Proactive Tax Architecture: Keep More of Your Life's Work
It isn’t just about what you make; it’s about what you keep. We move beyond standard compliance to build a tax-efficient framework that minimizes friction and maximizes the longevity of your wealth.
The Philosophy
Don't Just Record History. Change the Future.
Most families have a CPA or tax preparer, and they serve a vital role: they tell you what you owe based on what happened last year. They are the historians of your finances.
But a healthy retirement requires a strategist.
At Stauffer Retirement Planning, we believe tax planning is a year-round discipline, not an April deadline. We look forward, not backward. By applying meticulous foresight to your income streams, we aim to reduce your lifetime tax liability—ensuring that your hard-earned savings go to your family, not the IRS.
The “Tax Time Bomb”
Insulation from the Headlines Defusing the "Tax Time Bomb"
For years, you were encouraged to defer taxes in 401(k)s and IRAs. While this helped during the accumulation phase, it creates a potential liability in retirement. Without a plan, Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) can force you into higher tax brackets, triggering a cascade of unnecessary costs—from increased Medicare premiums to taxes on your Social Security.
The “Big Box” firms often overlook this distribution-phase nuance. We make it a focal point of our diagnostic process, identifying these liabilities before they become obligations.
Hidden Liability
Without a plan, RMDs can force you into higher tax brackets, triggering increased Medicare premiums and taxes on Social Security.
The Protocol
A Surgical Approach to Efficiency
Using the principles of The 10-Year Method, we implement coordinated strategies to protect your purchasing power.
Strategic Roth Conversions
We identify “low-tax” years to systematically move assets from tax-deferred to tax-free environments. It’s the difference between paying taxes on the seed vs. paying taxes on the harvest.
Withdrawal Sequencing
Which account should you touch first? Your brokerage? Your IRA? Your Roth? We determine the precise order of operations to keep your taxable income as low as possible.
Charitable Intent
For those inclined to give, we structure donations using appreciated assets or Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs), ensuring your generosity provides maximum benefit to both the recipient and your tax return.
Collaboration
Insulation from the Headlines Coordinated Professional Oversight
We do not replace your CPA; we empower them. We act as the quarterback of your financial team, providing your tax professionals with the proactive data and strategic planning they need to file your returns with precision.
It is a collaborative standard of care designed to ensure no opportunity is missed.
Team Approach
We quarterback your financial team, coordinating with your CPA and other professionals for comprehensive oversight.
Stop Leaking Vitality
Taxes are often the single largest expense in retirement, yet they are the one most often ignored by traditional investment advisors. You deserve a partner who views tax efficiency as a core component of your financial health.
Our Services
Comprehensive Planning for Every Aspect of Your Life
Investment Management
Growth and preservation strategies tailored to your risk tolerance.
Present & Future Tax Planning
Proactive strategies to keep more of your hard-earned money.
Estate & Legacy Preparation
Ensuring your wealth passes to your loved ones exactly how you intend.
Comprehensive Income Planning
Structuring your investments and Social Security into a cohesive plan that ensures your income lasts as long as you do.
Health & Longevity Protection
Strategies for Medicare, spousal coverage, and long-term care to protect your retirement savings from rising health costs.
Ready to Get Started?
Schedule a no-cost consultation to discuss your financial health.