Category: podcast

David prefers to be a clear-eyed realist and face things head on, mincing words about the fiscal situation of the United States would be a disservice to everyone. One of the big things that people have asked about after the previous episode is whether…

The new year brings important changes to the IRS tax code along with various thresholds that we have to know about when it comes to Power of Zero planning. We have to be keenly aware of these thresholds because they can end up being landmines if…

For a grim depiction, check out this article about the future of the US government’s debt situation. The US government reached the tipping point at least fifteen years ago where the only way out will be default. People who calculate debt for the US…

The SECURE Act was passed a couple of weeks ago and we now know what it’s implications are. The big thing that everyone is talking about is that it eliminates the lifetime stretch provision for non-spouse beneficiaries of IRA’s, 201(k)’s, and…

One of the most common questions that David gets is regarding what happens to the Medicare Part B premium if someone engages in a Power of Zero tax strategy. Are there unexpected consequences of shifting money from tax-deferred to tax-free? When you…

Once you get past December 31 of 2019 you will only have six years left to reposition dollars from tax-deferred to tax-free before tax rates go up for good. Every year that goes by your timeline gets shorter. The question that David gets all the time…

The last weeks of December are critical in terms of taking advantage of your last opportunities to do Roth conversions for the 2019 tax year. Many people think you can go all the way until December 31 but that’s not always going to be the case. Some…

David gets a number of emails from listeners saying that he’s been wrong for years and the central thesis of the Power of Zero paradigm is incorrect. The question is, do the tax cuts of 2016 delegitimize what he and others have been saying? In…

When someone is talking about a risk multiplier, they are essentially talking about longevity risk. The longer you live, the more likely it is for you to experience a subset of risks that could completely derail your retirement plan. There first major…

David is generally very reluctant to recommend something that would cause someone to bump from a 12% tax bracket into a 22% tax bracket. We’re trying to avoid the tax apocalypse that’s coming down the road, and that means thinking about the…