RETIREMENT INCOME DISTRIBUTION PLAYBOOK

This guide does not optimize for returns.

It optimizes for durability, coordination, and survivability.

Complete once per year

Revisit before claiming Social Security, retiring, or making pension elections

“Not sure” = risk

Use this to run the conversation, not react to it

Scoring

• 🟢 Green — Modeled, documented, understood
• 🟡 Yellow — Discussed but not tested
• 🔴 Red — Unaddressed or misunderstood

Core Questions

1. Do I know every income source I will rely on?
2. Do I know when each income source starts?
3. Do I know when each income source stops?
4. Do I know which sources are guaranteed?
5. Do I know which sources depend on markets?
6. Do I know which sources adjust for inflation?
7. Do I know which sources die with me?
8. Do I know which sources continue to my spouse?
9. Do I know which income decisions are irreversible?
10. Do I know which decisions I can still change?

Inventory Questions

1. Have I listed all future income sources?
2. Have I confirmed estimated dollar amounts?
3. Do I know earliest vs latest start dates?
4. Do I know how income changes in down markets?
5. Do I know how inflation affects each source?
6. Do I know how income changes at first death?
7. Do I know which income pushes me into higher tax brackets?
8. Do I know which income is temporary vs lifetime?
9. Do I know which income is optional vs mandatory?
10. Do I know which income decisions expire if delayed?

RETIREMENT INCOME TIMELINE OVERVIEW

This timeline is functional, not calendar-based.

Risk is not evenly distributed across decades.

Questions

1. Am I unintentionally locking in future tax exposure?
2. Am I overfunding pre-tax accounts without a plan?
3. Am I preserving Roth conversion flexibility?
4. Do I know which income decisions must happen before 60?
5. Am I protecting against job-loss risk?
6. Do I know which accounts should not be touched?
7. Am I assuming future income will solve current issues?
8. Am I planning withdrawals—or hoping?
9. Do I know what income will not exist yet?
10. Am I coordinating income with retirement timing?

Questions

1. Am I heavily withdrawing while delaying Social Security?
2. Do I know how much portfolio damage that causes?
3. Am I exploiting lower-tax years intentionally?
4. Am I increasing future RMDs unnecessarily?
5. Am I ignoring Medicare IRMAA exposure?
6. Do I know my Social Security breakeven ages?
7. Am I protecting the surviving spouse?
8. Do I know which mistakes here are irreversible?
9. Do I have spending guardrails?
10. Do I know what happens if markets fall early?

Questions

1. Have RMDs been modeled accurately?
2. Do I know how RMDs affect Social Security taxation?
3. Am I surprised by rising tax brackets?
4. Am I unintentionally triggering Medicare surcharges?
5. Have Roth balances been preserved strategically?
6. Do I know how income changes at first death?
7. Am I managing income—or reacting to it?
8. Do I know which accounts should shrink first?
9. Do I know which assets should last longest?
10. Is income becoming simpler—or more complex?

Questions

1. Is income predictable and stable?
2. Have cognitive decline risks been considered?
3. Has complexity been intentionally reduced?
4. Does the survivor understand the income system?
5. Are taxes accelerating late in life?
6. Is inflation protection still present?
7. Are income sources reliable long-term?
8. Is long-term care impact considered?
9. Is spending sustainable without stress?
10. Does the plan work to age 95+?

Questions

1. Have all claiming ages been modeled?
2. Have survivor benefits been analyzed?
3. Have portfolio withdrawals during delay been quantified?
4. Do I know my breakeven ages?
5. Do I understand taxation of benefits?
6. Am I coordinating claiming with Roth conversions?
7. Am I prioritizing income stability or maximization?
8. Am I protecting the lower-earning spouse?
9. Do I know what happens if I die early?
10. Do I know what happens if I live long?

Pension Questions (if applicable)

1. Have I compared single vs joint options?
2. Have I analyzed inflation adjustments?
3. Is the election irreversible?
4. Does survivor income drop?
5. Does it replace or duplicate bonds?

Withdrawal Questions

6. Do I have a written withdrawal order?
7. Have alternative sequences been modeled?
8. Am I managing tax brackets intentionally?
9. Am I shrinking pre-tax balances early?
10. Am I preserving Roth assets deliberately?

Questions

1. What is my marginal tax rate in retirement?
2. What income triggers IRMAA?
3. Am I smoothing income intentionally?
4. Do one-time events spike taxes?
5. Do I understand Medicare lookback rules?
6. Am I stacking income inefficiently?
7. Are capital gains controlled?
8. Is Social Security taxed unnecessarily?
9. What happens in a 20% market drop?
10. What happens in a 10-year flat market?

Questions

1. Which income stops at first death?
2. Which income continues?
3. Does the survivor pay more tax?
4. Does Medicare cost increase?
5. Does complexity increase?
6. Is survivor income sufficient?
7. Is longevity risk addressed?
8. Is inflation protection adequate?
9. Is the plan simpler over time?
10. Does it survive a 30-year retirement?