Retirement Planning In Surprise, AZ

Turn what you have saved into dependable, tax-aware income for the rest of your life. A written retirement plan from a CFP® professional who knows what retiring in Arizona means for your taxes, your Medicare premiums, and your timeline.

Schedule An Introductory Call Call 602-336-4659

CFP® CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional

ChFC® Chartered Financial Consultant®

Since 2008 Advising Clients On Major Financial Decisions

Cetera Advisors LLC Member FINRA/SIPC

A Written Plan For Income, Taxes, And Peace Of Mind

Retirement planning is more than a portfolio. It is the work of turning everything you have saved into income you can count on, in the right order, from the right accounts, at the right time. From our office in Surprise, we build written retirement plans for pre-retirees and retirees across the West Valley who want those decisions made deliberately instead of by default.

The work is led by Nicholas Bair, CFP®, ChFC®, who spent 15 years at JPMorgan specializing in planning for pre-retirees, retirees, and women navigating transitions such as divorce and widowhood. Retirement income is the center of his practice, whether you are ten years out and still accumulating, five years out and making the big calls, or already retired and refining.

Retirement planning is one part of the broader work we do as a financial advisor serving Surprise and the Phoenix metro, and it connects directly to the tax, Social Security, and investment decisions covered below.

Why Retirement Decisions Deserve A Plan

The five years before and after your retirement date are when your choices carry the most weight. When to claim Social Security, which accounts to draw from first, whether to convert to Roth this year or next, and how to handle a market downturn early in retirement are decisions that are difficult or impossible to undo.

They are also connected. Your withdrawal order changes your taxable income, which changes how much of your Social Security is taxed federally and what you pay for Medicare, which changes how long your savings can last. A written plan makes those decisions in the right sequence, together, instead of one at a time in a vacuum.

Income You Cannot Outlive Is The Goal

The question shifts from "how much have I saved" to "how much can I reliably spend." Those are different math problems, and the second one is the plan.
Early Losses Hurt More Than Late Ones

Withdrawing from a portfolio during a downturn in your first retirement years compounds against you. A plan sets aside what you will spend soon so the rest can ride out markets.
Every Withdrawal Is A Tax Decision

Traditional, Roth, and taxable accounts are taxed differently. The order you draw them in can meaningfully change what you keep over a full retirement.

What Retiring In Arizona Means For Your Plan

Arizona treats retirees differently than the state you may be moving from, and the differences change the math on withdrawals, conversions, and even where you spend your winters. These are the rules we plan around.

Arizona State Taxes Are Simple And Low

Arizona applies a flat 2.5% state income tax, and it fully exempts Social Security benefits from state tax under A.R.S. § 43-1022. Military retirement pay is also exempt, up to $2,500 of certain U.S. government and Arizona state or local pension income can be subtracted, and Arizona has no estate or inheritance tax.

What it means for planning: withdrawals from IRAs, 401(k)s, and pensions are taxed by Arizona at 2.5%, so the bigger tax lever in your plan is almost always federal, which is where withdrawal order and Roth conversion timing do their work.

Medicare Premiums Are A Hidden Tax Bracket

In 2026, the standard Medicare Part B premium is $202.90 per month. Retirees whose modified adjusted gross income exceeds $109,000 (single) or $218,000 (married filing jointly) pay an income-related surcharge known as IRMAA on top of it, based on the tax return from two years earlier. Current figures are published at Medicare.gov.

What it means for planning: a large IRA withdrawal or Roth conversion this year can raise your Medicare premiums two years from now. We model IRMAA thresholds before recommending conversion amounts, not after the letter arrives.

Snowbirds: Residency Is A Tax Decision

If you split the year between Arizona and another state, where you are a resident determines which state taxes your income. Under A.R.S. § 43-104, anyone who spends more than nine months of the year in Arizona is presumed an Arizona resident, and the Arizona Department of Revenue weighs domicile factors such as your home, driver license, and voter registration (see AZDOR Procedure ITP 92-1).

What it means for planning: for retirees arriving from higher-tax states, establishing Arizona residency deliberately, and documenting it, can be one of the larger financial moves of early retirement. We coordinate the timing with your CPA.

Federal Deadlines Still Set The Clock

Required minimum distributions from most pre-tax retirement accounts currently begin at age 73 under federal law (see the IRS RMD rules), and full Social Security retirement age is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later (see ssa.gov). Up to 85% of Social Security benefits can be taxable at the federal level depending on your income, even though Arizona taxes none of it.

What it means for planning: the years between retiring and RMDs beginning are often the best window for Roth conversions at lower rates. That window closes on a federal schedule, whether or not you use it.

This information is general and educational, current as of 2026, and is not tax or legal advice. Medicare figures change annually. Please consult your tax professional regarding your individual situation.

