“You’re Fine” Is Not a Plan: Tax Traps, Longevity Risk, and the Retirement Answers Your Advisor Should Be Giving You

Most people heading into retirement have accounts, statements, and a portfolio—but very few have a real plan for how everything is supposed to work together. In this episode of Cover Your Assets, Logan Marcus and Don Spini break down the hidden tax traps inside retirement, why “tax deferred” does not mean tax free, and how poor coordination can quietly erode wealth over time. They discuss Roth conversions, RMD time bombs, Social Security timing, and the growing longevity problem facing retirees today. While the number one fear in retirement is running out of money, most retirement plans are still built only to age 85—even though there is nearly a 50% chance one spouse in a 65-year-old couple lives past 90. The conversation also covers why “you’re fine” is not a real answer from an advisor—and what retirees should actually be shown when it comes to income planning, risk, and long-term projections. Plus, Logan and Don answer listener questions on income plans, switching advisors, mutual funds, independent fiduciary firms, and what truly separates proactive retirement planning from generic asset management.