New-Year Retirement Playbook — Audit Beneficiaries, HSAs, RMDs & Roth Moves

Start by doing the operational work — not wishful planning. In this episode Chris Drew runs through a compact, actionable checklist: audit and update beneficiaries (including PODs on bank accounts), capture every employer match and the contribution increases, and use HSAs properly for triple-tax benefits. He explains SECURE 2.0 updates you need to know now (RMDs begin in the year you turn 73), options for partial rollovers to gain customization, and how to sequence Roth conversions and withdrawals so taxes don’t erode your income. Practical cash-management steps — a real spending plan, a 3–6 month emergency fund, and an overlap/cost-and-risk review to reveal hidden fees and duplicated exposures — close out a down-to-earth plan you can implement this month. Want help turning this into a roadmap for your accounts? Book a free consultation at https://askthecaptain.com or call 833-DREW-CAP (833-373-9227).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.