The 2026 Tax Survival Guide + Retirement Tax Landmines

This week’s episode of "On the Money" with Jerry and Nick Royer focused on helping retirees and near-retirees navigate the hidden tax traps that can threaten retirement security. The Royers introduced their “Tax Survival Guide for 2026,” answering common listener questions about how retirement income from sources like Social Security, IRAs, and pensions often stacks up in unexpected ways—potentially pushing retirees into higher tax brackets and causing a ripple effect with Medicare premiums and Social Security taxes. They emphasized essential strategies such as having a personalized “tax map” or blueprint for withdrawals, understanding "bracket creep," and not taking money from the wrong accounts at the wrong time. The show also covered how urgent it is to plan tax withdrawals thoughtfully to avoid triggers like Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) and how ongoing legislative changes can impact these strategies.Jerry and Nick further discussed tools and tactics to help listeners avoid costly mistakes. They explained the importance of using gap years (the period after retirement but before RMDs and Social Security begin) to consider Roth conversions and Qualified Charitable Distributions. Real-life examples illustrated how tax decisions—if made without a strategy—can lead to unintended tax bills and benefit reductions. The Royers encouraged listeners to proactively review their retirement plans, utilize checklists and toolkits provided by their team, and schedule strategy sessions to ensure confidence, not just hope, drives their retirement planning. Throughout the show, they injected humor and a practical perspective, aiming to make complex financial topics both understandable and actionable.For more information about Nick & Jerry Royer and the Group 10 Financial Team, visit https://group10financial.com/