In this episode, Mark Zagurski tackles Play #3 of the Seven Plays series: mastering the do’s and don’ts of retirement taxes. Taxes can be one of the biggest expenses in retirement, especially with pre-tax accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs. Mark explains the importance of asset location, strategically choosing taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free accounts to minimize tax liability. He debunks the myth of a flat 30% tax rate, illustrating how progressive tax brackets and effective tax rates work, and shares strategies for diversifying your portfolio across account types for flexibility and control.

Mark Zagurski explores Play #2 of the Seven Plays series: determining how much money you need in retirement. He challenges the conventional rule of thumb of replacing 70-80% of pre-retirement income, citing Morningstar research showing replacement rates vary from 54% to 87% based on lifestyle and expenses. Mark discusses the “go-go,” “slow-go,” and “no-go” phases of retirement and how expenses like healthcare and travel can shift over time. He emphasizes the need for a personalized plan to account for Social Security, retirement accounts, and personal savings.

In this episode, Mark Zagurski dives into Play #1 of the Seven Plays series: maximizing the five years before and after retirement, dubbed the "Game of the Decade." He explains the shift from the accumulation phase (saving and investing) to the distribution phase (generating income) and the challenges of modern retirement, including longer life expectancies and the decline of pensions. Mark highlights key pre-retirement steps like building an emergency fund and maximizing savings, and post-retirement strategies like managing withdrawals and sequence of returns risk to ensure your money lasts.