Fortress Blog
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What Minnesota to Arizona Snowbirds Should Document by Dec 31
Wintering in Arizona does not by itself end Minnesota residency. The 183-day rule, the 25 domicile factors, the day log, and what to have on file by Dec 31.
403(b) vs. 401(k): 2026 Limits and a Comparison Chart
403(b) vs 401(k) compared: both share a $24,500 employee limit in 2026. See the comparison chart, the 15-year catch-up, and where the plan type matters.
The 2026 Social Security Earnings Limit, and What It Really Costs
The Social Security earnings limit for 2026 is $24,480 under full retirement age. What counts, why whole checks stop, and what part-time work really costs.
Retiring in Scottsdale: What Changes When You Move or Winter There
Retiring in Scottsdale from Minnesota: what Arizona's flat 2.5% tax does and does not cover, why Minnesota residency follows you, and what a winter home costs.
403(b) and 457(b) for Physicians: A Coordination Checklist
For physicians with a 403(b) and 457(b): how to tell which 457(b) you have, why catch-ups do not stack, and the 2026 limits and rollover rules that apply.
Asset Location: The Quiet Tax Lever That Matters More as Wealth Grows
Allocation Decides What You Own. Location Decides Where It Lives.
Selling Your Business: Build the Financial Plan Before the Letter of Intent
If you are two to five years from an exit, the personal financial plan should come first, because it changes what a good deal looks like.
Concentrated Stock: Ways to Reduce a Position You Cannot Just Sell
If one stock makes up a large share of your net worth, you probably did not plan it that way. It happens gradually.
The Bunching Strategy: Getting More from Charitable Giving in High-Income Years
In a high-income year, pairing several years of charitable giving into one gift to a donor-advised fund can turn deductions you were losing into deductions that count. Here is who it fits, and who it does not.
The Roth Conversion Window: After Work, Before RMDs
After you stop working but before RMDs begin, you may have a window to convert traditional savings to Roth at lower tax rates. Here’s how to use it.
Medicare 101: What Pre-Retirees Need to Know Before 65
A clear Medicare 101 guide for pre-retirees turning 65: Parts A through D, Medigap vs Advantage, IRMAA, HSA traps, and 2026 enrollment timing.
Can I Retire With $800,000? Why Retirement Is a Cash Flow Question
Is $800,000 enough to retire? The better question is not whether you hit a magic number. It is whether your income sources, spending needs, pension choices, Social Security timing, and lifestyle can work together in a realistic retirement plan.
