Planning Guides

Plain-language checklists, flowcharts and one-page explainers on retirement, taxes, Medicare, estates and life events. They are free to view and download. Rules and limits change, so please confirm current rules and talk with a qualified professional about your situation.

Social Security & Retirement Income

• Filing For Social Security To-Do List – Common steps people take when they apply for Social Security.
• Longevity Risk Checklist – Items to consider if you are concerned about outliving your assets.
• Social Security Benefit Reduction Rules – Learn when working or other factors can reduce Social Security benefits.
• Social Security Benefits Visual Explainer – A one-page picture of how Social Security benefits work.
• Social Security Disability Benefit Rules – See the general rules for Social Security disability eligibility.
• Social Security Divorced Spouse Benefit Rules – Check the general rules for benefits based on a former spouse's work record.
• Social Security Fairness Act Rules – How the law repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset may apply to public-sector retirees.
• Social Security Retirement Benefit Checklist – Items to think through about your Social Security retirement benefits.
• Social Security Spousal Benefit Rules – See whether you may qualify for Social Security benefits based on your spouse's work record.
• Social Security Survivor Benefit Rules – Understand who may receive Social Security benefits after a spouse passes away.
• Withdrawals For Retirement Expenses – A flowchart on which account to draw from next to cover retirement spending.

Medicare & Health Coverage

• Early Retirement Health Insurance Marketplace Flowchart – Learn about health insurance marketplace coverage if you retire before Medicare.
• Enrolling In Medicare To-Do List – Common steps for signing up for Medicare.
• Healthcare In Retirement Flowchart – Consider how health coverage may change as you move into retirement.
• HSA Deductible Contribution Rules – Check the general rules for deducting health savings account contributions.
• HSA Distribution Rules – See when health savings account withdrawals are generally tax free.
• Medicare Automatic Enrollment Rules – Learn when Medicare enrollment happens automatically and when it does not.
• Medicare Enrollment Penalty Rules – Understand how Medicare late-enrollment penalties generally work.
• Medicare IRMAA Surcharge Rules – Learn how income can raise Medicare Part B and Part D premiums.
• Medicare Part A and Part B Eligibility Rules – See the general rules for who qualifies for Medicare Part A and Part B.

IRAs & Retirement Accounts

• Backdoor Roth IRA Contribution Rules – Learn the general rules for backdoor Roth IRA contributions.
• Deductible IRA Contribution Rules – See when a traditional IRA contribution may be deductible.
• Inherited Roth IRA Distribution Rules – General rules for taking distributions from an inherited Roth IRA.
• Inherited Spousal IRA Rules – Learn the options a surviving spouse generally has with an inherited IRA.
• Inherited Traditional IRA Distribution Rules – General rules for taking distributions from an inherited traditional IRA.
• Mega Backdoor Roth Contribution Rules – A flowchart on whether a mega backdoor Roth contribution may be available through your workplace plan.
• Pre-Retirement Checklist – Topics to think through before you retire.
• RMD and Required Beginning Date Rules – Learn when required minimum distributions generally begin.
• RMD Issues Checklist – Items to consider around required minimum distributions.
• RMD Tables Summary Guide – Reference tables used to figure required minimum distributions.
• Roth IRA Contribution Rules – Check the general rules for contributing to a Roth IRA.
• Roth IRA Conversion Tax Rules – Understand the general tax rules for Roth IRA conversions.
• Roth IRA Distribution Rules – See when Roth IRA withdrawals are generally tax and penalty free.
• Roth vs Traditional Visual Explainer – A side-by-side picture of how Roth and traditional accounts work.
• Traditional IRA Distribution Rules – See when traditional IRA withdrawals are generally penalty free.
• Twice-Inherited Traditional IRA Distribution Rules – General distribution rules when an inherited traditional IRA is inherited again.

Taxes & Savings Rules

• 529 Distribution Rules – See when 529 plan withdrawals are generally subject to federal income tax.
• 529 to Roth IRA Transfer Rules – Learn the general rules for moving 529 money to a Roth IRA.
• AGI and MAGI Summary Guide – What these income measures mean and where they matter.
• Basis For Gifted Property Rules – How the tax basis of gifted property generally works.
• Estimated Federal Income Tax Payment Rules – Check whether estimated federal tax payments generally apply.
• Harvesting Capital Losses Checklist – Items to consider when selling investments at a loss to offset gains.
• Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA) Rules – Learn the general rules for company stock distributed from a retirement plan.
• OBBBA Comparison Guide – A before-and-after comparison of what the One Big Beautiful Bill Act changed.
• OBBBA Important Issues Checklist – Key items from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to be aware of.
• SECURE Act 2.0 Important Issues Checklist – Key retirement-account changes under SECURE Act 2.0.
• Step-Up In Basis Rules – How the tax basis of inherited property generally works.
• Taxation Guide To Withdrawals And Income Sources – A quick reference on how different income sources are generally taxed.

