A couple had done everything right — dual income, debt-free, millions saved in tax-deferred accounts — and they were on track to hand $10 million to the IRS. Not because they made bad decisions, but because nobody had ever shown them what "doing everything right" actually costs without proactive planning. In this episode, Gabe sits down with Rob Bedinghaus, Ph.D., CFP® — founder of Bedinghaus Wealth Planning and author of Beyond the Numbers — to dig into the retirement planning conversations ...

The Influential Advisor

Paul G. McManus and Gabe McManus

108: Rob Bedinghaus on the $10 Million Tax Bill Nobody Saw Coming

JUN 5, 202629 MIN
The Influential Advisor

108: Rob Bedinghaus on the $10 Million Tax Bill Nobody Saw Coming

JUN 5, 202629 MIN

Description

A couple had done everything right — dual income, debt-free, millions saved in tax-deferred accounts — and they were on track to hand $10 million to the IRS. Not because they made bad decisions, but because nobody had ever shown them what "doing everything right" actually costs without proactive planning.In this episode, Gabe sits down with Rob Bedinghaus, Ph.D., CFP® — founder of Bedinghaus Wealth Planning and author of Beyond the Numbers — to dig into the retirement planning conversations most advisors never have. Rob brings a teacher's instinct to every client meeting, and this episode reflects that: clear frameworks, real scenarios, and a perspective on legacy that goes well beyond the balance sheet.Listeners will walk away with a clearer picture of the income gaps retirees face, a practical mental model for surviving market volatility, and a compelling case for why tax planning and retirement planning are the same conversation.About Rob BedinghausRob Bedinghaus, Ph.D., CFP® is the founder of Bedinghaus Wealth Planning, an independent practice in Lebanon, Ohio affiliated with Raymond James. A second-generation financial advisor, Rob spent six years in higher education at Indiana University before joining his father's practice in 2015. He has worked with hundreds of families navigating retirement transitions, previously overseeing more than $130 million in client assets at Edward Jones before building his own independent firm. He is the author of Beyond the Numbers: Your Smart Guide to Retirement Income, Tax Efficiency, and Lasting Legacy.What We CoverWhy the shift from saving to spending is harder than most retirees expect — and how Rob helps clients break a 30-year saving mindsetThe bucket framework: how organizing money by time horizon keeps clients from panic-selling during market downturnsHow one couple's disciplined 401(k) savings had them on track for $700,000 in annual required minimum distributions and a projected $10 million lifetime tax billThe Roth conversion strategy that cut one couple's projected tax bill from $10 million to $2 millionWhat "living a legacy" means: giving while you're alive, seeing the impact, and passing values alongside wealthWhy qualified charitable distributions are one of the most underused tax tools for charitably-minded retireesResources MentionedBeyond the Numbers: Your Smart Guide to Retirement Income, Tax Efficiency, and Lasting Legacy by Rob Bedinghaus, Ph.D., CFP® — free e-copy available at beyondnumbersbook.comConnect withWebsite: bedinghauswealth.comBook website: beyondnumbersbook.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/robbedinghausSupport the show