Alto Wealth

If your kids are starting a summer job, why not look into a Custodial Roth account? Talk to your kids about how they can get started with tax-advantaged savings. Whether they put money in the account or you get it started for them with a gift, it’s a good way to start a great habit. For more information or to set up a meeting, drop us a note today!

We can explain the pros and cons of Custodial Roth IRA, and introduce you to some of the unique features of custodial accounts, including when kids can take control of the asset. Also, remember, with a Roth IRA, to qualify for the tax-free and penalty-free withdrawal of earnings, a Roth must meet a 5-year holding requirement and occur after age 59½. Tax-free and penalty-free withdrawals can also be taken under certain other circumstances, and the original Roth IRA owner is not required to take minimum annual withdrawals.

Feeling behind on retirement savings at 50+? SECURE 2.0 might help more than you think.

A few key changes worth knowing:

📈 Bigger catch-up contributions — up to $8,000 extra in 2026, or $11,250 if you're 60–63 (total possible: $35,750).

🔄 If you earned $150K+ in 2025, your workplace plan catch-up contributions now go into Roth — paying tax now on the "seeds" instead of later on the "harvest" can actually work in your favor.

⏳ RMD age is now 75 for anyone born in 1960 or later — more time to grow your money and plan strategically.

🧩 Here's the thing: Social Security, IRAs, and 401(k)s don't work in isolation. How you contribute now — and how you withdraw later — needs to be one coordinated plan, not three separate decisions.

A late start doesn't have to mean a bad outcome — the rules have shifted in ways that can genuinely help.

If you're 50+ and want to talk through what this means for you, let's connect. 📩

Living longer doesn’t automatically mean living better.

Healthy Aging Month is a reminder that how we age is shaped by more than just time. Staying active, mentally sharp, and socially connected all play a role—and so does the ability to support those lifestyles over time.

Small, consistent habits—both physical and financial—can influence what those years look like.



Sources
World Health Organization, Ageing and Health, October 2025
American Medical Association, What Doctors Wish Patients Knew About Healthy Aging, September 2025
Stanford Medicine, Five Healthy Habits for Successfully Aging, January 2026
EBRI/Greenwald, 2025 Retirement Confidence Survey, April 2025

Sometimes the smallest details make the biggest difference. This post reminds small business owners that retirement benefits aren't just for big companies, and that something as straightforward as number of employees can determine whether a SEP-IRA or SIMPLE IRA is the better fit.

Saving for retirement gets a lot of attention. Spending those savings can be just as important.

A recent survey found that only 31% of Americans know what “decumulation” means — the process of drawing down retirement assets over time.

That uncertainty may help explain why some retirees spend far less than they could. One report found that about one-third of retirees still had 100% or more of their initial retirement assets by their mid-80s.

For many people, the concern is not just having enough saved. It is knowing how to use those savings while accounting for healthcare costs, inflation, taxes, market changes, and longevity.

Common withdrawal guidelines, such as the 4% rule, may provide a starting point, but they do not account for every personal circumstance.

The transition from saving to spending can be both emotional and financial. After decades of building retirement assets, using them thoughtfully can take a different kind of confidence.


Source:

The retirement issue most Americans don't see coming: Spending their savings Many Americans spend decades saving for retirement, but lack a plan for using that money once they stop working, a new survey finds. Here's what to know.

Saving for retirement gets a lot of attention. Spending those savings can be just as important.

A recent survey found that only 31% of Americans know what “decumulation” means — the process of drawing down retirement assets over time.

That uncertainty may help explain why some retirees spend far less than they could. One report found that about one-third of retirees still had 100% or more of their initial retirement assets by their mid-80s.

For many people, the concern is not just having enough saved. It is knowing how to use those savings while accounting for healthcare costs, inflation, taxes, market changes, and longevity.

Common withdrawal guidelines, such as the 4% rule, may provide a starting point, but they do not account for every personal circumstance.

The transition from saving to spending can be both emotional and financial. After decades of building retirement assets, using them thoughtfully can take a different kind of confidence.

The retirement issue most Americans don't see coming: Spending their savings Many Americans spend decades saving for retirement, but lack a plan for using that money once they stop working, a new survey finds. Here's what to know.

If you live to 95, will your money?

If you're too aggressive, will you come up short? Too conservative, and you leave quality of life on the table.

Also, will the life you are living at 70 change as you age? Have you considered how changing withdrawal rates can affect everything from estate management strategies to retirement strategies?



Disclosure: The portfolio is composed of 50 percent stocks, 40 percent bonds, and 10 percent Treasury bills. It is assumed that a person withdraws a hypothetical percentage each year. Historical returns based on the period January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2025. Stocks are represented by the Standard & Poor's 500, which is an unmanaged group of securities & considered to be representative of the US stock market. Bonds are represented by the five-year U.S. government bond and Treasury bills by the 30-day U.S. Treasury bill. An investment cannot be made directly in an index. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Find your row first, then look one row up.

That's the difference starting 5 years earlier can make.

At a hypothetical 8% annual return, the difference between starting at 40 vs. 35 on a $500/month contribution is over $200,000 by the time you reach 65. Not because of more money—just more time.

Time in the market is not just valuable, it's the whole game.

Which row did you land on—and did it surprise you?

One of the most overlooked questions in building a retirement strategy isn't "How much do I have?" It's "When do I need it?"

That's exactly what a bucket strategy does. It matches your assets to your timeline, so every dollar is working as hard as it can for as long as it can.

Do your buckets match your time horizon?

You’re getting ready for the trip of a lifetime – your retirement. Now’s the best time to make sure you’ve packed the essentials before embarking. As your tour guide to retirement, I’m here to help ensure you’re prepared.