Legacy & Estate Planning

• Closing The Estate Checklist – Items to consider when settling an estate.
• Common Charitable Giving Vehicles – An overview of common ways to give to charity.
• Common Deductible Charitable Gifts – An overview of gifts that are generally deductible.
• Common Estate Plan Elements – A plain-language overview of common estate planning documents.
• Common Trusts Summary Guide – A plain-language overview of common types of trusts.
• Estate Plan Visual Explainer – A picture of how assets pass to heirs.
• Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) Rules – General rules for giving to charity directly from an IRA.
• Reviewing Beneficiaries Checklist – Items to check on beneficiary designations.

Life Events & Loss of a Spouse

• Aging Parent Checklist – Items to think through for an aging parent.
• Death Of A Parent Checklist – Items to consider after a parent passes away.
• Death Of A Spouse Checklist – Practical items to consider after the loss of a spouse.
• Divorce Checklist – Items to consider during a divorce.
• Getting Married Checklist – Items to think through when getting married.
• Having Or Adopting A Child Checklist – Items to consider when having or adopting a child.
• Identity Theft Recovery To-Do List – Steps commonly taken after identity theft.
• Job Loss Checklist – Items to think through if you lose your job.
• Loss Of A Loved One To-Do List – Practical steps to consider after the loss of a loved one.
• Terminal Illness Checklist – Items to consider when a spouse has a terminal illness diagnosis.

Business Owners

• Business Owner and 1099 Worker Checklist – Issues to review when running a business or working as an independent contractor, including expenses, estimated taxes and retirement saving.
• Business Sale Issues Checklist – Items to consider when planning to sell or transfer a business, including valuation, succession and key-person risk.
• Common Pension Plans For Small Business Owners – An overview of defined benefit and cash balance plans and how they compare.
• Common Retirement Plans For Small Business Owners – A side-by-side look at plans such as the Solo 401(k), 401(k) and SIMPLE IRA.
• QBI Deduction Rules – A flowchart on who may qualify for the qualified business income deduction.
• SEP and SIMPLE IRA Rules – A flowchart to help see which of these plans may fit a small business.
• Setting Up A Traditional 401(k) For A Business – A flowchart of the questions to answer when considering a 401(k) plan for your business.
• Starting A Business Checklist – Questions to consider before launching, including cash flow, legal structure, taxes and insurance.

Equity Compensation

• ESPP Tax Rules – A flowchart on how a qualified employee stock purchase plan may be taxed.
• ISO Issues Checklist – Items to consider if you hold incentive stock options.
• NQSO Issues Checklist – Items to consider if you hold non-qualified stock options.
• RSU Issues Checklist – Items to consider if you receive restricted stock units from your employer.

Real Estate & Moving

• 1031 Exchange Rules – A flowchart on whether a Section 1031 exchange may apply to a rental property.
• Home Purchase Issues Checklist – Items to consider when buying a home.
• Home Sale Issues Checklist – Items to consider when selling your home.
• Moving Out Of State Checklist – Items to consider when relocating to another state, including taxes and accounts.
• Rental Property Tax Rules – A flowchart on whether expenses of a rental property may be tax deductible.

Markets & Volatility

• High Inflation Checklist – Items to review when prices rise, including cash flow and asset allocation.
• Recession and Market Correction Checklist – Items to review when markets decline, including cash flow, debt and rebalancing.

Fraud Protection

• Identity Theft and Fraud Checklist – Steps to help reduce cyber risk and protect your accounts and personal information.

These guides are for general educational purposes only. They are not tax, legal or investment advice and are not a recommendation for any individual. Rules and limits change, so confirm current rules and consult a qualified tax or legal professional about your situation. TCM Wealth Advisors is a fee-only investment adviser registered in the State of Ohio. Our Form ADV Part 2A and 2B brochure is available for download.