In-depth articles on IRA rollovers, Social Security planning, ROTH conversions, legacy planning, and more — written by a fiduciary for pre-retirees and retirees in New Jersey and New York.
Quick Summary
Doug Robb Jr. publishes in-depth retirement planning articles covering IRA rollovers, Social Security claiming strategies, ROTH conversions, legacy planning, public sector retirement issues, and faith-based financial planning. All articles are written from a fiduciary perspective for pre-retirees and retirees in New Jersey and New York.
Leaving a job — whether through retirement, a career change, or an early separation — triggers one of the most important financial decisions you will face: what to do with your employer-sponsored retirement plan. A properly executed IRA rollover can preserve your tax advantages, expand your investment options, and simplify your financial life.
The years between retirement and age 73 — when Required Minimum Distributions begin — represent a unique tax planning window. Strategic ROTH conversions during this period can dramatically reduce your lifetime tax burden and create a tax-free income stream for you and your heirs.
For investors who want their wealth to reflect their values, Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) offer a powerful tool: the ability to give directly to charity from your IRA, satisfying your Required Minimum Distribution while excluding the amount from your taxable income.
Public sector workers in New Jersey and New York who receive a government pension may be surprised to learn that their Social Security benefits can be significantly reduced by two little-known provisions: the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO).
Many workers age 55 and older don't realize they may be eligible to roll over a portion of their 401(k) or 403(b) to an IRA while still employed. This in-service rollover strategy can unlock better investment options, lower fees, and early ROTH conversion planning.
If you are collecting a pension, you face a unique retirement income challenge: coordinating your pension with Social Security, IRA distributions, and investment income in a way that minimizes taxes and maximizes sustainable income.
For Christians and other people of faith, financial planning is an act of stewardship. Doug Robb Jr. integrates faith and values into every aspect of the planning process — from investment selection to legacy planning.
Tax-loss harvesting is a portfolio management technique that systematically sells investments at a loss to offset capital gains — reducing your annual tax bill without materially changing your investment strategy. Here's how it works.
Index Universal Life (IUL) insurance offers market-linked growth with a floor that protects against losses, tax-free policy loans, and no Required Minimum Distributions. Here's how IUL works and who it's appropriate for.
Premium financing allows qualified individuals to use a bank loan to fund a large life insurance policy — typically an Index Universal Life (IUL) — without liquidating existing assets. When structured properly, it can create substantial tax-free income and legacy benefits.
Retiring from the NYPD involves irreversible decisions about your pension election, Social Security timing, and deferred compensation. A single wrong choice can cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars over your lifetime.
MTA workers approaching retirement face a critical question: what happens to your pension and 457(b) savings when you leave service? Understanding the difference between your defined benefit pension and your rollover-eligible savings is essential.
Westchester County residents — whether retiring from county government, the New York State system, or a private employer — face unique retirement planning challenges. Here is what you need to know.
New York City teachers covered by TRS receive both a defined benefit pension and Social Security benefits. Coordinating these two income sources — along with any 403(b) savings — is the key to maximizing retirement income.
Manhattan residents face the highest combined tax burden in the country — federal, New York State, and New York City income taxes. ROTH conversion strategies can dramatically reduce your lifetime tax bill and create a pool of tax-free retirement income.
Retirement is a process, not a date. This checklist walks through the most important financial, tax, and lifestyle decisions to make before you retire — and the steps to take once retirement begins.
Not every financial professional operates under the same standard. Understanding the difference between a fiduciary advisor and a broker can change the questions you ask, the advice you receive, and the confidence you have in your financial decisions.
