Tax Planning for Retirement in Orange County, NY
Be Smart About What You Keep, Not Just What You Earn.
Retirement tax planning is about more than the size of your nest egg—it’s about how much you actually keep after taxes each year. At Cammareri Wealth Management Group, we help retirees and pre-retirees in Orange County, NY and beyond understand how their withdrawals, Social Security, pensions, and investment decisions interact with the tax code, so they can spend with confidence and avoid unpleasant surprises.
Retirement Tax Planning, Made Clear
Turn a Complex Tax Picture Into a Practical Strategy
Different accounts are taxed in different ways, and the order in which you use them can have a big impact on how long your money lasts. Our role is to help you see the whole tax picture—federal and state income taxes, required minimum distributions (RMDs), Social Security taxation, capital gains—and then design a distribution strategy that fits your life, not just the latest rule of thumb.
Grounded in our five core commitments—communication, consolidation, customized strategies, comprehensive planning, and long-term commitment—we coordinate closely with your tax professional. While we don’t provide tax or legal advice, we help keep the financial side of your retirement tax plan organized, understandable, and aligned with your long-term goals.
Four Pillars of Tax-Smart Retirement Income
Retirement tax planning involves many moving parts, but the core ideas can be explained simply. We focus on four main pillars:
Understanding Your Current Tax Picture
We start by reviewing your income sources—Social Security, pensions, part-time work, investment income, and planned withdrawals from IRAs, 401(k)s, and taxable accounts. Together, we look at your current and projected tax brackets so we can plan from a place of clarity instead of guesswork.
Consolidating & Organizing Your Accounts
Scattered accounts make tax planning harder than it needs to be. Where appropriate, we help consolidate old 401(k)s and IRAs and organize taxable investments so you and your CPA can see the full picture at a glance. This consolidation often reveals opportunities to simplify, reduce complexity, and coordinate tax decisions across accounts.
Keeping Your Plan Comprehensive and Current
Tax rules change, and so does life. We revisit your retirement tax plan regularly—especially after major life events or significant changes in tax law—to make sure your strategy stays comprehensive and up to date. Our long-term commitment is to keep the conversation going so your tax plan evolves with you.
Designing Customized Withdrawal and Conversion Strategies
With your goals and full financial picture in view, we outline customized strategies for how and when to tap each account. That may include coordinating Roth conversions, managing capital gains, planning around RMDs, and sequencing withdrawals in a way that aims to minimize lifetime taxes—not just this year’s bill.
Key Areas We Help You Plan For
Coordinating Withdrawals Across Taxable, Tax-Deferred, and Tax-Free Accounts
Which account you draw from, and when, can affect both your tax bill and the longevity of your savings. We help you design a withdrawal sequence that balances spending needs, tax brackets, and long-term goals, so each account plays a specific role in your retirement paycheck.
Managing Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)
RMDs from traditional IRAs and 401(k)s can unexpectedly push you into higher tax brackets if you don’t plan ahead. We help you model how future RMDs may impact your taxes and consider strategies—such as earlier withdrawals or Roth conversions—that may make those distributions more manageable later on.
Planning Roth Conversions Thoughtfully
Roth conversions can be powerful, but they’re not right for everyone. We help you evaluate if converting some pre-tax money to Roth may make sense based on your current and expected future tax brackets, your time horizon, and your estate goals. We then coordinate with your CPA on timing and amounts so there are no surprises.
Understanding Social Security Taxation and “Hidden” Cliffs
Many retirees are surprised to learn that up to 85% of their Social Security benefits can be taxable, depending on other income. We help you understand how benefits are taxed, how other income sources interact with those thresholds, and how thoughtful planning can limit unpleasant “tax cliffs” where small changes in income cause big jumps in taxes.
Managing Capital Gains and Investment Income
Realizing gains at the wrong time can create avoidable tax bills. We work with you to plan when to realize gains, harvest losses when appropriate, and structure your portfolio so interest, dividends, and capital gains are aligned with your broader retirement income and tax strategy.
Coordinating With Your CPA and Estate Plan
Retirement tax planning doesn’t exist in a vacuum—it touches your estate plan, charitable giving, and legacy goals. We coordinate with your CPA and estate planning attorney so that your tax decisions support the bigger picture, whether that’s reducing future tax burdens for heirs or funding charitable gifts in a tax-aware way.
