The Granary Blog
Notes on retirement planning, tax strategy, and the math behind getting to financial independence.
Written by the team behind Granary · new posts twice a week
- ·6 min read
The Social Security Tax Torpedo: How IRA Withdrawals Can Secretly Double Your Tax Rate in 2026
When provisional income crosses the $34,000 (single) or $44,000 (married) threshold, each extra dollar of IRA income triggers $1.85 of taxable income. Here's the math — and five ways to defuse it.
#social-security#taxes#strategyRead → - ·8 min read
Retirement Account Withdrawal Order: Taxable, Traditional, or Roth First?
The default withdrawal sequence saves taxes for most retirees — but IRMAA cliffs, ACA thresholds, and RMD exposure can flip it. Here's how to decide which version is yours.
#taxes#strategy#roth-iraRead → - ·7 min read
How Much Do You Need to Retire at 55?
The standard 7× salary benchmark was built for 67-year-olds. Here's the reverse-engineering math that actually answers the question for a 55-year-old: ACA bridge, Social Security gap, and why a 3.5% withdrawal rate changes the target.
#early-retirement#savings-target#healthcare#social-securityRead → - ·6 min read
How Much Do You Need to Retire at 62?
62 is the most popular retirement age in America — and it creates a specific math problem that 65-year-old planning completely ignores.
#early-retirement#social-security#strategyRead → - ·6 min read
Social Security Break-Even Age: 62 vs. 67 vs. 70 — The Math You Actually Need
The break-even calculation is the right starting point for the 62/67/70 decision — but it's missing four factors that regularly flip the answer. Here's the full picture.
#social-security#taxes#strategyRead → - ·6 min read
Safe Withdrawal Rate in 2026: Fixed Rules, Guardrails, and Which to Choose
Morningstar's 2026 research puts the fixed safe rate at 3.9% — but a guardrails approach can justify starting at 5.7%. The number you pick should follow from your strategy, not the other way around.
#strategy#withdrawal-rate#taxesRead → - ·7 min read
Retire at 55 with $1.5 Million: A Case-Study in What Actually Works
A fictional couple retires at 55 with $1.5 million. Here's the withdrawal math, the 10-year healthcare bridge, the Roth conversion window, and what could still go wrong.
#early-retirement#withdrawal-rate#strategyRead → - ·6 min read
Roth IRA Withdrawal Rules After 59½: The 5-Year Rule Still Matters
Turning 59½ removes the 10% penalty on Roth IRA withdrawals — but it doesn't automatically make earnings tax-free. The five-year rule is a separate gate, and it trips up late starters every year.
#roth-ira#taxes#strategy#early-retirementRead → - ·6 min read
Healthcare Before Medicare: How to Cover the 10-Year Gap in 2026
COBRA, ACA marketplace, and part-time employer coverage each solve the pre-Medicare gap differently — and the option that costs you least depends almost entirely on how much income you show.
#healthcare#early-retirement#ACA#taxesRead → - ·5 min read
How Long Will $500,000 Last in Retirement? A Spending-Rate Reality Check
$500,000 is the most-searched retirement balance for a reason — it's what millions of Americans actually have. Whether it lasts 11 years or forever depends almost entirely on monthly spending, not market returns.
#retirement-planning#withdrawal-strategy#social-securityRead → - ·6 min read
Is the 4% Rule Still Valid in 2026?
The rule survives, with caveats. Morningstar puts the safe number at 3.9% for 2026 retirees; early retirees face a harder case. Here's what the actual research says.
#withdrawal-strategies#retirement-planning#taxesRead → - ·6 min read
Coast FIRE vs. Barista FIRE: Which Semi-Retirement Strategy Fits Your Numbers?
Two strategies for leaving the career treadmill before 65 — one asks for less money but more patience, the other buys you an exit now. Here's the math that separates them.
#early-retirement#fire#strategyRead → - ·3 min read
The ACA Subsidy Cliff Is Back in 2026. Early Retirees Need a MAGI Budget.
The 400% FPL cliff returned when the enhanced credits expired — one dollar of extra income can cost thousands in premium subsidies. Here's the math and the playbook.
#healthcare#taxes#early-retirementRead → - ·3 min read
How Long Will $1.5 Million Last in Retirement? Longer Than You Fear, Shorter Than You Hope
The honest math on a $1.5M retirement: what the 4% rule says, what Social Security changes, and the one risk averages hide.
#withdrawal-strategy#planningRead → - ·3 min read
Rule of 55 vs. Roth Conversion Ladder: Which Bridge Gets You to 59½?
Two legal ways to spend retirement money before 59½ — and the rollover mistake that quietly closes the better door.
#early-retirement#taxes#strategyRead → - ·1 min read
Welcome to Granary
What this is, why I built it, and how it differs from the existing tools.
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