Printable checklist

Retirement Checklist

Line up income, insurance, and tax buckets.

5+ years out

  • Max the 401(k) employer match
  • Fund a Roth or Traditional IRA
  • Build a 3-bucket allocation (cash / bonds / equities)
  • Estimate Social Security at 62, 67, 70

1 year out

  • Choose a safe withdrawal rate (3.5–4%)
  • Model IRMAA thresholds
  • Plan for RMDs starting at 73
  • Confirm long-term care coverage

In retirement

  • Rebalance annually
  • Refresh withdrawal rate every 3 years
  • Track sequence-of-returns risk in bad markets

Supporting calculators