What Your Retirement Plan Includes

A retirement plan is a set of decisions made in the right order and revisited as life changes. These are the pieces we build and coordinate, each connected to a deeper dive if you want one.

Social Security Timing

When each spouse claims, coordinated with your other income so the decision is made once and made well.

Social Security Planning

Roth Conversion Analysis

Whether, when, and how much to convert, modeled against your federal bracket and future Medicare premiums.

Explore Roth Conversions

Withdrawal Sequencing

The order you draw from traditional, Roth, and taxable accounts, designed to manage taxes across your whole retirement.

Tax Planning Strategies

Consolidating Old Accounts

Clear guidance on your options for former workplace plans, so your savings are organized before income starts.

401(k) Rollover Options

An Income-Ready Portfolio

Investments aligned with when you will need the money, so near-term spending is protected from market swings.

Investment Management

Legacy And Estate Coordination

Beneficiaries, titling, and wealth transfer coordinated with your estate attorney so documents and accounts agree.

Estate Coordination

Why Retirees In The West Valley Work With Us

Retirement planning is a decision about whom to trust with the money that has to last the rest of your life. Our value comes from verifiable credentials, deep experience with exactly this stage of life, and a clear explanation of how every recommendation works before you commit.

Verify our background anytime on FINRA's BrokerCheck, or review Cetera's Important Disclosures and Form CRS.

Fiduciary Advisory Services

Through our advisory platform, we provide fiduciary advisory services and are committed to acting in your best interest in that role. We clearly explain whether a recommendation is advisory or brokerage in nature.
Retirement Is The Specialty, Not A Sideline

Pre-retirees and retirees have been the center of the practice since 2008, including particular experience with women navigating divorce or the loss of a spouse.
Coordinated With Your Other Professionals

We work alongside your CPA and estate attorney so your withdrawals, taxes, and documents tell the same story.
Local Office, Meet Anywhere

In person on W Grand Avenue in Surprise, or by Zoom and phone for clients across Arizona and the country.

Nicholas Bair, CFP®, ChFC®

Managing Partner & Senior Wealth Advisor

Nick began his career at JPMorgan in 2008, specializing in financial planning and investment management for pre-retirees and retirees, and rose to Senior Vice President of Wealth Management over a 15-year tenure before choosing independence. He serves on the Council of Professional Advisors for the Sun Health Foundation and lives in the West Valley with his family.

Start Your Retirement Plan In Surprise, AZ

If you want a written plan for your retirement income, taxes, and the decisions ahead, we would welcome a conversation. Share a few details and we will reach out to schedule a time that works for you. There is no cost and no obligation for the introductory call.

Prefer to pick a time yourself? Schedule An Introductory Call Or call us now at 602-336-4659

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I start retirement planning?

The most valuable planning window is usually the five to ten years before you stop working, because that is when Social Security timing, Roth conversion opportunities, and withdrawal sequencing can still be shaped rather than reacted to. That said, a plan adds clarity at any stage, including after you have already retired.

Does Arizona tax Social Security or retirement income?

Arizona does not tax Social Security benefits at all. Withdrawals from IRAs, 401(k)s, and most pensions are taxed at Arizona's flat 2.5% state income tax rate, and military retirement pay is fully exempt. Social Security can still be partially taxable at the federal level depending on your total income, which is one reason withdrawal planning matters.

What does retirement planning at Bair Wealth include?

A written retirement plan covering income strategy, Social Security timing, withdrawal sequencing across your accounts, Roth conversion analysis, an investment allocation matched to when you will need the money, and coordination with your CPA and estate attorney. The plan is reviewed on an ongoing basis as markets, tax law, and your life change.

I split my time between Arizona and another state. Which state taxes my retirement income?

It depends on where you are legally a resident, which is determined by your domicile and the time you spend in each state. Arizona presumes anyone spending more than nine months of the year in the state is a resident, and factors such as your home, driver license, and voter registration also matter. Residency for snowbirds is a planning decision worth making deliberately with your tax professional, and we coordinate that work as part of the plan.

How do Roth conversions fit into a retirement plan?

A Roth conversion moves money from a pre-tax account to a Roth account, paying tax now in exchange for tax-free growth and withdrawals later. Conversions can make sense in lower-income years, often between retiring and the start of required minimum distributions, but the amount matters: converting too much in one year can push you into a higher federal bracket or raise your future Medicare premiums. We model those trade-offs before recommending an amount.

How do I get started with retirement planning in Surprise?

Schedule a complimentary introductory call online or call 602-336-4659. The first conversation is a fit check: we learn where you are, what you want retirement to look like, and whether our experience matches your situation. If it does, we outline the documents needed to begin building your plan. There is no pressure and no obligation.