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Near Retirement
2 MIN READ
UPDATED APRIL 2026

10-15 years from retirement.

READ2 min · UPDATED
Reviewed against primary sources cited at the bottom of this page.

The decade before retirement is when sequence of returns risksequence of returns riskThe risk that bad returns early in retirement permanently damage a portfolio supporting withdrawals. Two retirees with the same average return can have very different outcomes depending on the order of returns., Roth conversions, Social Security timing, Medicare, and IRMAAIncome-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA)A Medicare surcharge added to your monthly premium if your income exceeds certain thresholds.Full definition all become real decisions. Not because the math is harder, because the decisions interact in ways they didn't before.

This page covers personal finance fundamentals that apply regardless of your view on Bitcoin or fiat currencyfiat currencyMoney declared legal tender by a government, not backed by a physical commodity. Its value rests on trust in the issuing government.Full definition.

This page covers US-specific accounts and tax law. Outside the US? The interaction between drawdown timing, public benefits, and tax brackets follows the same logic; the specific rules differ.
THE SHORT VERSION

You've been doing the right things. The balance is real now. The next 10-15 years are the most complex of your financial life because the decisions interact. A Roth conversionRoth conversionMoving money from a tax-deferred retirement account (where you'll owe tax later) into a Roth account (where everything grows and comes out tax-free). You pay regular income tax this year on the amount moved.Full definition affects your Medicare premium two years later. When you claim Social Security affects how much you draw from your portfolio. This page maps those interactions.

Start here

1 · THE DECADE PLAN
Financial planning by decade, the 50s and 60s sections
What changes at each five-year band as you approach the drawdown phase.
2 · THE WINDOW
Roth conversion timing
The window between early retirement (or reduced income) and RMD age is the optimal conversion window. Most people miss it.
3 · THE BIGGEST CLAIM-AGE LEVER
Social Security strategy: 62 vs 67 vs 70
Break-even analysis. The 8% per year delayed-retirement credit is hard to beat risk-free.

Your most important tools

Roth Conversion Sweet Spot
How much to convert each year to minimize lifetime taxes without crossing into a higher bracket.
IRMAA Estimator
See whether a conversion this year raises your Medicare premium two years later.
Retirement on Track
Where you stand against your number, by age cohort and target.

Common questions

Should I still be doing Roth conversions?

Almost certainly yes. The window between reduced income and RMDRequired Minimum Distribution (RMD)The minimum amount the IRS requires you to withdraw annually from Traditional IRAs and 401ks starting at age 73 (rising to 75 in 2033). Calculated as account balance divided by your IRS life expectancy factor. Roth IRAs have no RMDs during the owner’s lifetime. age is the optimal conversion window because your tax bracket is at its lowest. Roth conversion timing →

When should I claim Social Security?

If you can delay to 70, benefits increase 8% per year past your full retirement age. The break-even versus claiming at 67 is typically around age 80. Social Security strategy →

What is IRMAA and should I worry about it?

IRMAA is a Medicare surcharge for higher earners based on income from two years prior. Large Roth conversions can trigger it. Plan around it. IRMAA explainer →

How should I change my investment allocation?

Sequence of returns risk is now real. A 40% crash in year 1 of retirement has permanent consequences. Consider shifting some equity risk to bonds, cash, or Bitcoin as a diversifier. FIRE math + sequence risk →

Do I need long-term care insurance?

The optimal window to buy is 55-60. Above 65 it becomes very expensive or unavailable. Long-term care insurance →

Reading path

  1. Financial planning by decade · the 50s and 60s
  2. Roth conversion timing
  3. Roth 5-year rules
  4. IRMAA
  5. Social Security strategy
  6. Long-term care insurance
  7. Wills and estate planning
  8. FIRE · sequence of returns risk section

Last updated 2026-04-30. Not financial advice. Do your own research.

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