A Few Useful Finds for Life After Work — Issue #9

Hi from Stefan,

Welcome to the ninth issue of this biweekly newsletter.

Nothing here is sponsored or written for compensation.

Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)

The new spreadsheet report makes it easier to see how withdrawals from IRAs and 401(k)s affect your taxes, especially once Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) begin.

One way to reduce the tax impact of RMDs, while supporting causes that matter to you, is through Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs). These allow you to donate directly from your IRA, lowering your taxable income. Morningstar has a helpful overview of the complex QCD rules.

What I’m watching

The Acquired podcast episodes about Ferrari and Formula One that I mentioned last newsletter piqued my interest.

I started watching the Netflix F1 documentary series Drive to Survive. I also watched and recommend the movie Ford v Ferrari, about Ford’s 1960s effort to beat Ferrari at Le Mans. Really well told stories.

Product update

I’ve received a lot of thoughtful feedback on the new spreadsheet report. What stands out is how often people say it changes how they understand their plan, because it makes everything visible.

You can see, year by year, how withdrawals, taxes, and RMDs interact, instead of relying on a single summary output. If you haven’t run your plan recently, this is a good time to revisit it. Try a few variations and see how different assumptions flow through to your after-tax spending.

Many of you have asked for the ability to set a legacy goal to ensure your portfolio isn’t fully depleted and you can leave a bequest. That capability will go live soon.

Warmly,
Stefan Sharkansky, PhD
Founder of The Best Third