Jewish World

Podcast: Which account should you draw from first in retirement?


Retirement withdrawals for Americans in Israel can be more complicated than simply choosing the account with the largest balance.

If you have U. IRAs, Israeli savings, pension income, taxable investments, or other sources of retirement income, the order in which you use them can affect your taxes, liquidity, and financial flexibility.

The goal is not simply to maximize one pension or preserve one account. It is to coordinate your different sources of retirement income so they work together.

A strong retirement withdrawal strategy considers when you will need the money, how each account is taxed, how much accessible cash you want to keep available, and how comfortable you are with drawing down savings.

For Americans living in Israel with US brokerage and IRA accounts, these decisions can be especially important because US and Israeli accounts may be treated differently for tax purposes. Looking at the complete financial picture can help you avoid unnecessary tax consequences and create a retirement income plan that can adapt as your needs change.

Key takeaways:

  • Review your US IRAs, Israeli savings, pensions, taxable investments, and other income sources together before deciding which account to use first.
  • Consider taxes, liquidity, investment time horizon, and pension timing rather than focusing on a single account or benefit.
  • Preserve flexibility so your retirement withdrawal strategy can adjust to changes in income, markets, expenses, and personal circumstances.
  • Make sure your retirement income plan is sustainable for you, not simply the one that produces the best result on paper.

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