28. Ed Slott on Roth Conversions, IRAs & RMDs | Retirement Savings Time Bomb
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28. Ed Slott on Roth Conversions, IRAs & RMDs | Retirement Savings Time Bomb
📕 LINK TO ED SLOTT'S BOOK
The Retirement Savings Time Bomb Ticks Louder: How to Avoid Unnecessary Tax Landmines, Defuse the Latest Threats to Your Retirement Savings, and Ignite Your Financial Freedom
In this lesson from the Retirement Income School™, Dr. Amanda welcomes one of the most respected voices in retirement tax planning — Ed Slott, CPA, author of The Retirement Savings Time Bomb Ticks Louder and founder of the Ed Slott IRA Elite Advisor Group, of which Dr. Amanda is a proud member.
Together, they break down the critical retirement tax traps that catch most retirees off guard — including why the Retirement Savings Time Bomb is ticking louder, how smart Roth conversions can dramatically reduce future tax bills, the RMD chain reaction that can push retirees into higher brackets, and the costly Widow’s Penalty that can blindside surviving spouses.
They also explore how safe-money tools — such as annuities, whole life insurance, and Roth-friendly strategies — help people protect their wealth, create guaranteed lifetime income, and make their money last.
This is one of the most important “classes” you’ll ever take on how to keep more of the money you’ve saved for retirement.
Timestamps
00:00 — Welcome + Why Ed Slott’s expertise matters
01:00 — Breaking down the Retirement Savings Time Bomb
03:00 — Why future taxes may rise (and backdoor tax increases)
04:30 — How Roth conversions protect retirees from tax uncertainty
06:30 — Delayed gratification: The tax strategy mindset
09:00 — Real stories of retirees shocked by high taxes
10:30 — The real difference between tax prep vs. tax planning
12:00 — How high historical tax rates shape today’s decisions
13:30 — Understanding how RMDs and Widow’s Penalty combine
16:00 — Why your 60s are the “sweet spot” for Roth conversions
18:00 — Government Plan vs. Your Plan for RMDs
19:30 — Using annuities as a Roth-conversion safe-money bucket
21:00 — Ed’s personal family story on guaranteed income
23:00 — How annuities create peace of mind in retirement
25:00 — The risk of sequence-of-returns and retirees running out of time
26:30 — The ONLY thing better than guaranteed income for life
27:00 — Why Ed uses annuities inside his own Roth IRA
29:00 — Tax-free legacy planning under the 10-year rule
31:00 — The Widow’s Penalty explained: a tax chain reaction
34:00 — Why proactive planning affects spouses, heirs & lifestyle
35:30 — The mindset behind wealth protection
36:00 — Why most advisors never mention RMD tax traps
37:00 — Why taking more than the RMD may be smart
39:00 — The greatest retirement lesson Ed wishes everyone knew
41:00 — The importance of Roth contributions for younger savers
42:00 — Why people who own life insurance always wish they had more
43:00 — Closing thoughts + How to get help with your retirement plan
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Phone: 1-866-444-2997
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👩🏫 About Dr. Amanda
Dr. Amanda is the founder of Retirement Solutions Financial™ and creator of the Retirement Income School™ and Guaranteed Income Blueprint™. After losing her father and helping her mom navigate retirement, she felt called to help others avoid the stress and confusion of planning alone.
She specializes in safe money strategies using dividend-paying whole life insurance, fixed index annuities, long-term care coverage, and Social Security claiming strategy. Her mission? To help you protect your wealth and enjoy a secure, stress-free retirement with confidence.
⚠️ DISCLAIMER
The information in this podcast is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. Retirement Income School™ and Dr. Amanda Barrientez do not provide individual investment recommendations. Always consult with a licensed advisor or tax professional before implementing any strategy discussed.