I'm 58 With $1.8 Million Saved. Here's How I Stress-Tested My Tax Plan Before Retiring
AJ Fabino
Tue, February 10, 2026 at 11:01 AM EST
4 min read
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Quick Summary
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A 58-year-old with $1.8 million saved looked financially secure, but small tax and timing mistakes could still derail retirement.
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Before retiring, you can work with a financial advisor through SmartAsset to pressure-test withdrawal strategies, Roth conversions, and long-term tax exposure.
At age 58, he thought he was ready to retire.
On paper, everything looked solid. There was $1.8 million spread across a 401(k), IRA, and brokerage accounts, the house was nearly paid off, and expenses were stable.
But as retirement approached, he didn't know how much of that $1.8 million he would actually get to keep.
Between required minimum distributions, Medicare surcharges, capital gains taxes, and future tax law changes, small missteps could cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars over the next 30 years.
So before submitting his retirement paperwork, he decided to stress-test his entire plan.
If you are in a similar situation with unanswered questions about your retirement plan, here's how you can approach the process.
Step One: Get Outside Perspective on Taxes and Timing
Retirement planning is about how much you saved, when you withdraw, which accounts you tap first, and how those decisions affect taxes over decades.
To get clarity, you can use SmartAsset's free matching tool to connect with vetted financial advisors.
After answering a short questionnaire about your assets, income, and goals, you are matched with up to three advisors who work with clients in similar situations.
Each can walk you through different scenarios.
One may focus on Roth conversions before age 63. Another may highlight how Medicare premiums could jump if your income spikes. A third may model how different withdrawal sequences affect your long-term tax bill.
Seeing multiple perspectives side by side helps you spot blind spots that are easy to miss when planning alone.
The consultations are typically free, with no obligation. The real value is gaining confidence that your plan can hold up under stress.
Step Two: Build a Liquidity Backstop With Home Equity
Even with strong investments, early-retirement market downturns are a real risk.
Selling stocks in a bad market can permanently damage your portfolio. That is why many retirees look for a backup source of cash that does not depend on market conditions.
Your home equity can play that role.
If you have equity, you can use Rocket Mortgage's online questionnaire to see whether you qualify for a home equity line of credit.
Story Continues
If markets fall and cash reserves run low, you have flexible access to capital without being forced to sell investments at the wrong time.
In just a few minutes, you can estimate how much you may be able to access based on your home value, income, and credit profile. You do not have to use the HELOC immediately. Many treat it as an insurance policy.
Step Three: Add Income-Producing Assets Outside Stocks
If most of your savings are in stocks and bonds, your income is tied closely to market cycles.
That works during accumulation. In retirement, it can increase stress. One way to diversify is through hands-off real estate with Arrived.
With investments starting at $100, Arrived lets you buy fractional shares of rental homes and vacation properties without managing tenants or maintenance.
Backed by Jeff Bezos, Arrived handles operations while you receive rental income and dividend payouts.
Over time, it can create an additional income stream that does not move in perfect sync with the stock market.
The platform's secondary market also gives you flexibility if you ever need to rebalance. For many, this provides diversification without becoming a landlord.
Step Four: Hedge Long-Term Inflation Risk With Physical Metals
Over multi-decade retirements, inflation and currency risk compound. Even moderate inflation can erode purchasing power over time. That is why some choose to diversify beyond paper assets.
If you are considering this, Preserve Gold offers a way to add physical metals to your retirement strategy.
With a $10,000 minimum investment, Preserve Gold can help you roll over part of an IRA or 401(k) into IRS-approved gold and silver held in secure storage.
You also receive a free Gold and Silver Kit that explains how precious metals fit into long-term diversification.
Preserve Gold focuses on transparent pricing, insured delivery, zero-fee buybacks, and dedicated specialists who remain available after your purchase.
For many investors, this allocation functions as portfolio insurance.
Step Five: Clean Up Remaining Debt
Carrying high-interest debt into retirement adds unnecessary pressure. If you still have credit card balances or personal loans, consolidation can simplify your finances.
Using AmONE's marketplace, you can compare loan options in one place.
After filling out a single application, you may be matched with lenders that work with borrowers across a wide range of credit profiles.
This allows you to evaluate rates, terms, and fees side by side.
Rolling multiple balances into one lower-interest payment can reduce monthly expenses and make cash flow more predictable.
Image: Shutterstock
This article I'm 58 With $1.8 Million Saved. Here's How I Stress-Tested My Tax Plan Before Retiring originally appeared on Benzinga.com
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