of the new "Trump account,” a tax-deferred savings vehicle for minors that allows parents, grandparents, employers, and friends to contribute a combined maximum of $5,000 annually. But is it worth jumping on right away?

In this episode, Scott and Nick unpack everything you need to know about this new minor IRA. They walk through who is eligible for the $1,000 government seed money, how time and compounding can turn max contributions into an estimated $20 million by retirement, and the clever Roth conversion strategy that could make those millions completely tax-free. They explore where this new tool might fit into your overall financial order of operations and how grandparents and parents can use it as a mini generation-skipping wealth builder.

Whether you're expecting a newborn or looking to jumpstart your teenager's financial future, this conversation breaks down the numbers and strategies so you can make the right move for your family.

Ready to learn more?

• Scott Frank on LinkedIn
• Stone Steps Financial
• Nick Covyeau on LinkedIn
• Swell Financial

Leave us a question!

Money can be confusing, but it doesn’t have to be. When you’re able to understand the complexities, you can make better decisions to improve your daily life. Connect with us at Stone Steps Financial.

Curious about your retirement savings? Our How Much Do I Need To Retire? quiz gives you an idea of where you stand and a starting point to think about your long-term planning.

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Nobody wakes up eager to hand extra money over to the IRS, but what if taking a deliberate tax hit today could protect tens of thousands of dollars for your family later?

In this episode, Scott and Nick unpack the real purpose behind Roth conversions: stripping away the jargon to look at taxes not as a yearly chore, but as a manageable challenge for you and your long-term goals. They compare two distinct retirement timelines: a 10-year runway during your core earning years versus a shorter 3-to-5-year pre-retirement window.

Scott and Nick discuss how to approach tax bracket filling, why temporary income drops create prime conversion opportunities, and why optimizing for the lowest tax bill this year often costs you more over your lifetime.

If you want to ensure your hard-earned money ends up with the people and causes you love, this episode offers a clear roadmap to navigate your tax options with confidence.

Ready to learn more?

• Scott Frank on LinkedIn
• Stone Steps Financial
• Nick Covyeau on LinkedIn
• Swell Financial

Leave us a question!

Money can be confusing, but it doesn’t have to be. When you’re able to understand the complexities, you can make better decisions to improve your daily life. Connect with us at Stone Steps Financial.