The Long View Cody Garrett and Sean Mullaney: ‘For Most Americans, You’re Going to Pay Less Tax in Retirement’
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Jan 20, 2026 
Cody Garrett, a certified financial planner and founder of Measure Twice Money, teams up with Sean Mullaney, a CPA and tax expert. They tackle early retirement strategies and how most Americans may actually pay less tax in retirement. Discussions include the limitations of the 4% withdrawal rule, the importance of strategic tax planning, and the benefits of taxable accounts for flexibility. They debunk fear-based tax myths while advising on optimal Roth conversions and drawdown strategies for retirees. Practical insights abound for anyone looking to navigate retirement finances.
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Timing Income Beats Predicting Rates
- Focus less on whether statutory tax rates rise and more on when your taxable income will be higher.
- Cody says timing of income matters more than speculative future rate changes for conversion decisions.
Politics Favors Retiree Tax Cuts
- Recent policy shows both parties have often cut taxes for retirees, so assuming large future tax hikes on retirees may be misguided.
- Sean highlights political incentives: older voters form a large voting bloc that discourages big retiree tax increases.
Match Contribution Type To Future Brackets
- When choosing between traditional and Roth workplace accounts, remember traditional contributions reduce income at your top marginal rate now and distributions add income from the bottom up later.
- Consider which future incomes will fill low brackets before deciding contribution type.
