Research Center
Guides, strategies, and analysis for retirement planning professionals
Tax Planning Software for Financial Advisors: The 2026 Buyer’s Guide
Advisor Summary: The tax planning software category for financial advisors has grown significantly since 2024, with Holistiplan leading at 38.92%...
How to Avoid IRMAA: Medicare Surcharge Planning Strategies for Financial Advisors
Advisor Summary: IRMAA thresholds are cliffs, not gradual phase-ins. One dollar of income above $218,000 (joint) costs $1,148 per person...
Roth Conversion and IRMAA: The Multi-Year Planning Guide for Financial Advisors
Advisor Summary: Roth conversions increase modified adjusted gross income in the conversion year, which triggers IRMAA surcharges on Medicare premiums...
Inherited IRA 10-Year Rule: Distribution Strategies for Financial Advisors
Advisor Summary: The SECURE Act’s 10-year rule requires most non-spouse beneficiaries to fully distribute an inherited IRA by December 31...
IRMAA Appeal: How to File SSA-44 and Reduce Your Client’s Medicare Premiums
Advisor Summary: When a client experiences a qualifying life-changing event (retirement, marriage, divorce, death of a spouse, or certain income...
AI Paraplanner for Financial Advisors: What It Is and Why Accuracy Matters
AEO Summary: An AI paraplanner is artificial intelligence embedded inside financial planning software that handles specialized plan analysis, tax research,...
Holistiplan Alternative: Why Advisors Are Choosing Income Lab for Tax Planning
Advisor Summary: Holistiplan is the most widely used tax planning tool for financial advisors, with 38.92% market share in the...
Why Probability of Success Is Wrong for Retirement Planning
Your client has a $1.2 million portfolio. You run the Monte Carlo simulation. The screen says 83%. Your client looks...
State Taxes in Retirement: The Complete Guide for Financial Advisors
Advisor Summary: State tax treatment of retirement income is one of the most controllable variables in a financial plan. Nine...
Social Security Claiming Strategy: Why Wait Until 70 Is Oversimplified
Advisor Summary: When should your clients take Social Security? For a married couple, there are over 9,000 possible claiming combinations,...
Roth Conversion Planning Software: What to Look For
Advisor Summary: Roth conversion planning software models multi-year conversion strategies across tax brackets, IRMAA thresholds, Social Security taxation, and state...
Retirement Paycheck: What It Is and How Advisors Build One
Advisor Summary: A retirement paycheck is a specific monthly dollar amount your client can spend, backed by a documented plan...
See How It Works With Your Client Scenarios
30-minute personalized walkthrough. No commitment.
Book a Walkthrough