Heidi, keep in mind that once you reach Medicare age, if you go with regular Medicare, which I recommend, plan for those costs also. My wife and I pay over $10,000 a year in premiums for part B coverage. Medicare deducts part B costs from your monthly check, and if you buy ‘gap’ insurance to cover the 20% cost Medicare B doesn’t cover, you pay that directly to the insurance company. We use United Healthcare in Massachusetts, which requires UHC to provide more benefits than it offers elsewhere. When we were Florida residents 2 years ago, UHC didn’t offer those same benefits.
FYI.
‘The recipient does not have to cash the check before the end of the year. When your IRA custodian mails the check to you and you mail it on to the charity, the distribution date counts for the year you place it in the mail, as long as the funds actually left your IRA account by December 31.
How the Timing Works
Date completed: The IRS treats the QCD as complete on the date you mail the check to the charity.
Cashing deadline: The recipient (charity) does not need to cash or deposit the check before January 1 for it to count toward that tax year's distribution.
The exception: This rule differs if you use a personal checkbook issued directly from your IRA. If you write an IRA check yourself and mail it, the charity must cash it before year-end for the funds to clear the custodian's account in time’
I’ve used it at Vanguard a few times. It seems like they have improved the process because it is easier now. But you do have to allow time for them to send the check to you.
I’m surprised that seems odd to you. Tax management is an important part of wealth management. I don’t fear IRMAA surcharges, I’m looking for ways to avoid them. Why pay more for something you’ve contributed to on every dollar you’ve made, unlike social security. Medicare premiums with part B are already close to $10,000 a year.
Great post. I have a handful of stocks that have appreciated over the years. Amazon is 11% of my portfolio, and Google class A and C are about 9%. The rest is spread over 7 ETFs and 5 other highly appreciated stocks. You mentioned the larger the portfolio the more risk you can afford. I think that applies here. Fortunately I have a lot in a VG federal money market so I don’t need these for income.The problem is the cost for both is only about 10% of their current value, so selling would be large taxable gains that would push me into higher IRMAA surcharges as well as higher tax brackets. I’m not familiar with the 351 strategy. I’ll take a look at that. There is always the risk of these dropping substantially, but if I never sell and they pass to my kids they will get the stepped up cost basis.
I disagree. We love Costco. They don’t force you to buy that huge bag of popcorn. Use self control. People you see with tons of junk food would probably buy that same junk elsewhere, but for double the price.Their prices are almost always better than elsewhere. Even though there’s only the 2 of us retirees, we do a lot of our grocery shopping there. Their milk and eggs are cheaper by far than Stop & Shop or Trader Joe’s ( we shop here too). We don’t buy the stuff that only comes in huge quantities. We buy what we will consume. We buy ground coffee and the Kirkland brand is delicious, as well as many other brands they offer. Their paper goods, such as toilet paper and paper towels, cost so much less than other stores.Their bakery is great. Their cakes are $19.99 for huge sheet cakes or large round ones, perfect for birthdays or other occasions and 1/2 the price of comparable supermarket cakes. We buy steak there which usually comes in a pack of 3 or 4 and freeze it untied we want to eat. Their prime steaks cost so much less than other stores. It’s also a great place to walk around because they always have unusual stuff. Their clothes are great too and very affordable. I just bought a pair of Skechers step in shoes/sneakers for $35. Go to Skechers website and see prices double that. But if you lack self control, maybe stay away.😎
Comments
Heidi, keep in mind that once you reach Medicare age, if you go with regular Medicare, which I recommend, plan for those costs also. My wife and I pay over $10,000 a year in premiums for part B coverage. Medicare deducts part B costs from your monthly check, and if you buy ‘gap’ insurance to cover the 20% cost Medicare B doesn’t cover, you pay that directly to the insurance company. We use United Healthcare in Massachusetts, which requires UHC to provide more benefits than it offers elsewhere. When we were Florida residents 2 years ago, UHC didn’t offer those same benefits.
Post: COBRA insurance: No need to fear the bite
Link to comment from August 15, 2026
FYI. ‘The recipient does not have to cash the check before the end of the year. When your IRA custodian mails the check to you and you mail it on to the charity, the distribution date counts for the year you place it in the mail, as long as the funds actually left your IRA account by December 31. How the Timing Works
Post: Risk and Taxes
Link to comment from August 8, 2026
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Post: Risk and Taxes
Link to comment from August 8, 2026
I’ve used it at Vanguard a few times. It seems like they have improved the process because it is easier now. But you do have to allow time for them to send the check to you.
Post: Risk and Taxes
Link to comment from August 8, 2026
I’m surprised that seems odd to you. Tax management is an important part of wealth management. I don’t fear IRMAA surcharges, I’m looking for ways to avoid them. Why pay more for something you’ve contributed to on every dollar you’ve made, unlike social security. Medicare premiums with part B are already close to $10,000 a year.
Post: Risk and Taxes
Link to comment from August 8, 2026
Great post. I have a handful of stocks that have appreciated over the years. Amazon is 11% of my portfolio, and Google class A and C are about 9%. The rest is spread over 7 ETFs and 5 other highly appreciated stocks. You mentioned the larger the portfolio the more risk you can afford. I think that applies here. Fortunately I have a lot in a VG federal money market so I don’t need these for income.The problem is the cost for both is only about 10% of their current value, so selling would be large taxable gains that would push me into higher IRMAA surcharges as well as higher tax brackets. I’m not familiar with the 351 strategy. I’ll take a look at that. There is always the risk of these dropping substantially, but if I never sell and they pass to my kids they will get the stepped up cost basis.
Post: Risk and Taxes
Link to comment from August 8, 2026
Same here. Got out just as they started going down years ago. Now have VG federal MM in my IRA rollover brokerage account. Paying 3.62% now.
Post: Taking a Loss?
Link to comment from August 1, 2026
I disagree. We love Costco. They don’t force you to buy that huge bag of popcorn. Use self control. People you see with tons of junk food would probably buy that same junk elsewhere, but for double the price.Their prices are almost always better than elsewhere. Even though there’s only the 2 of us retirees, we do a lot of our grocery shopping there. Their milk and eggs are cheaper by far than Stop & Shop or Trader Joe’s ( we shop here too). We don’t buy the stuff that only comes in huge quantities. We buy what we will consume. We buy ground coffee and the Kirkland brand is delicious, as well as many other brands they offer. Their paper goods, such as toilet paper and paper towels, cost so much less than other stores.Their bakery is great. Their cakes are $19.99 for huge sheet cakes or large round ones, perfect for birthdays or other occasions and 1/2 the price of comparable supermarket cakes. We buy steak there which usually comes in a pack of 3 or 4 and freeze it untied we want to eat. Their prime steaks cost so much less than other stores. It’s also a great place to walk around because they always have unusual stuff. Their clothes are great too and very affordable. I just bought a pair of Skechers step in shoes/sneakers for $35. Go to Skechers website and see prices double that. But if you lack self control, maybe stay away.😎
Post: Frittering away Frugality
Link to comment from July 11, 2026
Trader Joe’s sells cards for $.99
Post: Exercising true frugality
Link to comment from July 4, 2026
I’m not sure this is needed in a 401k, which is already tax deferred. If a person wants an income stream, they can annuitize it when they retire
Post: Automatic Income stream? How important to you?
Link to comment from June 27, 2026