The Retirement Tax Podcast

In this episode Ben and Steven have a less technical discussion and instead focus on the importance of mindset and perspective when it comes to planning. The words we use can make all the difference on the success of a plan and our ability to really consider changes we may need to make. Ben and Steven also talk about a recent live webinar they did together and some of the highlights of what was di...

03In this episode Ben and Steven discuss some real life examples of how things can go wrong with the IRS. This isn't meant to be doom and gloom, they share how you can be proactive and avoid getting into trouble, and best practices for what you should do if the IRS does ever have questions about any of your tax returns. At the end of the day applying the "straight face" test and keeping great reco...

Thanks in part to an article that kept being sent to Steven, he and Ben share their thoughts on what the true value of Roth accounts can be and how to sift through the "noise" on the internet (that Steven refers to as garbage at one point in the episode). Tax planning is situation specific so Ben and Steven talk about the clients they typically work with and how it is going to make the most sense...

In this episode Ben and Steven give a preview of the upcoming live webinar on October 25th centered around planning for the inevitable passing of the first spouse. It may not be a fun topic to think about but there are a lot of important planning considerations when it comes to your life and legacy. From how your tax situation will immediately change to proactively disclaiming assets our hosts sha...

In this episode Ben and Steven compare their approaches to the speed limit (they recently took a road trip with their families) and how that is different from how they look at filing their taxes. They are serious when they say "pay every dollar you owe", tax planning is not trying to see what you can get away with. Our hosts go through an entire list of potential ways to increase your risk of audi...

In this episode Steven and Ben are back to share the latest from the IRS on where they are seeing fraud and scams happen. Hopefully none of these apply to you but it's always good to know what to be on the look out for so you can be one step ahead of the "bad guys". Steven and Ben share their insight on which ones on the IRS's list you should keep an eye on and how to make sure you keep yourself p...

This episode was prompted by a Financial Advisor's question who follows along with Ben and Steven (there are always new things to learn, even for professionals!). Join the discussion as our hosts talk through the details you need to know and the actions you can take so you are getting the most out of this incredible tax savings tool. Listen through to the end so you can hear the question and answe...

In this episode, Steven and Ben discuss themes that come up online around "tax planning" and share their thoughts on how you should be looking at them. They give specific examples of strategies that are worth looking into and ones that are more sizzle than steak. More than anything they reinforce the importance of making sure you (or a professional you work with) are taking the time to understand...

Join Ben and Steven as they discuss everyone least favorite tax relative: IRMAA. You hear the acronym all the time but our dynamic duo takes a few minutes to dive into how IRMAA really works and the important things to keep in mind when IRMAA starts effecting you. They also discuss opportunities for potentially lowering you IRMAA related income and the form you can use to request a waiver of premi...

Of course we all work to do everything right the first time, but life happens! When it comes to taxes, having something go wrong can feel daunting if not down right scary. In this episode Steven and Ben talk about some of the common mistakes that can come up on tax returns and what to do if you happen to make a mistake. Sometimes the best intentions aren't enough so it's important to know what ste...

For the first time the Least Boring Tax podcast welcomes a guest to the show. Jason Parker is the host of the Sound Retirement Radio podcast and like Ben and Steven, is on a mission to help as many people as possible with retirement. Jason has created an online retirement specific budgeting tool that even covers taxes at a high level and comes on the show to talk about how this tool came about and...

In this episode Ben and Steven discuss the difference between "reportable income" and "taxable income", particularly as it relates to taxpayers doing contract and consulting work (a.k.a "side gigs"). Of course, reporting all of your income is important but this is still the Least Boring Tax podcast and all about helping you sand off the rough edges of your tax bill. Listen in as Steven and Ben go...

There's less than a week as we are counting down until the May 24 Webinar from the co-hosts of the Least Boring Tax podcast (aka the Retirement Tax Podcast): Benjamin Brandt, CFP and Steven Jarvis, CPA. At this Power Session, our co-hosts will share how you can calculate your Retirement Tax bill and just as importantly, what you can do to start sanding the rough edges off of that bill. Don't forge...

