Legacy Planning – Ramp Up to Retirement

Tax-Focused Estate Planning Before Retirement (Ep. 33)

By Ramp Up to Retirement | July 8, 2026

Estate planning is often treated as a task to complete later, but many of the biggest financial decisions begin long before legal documents are signed.

How can tax planning, retirement income planning, and investment decisions work together to support your long-term goals while potentially improving how assets are transferred?

In this episode, Dan Reese explains why estate planning is much more than wills and legal paperwork. He shares how investment planning, retirement income planning, and tax planning all influence one another through what he calls the three lanes of the financial highway. Dan also explores how Roth conversions, beneficiary designations, charitable giving, and account positioning can affect taxes during retirement and for future generations.

Throughout the conversation, he emphasizes creating a coordinated strategy while there may still be more planning flexibility.

Key takeaways:

How investment, retirement income, and tax planning work together instead of as separate decisions
Why estate planning begins with strategy before legal documents are created and updated
How Roth conversions may influence taxes paid by both retirees and future beneficiaries
Why beneficiary designations and asset location can change long term tax outcomes
How coordinated planning may uncover opportunities across multiple financial decisions
And more!

Resources:

Carson Wealth Retirement Readiness Quiz

Connect with Dan Reese CFP®:

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What Happens After You Sell Your Business? (Ep. 32 | Pt. 8)

By Ramp Up to Retirement | June 10, 2026

Selling your business may feel like the finish line, but for many owners, it can mark the start of a completely new chapter. One surprising statistic discussed in this episode: nearly 70% of business owners report regretting the sale within a year. In many cases, owners may feel unprepared for what comes next.

In this episode, Dan Reese wraps up the business exit-planning series by exploring the emotional, financial, and personal realities that follow a business sale. From the shift in identity that happens after stepping away from daily operations to the challenge of transitioning from entrepreneur to investor, Dan explains why many business owners find that a successful transition involves more than just the valuation.

Dan discusses:

Why many business owners experience emotional challenges after selling
The difference between building wealth and preserving it
How fear and emotion can impact investing after a liquidity event
Why tax planning can play an important role before and after a sale
And more!

If you’re a business owner thinking about an exit, or already navigating life after one, this episode offers perspective on navigating the transition after a business sale.

Whether you’re years away from selling your business or already thinking about life after work, this episode offers insight into building a retirement plan designed to align with your financial goals, personal priorities, and long-term legacy.