Bogleheads On Investing Podcast · bogleheads

Episode 89, Year-end tax planning, tax moves in 2026, Roth conversions & more: Cody Garrett, CFP® & Sean Mullaney, CPA; Jon Luskin, CFP® hosts

·43 min·3 clips

Tax fear can be marketed like a rope dangling from the top of a well.

1. Bogleheads On Investing Podcast episode 89 focuses on year-end tax planning, 2026 tax changes, Roth conversions, and charitable giving. 2. Jon Luskin hosts Sean Mullaney, CPA, and Cody Garrett, CFP®, and both are named as authors of the book discussed on the show. 3. The episode asks which tax moves matter now, which rules change in 2026, and which fears about taxes are overstated. 4. Sean Mullaney says charitable giving only needs tax optimization if someone was already planning to give to charity. 5. The guests describe stacking several years of gifts into a donor-advised fund before 2026 changes take effect. 6. Cody Garrett says donating appreciated securities can create an upfront deduction and wash away embedded capital gains. 7. Sean notes that institutions often require donor-advised fund transfers to be completed by November for year-end credit. 8. The discussion says 2026 itemized charitable deductions face a 0.5% haircut, while the 2025 timing can still capture better treatment. 9. The episode also covers the increase in the SALT deduction cap from $10,000 to $40,000, with a high-income phase-down around $500,000. 10. Sean highlights a new senior deduction of up to $6,000 per person for taxpayers age 65 or older by year-end. 11. Cody and Sean connect that senior deduction to delaying Social Security and controlling retirement income. 12. The guests explain that 2026 catch-up contributions for some workers age 50 and older must be made in Roth form if prior-year W-2 income from that employer exceeds $145,000. 13. Sean says people can still make regular pre-tax 401(k) contributions even when the catch-up amount loses deductibility. 14. Cody says 2026 ACA bronze plans will be HSA eligible, which matters for people trying to preserve premium tax credits. 15. The episode gives age-based examples of early-retirement health insurance costs, including $6,000 to $9,000 per adult at age 50 in some places. 16. Sean and Cody distinguish premium tax credits from deductions and emphasize that credits reduce tax liability dollar for dollar. 17. Sean and Cody describe the show’s style as practical and numbers-driven, with repeated warnings against fear-based tax marketing. 18. The conversation uses the book’s framework to argue that personal tax decisions should be based on concrete calculations, not scare tactics. 19. Listeners who want year-end tax moves, Roth conversion context, and early-retirement planning will get the most value. 20. Listeners who want a quick market update or minimal tax detail may skip it.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Bogleheads On Investing Podcast