There is something very satisfying about being able to do something yourself (like taxes) that many people have done by a professional, but is it always a good idea? Steven and Ben discuss the benefits of being a DIYer on taxes and when they see it go really well. Our hosts also discuss signs to be on the look out for that it might time to get some extra help. Steven even shares his own experience...

In this episode our dynamic duo discusses what taxpayers can do now that their tax return is filed to prepare for the future. Ben and Steven share some of the things they regularly look for on their clients tax returns to help make sure they are not getting killed on taxes. The team discusses both mistakes and errors to look out for as well as potential planning opportunities that might be availab...

Ben and Steven discuss the important distinction between tax preparation (what happened last year) and tax planning (what can happen in the future). Most people know they have to file a tax return (tax preparation), but many taxpayers are at a loss for what they can and should be doing to reduce their lifetime tax bill in the future (tax planning). Listen in as Ben shares how to estimate what your...

In this Episode Steven and Ben talk about what listeners can do now that their 2022 are filed (and touch on a few things to keep in mind if you haven't quite finished). While filing last year's tax return is an important step, the Least Boring Tax hosts you know share their thoughts on why tax planning can be so much more valuable. Listen in as Ben and Steven share things you can be on the look ou...

In this episode Ben and Steven discuss foundational principles that every tax payer should be aware of but was likely never taught. Taking ideas right out of Steven's new book, "Don't Get Killed on Taxes", the Least Boring Tax Podcast will teach you a few things you need to understand to get started on making your own tax plan. http://bit.ly/3Ths1U3  

The least boring tax podcast hosts are back to talk about where we find ourselves in the annual tax filing season. Steven shares a recent example of a "love letter" he is helping a client with from the IRS and shares best practices for taxpayers who end up getting their own letter from the IRS. As always Ben and Steven dive into a listener question and this time it's all about required minimum dis...

In this episode Ben and Steven share insights and takeaways from Steven's new book, Don't Get Killed on Taxes (available now on Amazon). Ben and Steven focus on common "myths" that taxpayers incorrectly believe and how to change your mindset around these crucial areas. The Least Boring Tax Podcast hosts also tackle a listener question about the tax implications of inheritances . http://bit.ly/3XhM...

In this episode, Ben and Steven sit down to chat about important dates, key documents, and all kinds of things that you need to know while preparing your tax filings for the year. You will get to hear why filing early isn't necessarily encouraged and what they recommend when it comes to timing your filing. You can find all show notes for this episode at: https://bit.ly/3Y7wn1j  

If there is one thing for certain, it is that change is here to stay in tax. Staying informed about the changes in compliance rules and updates to legislation is essential, but it is also, at times, exhausting. Luckily Steven and Ben have rounded up the latest tax law changes so that you can stay informed, remain a trusted source to clients and colleagues, and ensure you're giving the best advice...

Moving into a new year feels like a fresh start for many reasons, and it's always a good time to reflect, assess, and plan. As 2022 transitions into 2023, Ben and Steven have been working on business planning and will share some of that in this episode. They'll dive into the "why" that brought them together, how they plan to help their audience with the execution of tax planning in the future, and...

Capital gains tax rates have been the subject of multiple questions coming in lately, so today Steven and Ben will be sharing tips and insight to help clear up any confusion. From the seemingly tricky parts of selling stock to where people often slip up, you'll hear about the areas where you really need to pay attention and do some planning when it comes to capital gains. You can find all show not...

Tax planning should be something that is looked at throughout the entire year. However, as the end of the year approaches, now is a particularly good time to review your finances and take advantage of any tax planning opportunities that may be available for you. So, in this episode, Benjamin and Steven will be sharing some tax tips to consider and answering your questions as we get closer to the e...