Iowa Retirement Benefits & Solutions

10/23/2026

Have you had a lower income year in 2026?

Maybe you retired, reduced your hours, changed jobs, or simply had less taxable income than usual.

If so, there may be some tax planning opportunities worth considering before year end;

-Completing a Roth conversion
-Realizing capital gains
-Taking additional distributions from tax-deferred accounts
-Reviewing your current tax bracket
-Planning ahead for future RMDs

A lower-income year isn’t just a change in income. It can be a valuable tax planning window.

Before December 31, make sure you know what opportunities may be available to you.

10/21/2026

You don’t need a perfect retirement plan. You need an intentional one.

Retirement will come with changes you can’t predict. Markets move. Tax laws change. Life happens.

A good retirement plan isn’t about predicting everything perfectly. It’s about making thoughtful decisions today & having a strategy that can adjust along the way.

Plan with purpose. Adjust when needed. Keep moving forward.

10/19/2026

For many people, meeting with a financial advisor can feel like a big step, especially if you’re not sure what to expect.

Our process starts simply: a conversation.

We want to understand where you are today, what you’ve already done, what questions are keeping you up at night, and what you want retirement to look like.

From there, we look at the bigger picture. From retirement income, investments, taxes, healthcare, Social Security, and estate planning to identify potential gaps and build a roadmap around your retirement.

No cookie-cutter plan. No starting with a product.

Just a clear process designed to answer one of the biggest questions you may have:

“Am I on the right track for retirement?”

In our latest blog, we walk you through exactly what to expect when working with IRBS. From your first meeting through ongoing planning.

👇 Take a look at our process and see what working with IRBS is really like.

See exactly what it's like to work with Iowa Retirement Benefits & Solutions — our six pillars, five-step roadmap, and who we help, from pre-retirees to widows.

10/16/2026

No one knows exactly what the market will do next & your retirement plan shouldn’t depend on guessing correctly.

A strong retirement strategy considers the good years, the bad years, & everything in between.

Because when you have a plan for volatility, you’re less likely to let volatility change the plan.

10/15/2026

10/13/2026

You’ve spent decades building your retirement savings. But what happens when it’s finally time to start spending it?

In our latest blog, we walk through a hypothetical couple approaching retirement with $800,000 saved and show how we might think through questions like:

-Where should their retirement income come from?
-When should they claim Social Security?
-Should they consider Roth conversions before retirement?
-How can they protect themselves from a market downturn early in retirement?
-How could their income decisions affect Medicare premiums?

The biggest takeaway? A retirement account balance isn’t the same thing as a retirement income plan.

A hypothetical case study: how a couple turned $800k into $58k+ of guaranteed annual income using an income annuity, Roth conversions, and smart Social Security timing.

10/09/2026

April is tax-filing season. October through December can be tax-PLANNING season.

There’s a big difference.

By the time you file your taxes, many of the decisions that could have affected your tax bill have already been made.

Before December 31, you may still have opportunities to manage taxable income, complete a Roth conversion, realize gains or losses, make charitable gifts, or take required distributions.

The goal isn’t simply to pay the least amount of tax this year.

The goal is to make smart tax decisions throughout retirement.

Have questions about your year-end retirement tax strategy? Give our office a call.

10/01/2026

8 Financial Moves to Make Before Year- End -

The question isn't always "Should I convert?" It's often "How much should I convert?" If your income is lower this year, you may have an opportunity to convert IRA dollars at a favorable tax rate. But converting too much can affect your tax bracket and future Medicare premiums, so the amount matters...