As we head into a new year, many people focus on goals like travel, family time, and enjoying retirement with confidence. One area that often gets less attention — but can have a meaningful impact — is tax planning.

Taxes don’t exist in a vacuum. Decisions around Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), Roth strategies, beneficiary designations, and income timing all connect to one another. That’s why having a clear framework to review these areas can be so helpful.

A practical checklist for 2026 planning conversations

We’re sharing a 2026 Retirement Tax Checklist, provided by Ed Slott and Company, a nationally recognized source for retirement tax education.

Our advisory team participates in Ed Slott and Company’s Elite IRA Advisor Group, which focuses on staying current with ongoing changes in retirement tax rules and planning considerations.

This checklist is designed to help surface questions such as:

• Are RMD rules changing how your income flows?
• Does a Roth strategy make sense given your tax picture?
• Are beneficiary designations still aligned with your wishes?
• How do taxes fit into your broader retirement plan?

Rather than offering answers in isolation, the checklist helps highlight where coordination matters most.

This checklist is especially helpful for those nearing retirement or already navigating retirement income decisions.

How we think about planning at Richmond Brothers

At Richmond Brothers, we believe retirement planning works best when everything is coordinated — not handled piece by piece. Tax decisions often affect income, investment strategy, healthcare planning, and legacy goals.

Tools like this checklist aren’t about creating urgency — they’re about creating clarity and better conversations.

If reviewing these topics raises questions about how your own plan fits together, that’s often a helpful next step in the planning process.

👉 Download the 2026 Retirement Tax Checklist here