In this episode of The Asset Preservation Hour, financial advisor Stewart Willis and host Spike Spengel pick up their conversation on required minimum distributions and why the timing of your very first RMD can create a surprise tax problem. Stewart explains the special rule that lets you delay that first withdrawal until April of the following year, and why doing that can force you to take two RMDs in one tax year, potentially pushing you into higher brackets and triggering more tax on Social Security and Medicare surcharges. He also walks through how qualified charitable distributions work, how they differ from just writing a check to your church, and why QCDs can be a powerful way for tithers and regular givers over age seventy and a half to support causes they love without increasing their taxable income.

From there, the focus shifts to Medicare open enrollment and the wave of commercials that hit every fall. Stewart explains why the plan and supplements you choose really matter, what Medicare does not cover such as long term nursing and custodial care, and the pros and cons of traditional long term care insurance versus self insurance strategies that are built into a broader financial plan. He shares personal stories about his own family, the realities of rising care costs, and why couples especially those with an age gap need to coordinate their Medicare and long term care decisions instead of simply copying each other’s elections.

Stewart also talks about how his team uses cash flow analysis and Monte Carlo simulations to test different life and health scenarios, so clients can see whether their portfolios can support better coverage, higher medical costs or an unexpected long stay in care without running out of money. The episode wraps with an invitation to review your Medicare choices, your risk level and your overall retirement readiness so you can feel confident about the path you are on.

📞 Call 877-5-RETIRE or visit AssetPreservationWealth.com to schedule your complimentary portfolio review, Medicare discussion and retirement readiness analysis.