AGI, Above- and Below-the-Line Deductions

This week on Retire with Style, Alex and Wade focus on how retirees can improve tax efficiency to maximize after-tax spending power. They walk through the structure of the tax system, emphasizing the importance of understanding adjusted gross income (AGI), above-the-line and below-the-line deductions, and how different tax rules interact. They also introduce the concept of tax diversification across taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free accounts, explaining how each account type is taxed and how strategic use of all three can create more flexibility and better long-term outcomes. The discussion highlights that tax planning is not about loopholes, but about working within the rules to avoid unnecessary taxes and unintended consequences. Listen now to learn more!

Takeaways

• Tax efficiency is about increasing after-tax spending power, not just minimizing taxes in a single year
• Adjusted gross income (AGI) is a critical planning lever since many tax rules, phaseouts, and surcharges are tied to it
• Above-the-line deductions (like retirement contributions and HSAs) directly reduce AGI and are especially valuable
• Below-the-line deductions (standard or itemized) reduce taxable income but do not help with AGI-based thresholds
• Many retirees default to the standard deduction, but itemizing can be beneficial in certain situations (e.g., high state taxes, charitable giving)
• Tax diversification across three account types (taxable, tax-deferred, Roth) provides flexibility in managing taxes over time
• Taxable brokerage accounts can be efficient for long-term investing due to favorable capital gains treatment and a step-up in basis at death
• Tax-deferred accounts offer upfront deductions and compounding benefits, but create future ordinary income and required minimum distributions
• Roth accounts provide tax-free growth and withdrawals, making them valuable for long-term tax control and legacy planning
• Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) offer unique “triple tax advantages,” combining deduction, tax-deferred growth, and tax-free withdrawals for medical expenses

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Retirement Planning
01:19 Follow-Up on Reverse Mortgages
04:58 Understanding Tax Efficiency in Retirement
16:15 Tax Diversification Strategies
24:26 Exploring Roth Accounts and HSAs

Links 

📘 New Release: The Retirement Planning Guidebook (3rd Edition)
Wade Pfau’s must-read Retirement Planning Guidebook just got even better. The 3rd Edition is now available and packed with the latest updates to help you design your retirement strategy with confidence. Grab your copy on Amazon or your favorite book retailer: https://books2read.com/Retirement

This episode is sponsored by McLean Asset Management. Visit https://www.mcleanam.com/retirement-income-planning-llm/ to download McLean’s free eBook, “Retirement Income Planning”