Retirement Planning for Pre-Retirees in Maryland and the DC Metro
The five years on either side of a retirement date decide most of what follows: when to claim Social Security, which accounts to draw first, how much to convert to Roth before Medicare surcharges and required distributions arrive, and how to cover care later on. Maryland adds its own layer, from the $40,600 pension exclusion to a county income tax and an estate tax that starts at $5 million. These guides walk one decision at a time, with 2026 numbers and worked examples.
Income and withdrawals
- When to claim Social Security and how it is taxed
- Building retirement income without a single "magic" investment
- Spending through the go-go, slow-go, and no-go years
- 401(k) rollover: IRA, keep it, or convert
- Am I on track for retirement? Six ways to catch up
Taxes in retirement
- How Maryland taxes retirement income compared with Virginia, DC, Delaware, and Pennsylvania
- Roth conversions in the gap years before RMDs and IRMAA
- How IRMAA works and the two-year lookback
Medicare and long-term care
- Turning 65: a Medicare game plan
- What Medicare does not cover in retirement
- Long-term care costs in Maryland and how to pay for them
Portfolio and products
- Why your "safe" bonds may not be safe
- What to do when the market gets volatile
- Is the 60/40 portfolio dead?
- Should you buy a RILA at 60?
- Fixed, variable, and indexed annuities explained
- Should you pay off the mortgage before retirement?
Federal employees and annuitants have a separate set of decisions (FERS, TSP, FEHB with Medicare); those guides live on the federal employees page. For 529 plans, HSAs, and Roth versus after-tax 401(k) contributions, see the tax planning guides.
Written for pre-retirees and retirees in Maryland, DC, and Northern Virginia by Shuo Li, CFP®, CIMA®, ChFC®, and Danni Shen, CFA®. Retirement income and tax coordination are part of our retirement planning service; if your retirement date is within five years, book a call.
Long-Term Care Planning in Maryland (2026): What It Costs, What Medicare Won't Pay, and What to Do While FLTCIP Is Suspended
Maryland long-term care costs (2025 survey), what Medicare and Medicaid cover, four ways to pay, 2026 tax breaks, and options while FLTCIP stays closed.