What Should I do with my IRA after I Retire?
Jason Stolz CLTC, CRPC
Retirement brings one of the most important financial questions you will ever face: What should I do with my IRA after I retire? For millions of Americans, a Traditional IRA represents decades of savings, tax-deferred growth, and disciplined contributions. But once you stop working, how you handle this account determines your income strategy, tax exposure, portfolio risk, and long-term financial security.
Your IRA becomes more than just an investment account—it turns into a powerful tool for creating predictable retirement income, managing Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), protecting your savings from market volatility, and building a reliable plan that supports you for the rest of your life. Whether your IRA came from years of contributions, employer rollovers, or consolidated accounts, this guide explains your options and how to make the most informed decision possible.
At Diversified Insurance Brokers, we help retirees evaluate rollover choices, income strategies, annuity options, and RMD planning. With access to 75+ insurance carriers and decades of retirement-planning experience, we compare safe, guaranteed solutions that protect your IRA while enhancing income stability and long-term security.
Retiring With a Traditional IRA?
Compare rollover options, lifetime income strategies, and guaranteed annuity solutions for predictable retirement income.
View Fixed Annuity Rates View Bonus Annuity RatesUnderstanding How a Traditional IRA Works at Retirement
Your IRA behaves differently once you retire. Before retirement, you contributed pre-tax dollars and received tax-deferred growth. After retirement, the focus shifts to income, taxes, market risk, and distributions.
For a clear refresher, review: How Does an IRA Work?
Once you retire, you generally have these choices for your IRA:
• Leave it invested as-is
• Roll it into another IRA
• Convert a portion to a Roth IRA
• Roll the IRA into a guaranteed annuity
• Begin systematic withdrawals (income strategy)
• Use it to supplement Social Security planning
The best choice depends on your goals—growth, guaranteed income, tax control, or market-risk reduction.
Option 1: Leave Your IRA Where It Is
Some retirees simply leave their IRA investments untouched. This may work for retirees who:
- Are comfortable with market volatility
- Prefer long-term growth over guarantees
- Have other income sources such as pensions or rental income
- Do not need distributions immediately
The downside? Your entire IRA remains exposed to market losses. As you begin taking RMDs, a severe downturn could force withdrawals while your balance is down—something called sequence-of-returns risk, which can devastate retirement accounts.
Option 2: Roll Over Your IRA for Greater Control
A rollover can consolidate multiple IRAs or move funds to a custodian that offers more investment choices. This keeps your money tax-deferred and allows:
- Access to lower-cost investment options
- More portfolio customization
- Improved control over asset allocation
If you expect to use part of your IRA for guaranteed income later, it may make sense to position some or all of the rollover into a safe annuity.
Option 3: Convert Part of Your IRA to a Roth IRA
A Roth conversion may make sense if you want to reduce future RMDs or create tax-free income later in life. Conversions are taxable, but they can be strategically planned during lower-income retirement years.
Conversion strategies should be carefully coordinated with annuity income, Social Security timing, and your long-term tax plan.
Option 4: Roll Your IRA Into an Annuity for Safety & Guaranteed Income
Rolling your IRA into a fixed or indexed annuity is one of the most powerful options available—especially if your top priorities are safety, predictability, and lifetime income.
Learn more about the process here: How to Transfer an IRA to an Annuity
This strategy offers major benefits:
- Protection from market losses — your IRA balance can no longer drop due to volatility.
- Guaranteed growth with fixed annuities or competitive indexed crediting.
- Guaranteed lifetime income that can replicate or exceed a pension.
- Stronger survivor benefits than many investment-only strategies.
- Predictable RMD planning since annuity income can be structured around distribution requirements.
For retirees who want financial stability, annuities provide an anchor that supports Social Security, investments, and long-term retirement budgeting.
Lifetime Income Calculator
Use this tool to see how much guaranteed income your IRA rollover could generate.
Option 5: Use Your IRA for Systematic Withdrawals
Some retirees prefer to take monthly, quarterly, or annual withdrawals. This offers flexibility but comes with two major risks:
- Market downturns reducing your balance mid-retirement
- Overspending that depletes the account too quickly
Many retirees combine systematic withdrawals with an annuity to create a safer hybrid income strategy.
Option 6: Coordinate IRA Decisions With Social Security
Your IRA income strategy should work alongside Social Security to balance taxation, longevity risk, and income sustainability.
Delaying Social Security often pairs well with annuity income, allowing your benefits to grow while you receive guaranteed income from your IRA rollover.
How RMDs Affect Your IRA After Retirement
Traditional IRAs require you to begin taking Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) once you reach the IRS-mandated age. RMDs impact taxes, income planning, and how long your account will last.
RMDs can be coordinated with annuity payouts to create predictable income and reduce market stress.
How Diversified Insurance Brokers Helps Retirees With IRAs
Choosing what to do with your IRA after retirement is one of the most important financial decisions of your life. At Diversified Insurance Brokers, we compare annuities, rollover options, income strategies, and long-term planning solutions to help retirees build safe, predictable retirement income.
We analyze:
- Annuity income vs. investment withdrawals
- Fixed vs. indexed annuity options
- Safe-rate comparisons & guaranteed growth
- Tax considerations for RMDs & rollovers
- Legacy planning & survivor benefits
Request a Personalized IRA Review
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FAQs: What Should I Do With My IRA After I Retire?
Can I leave my IRA where it is after I retire?
Yes, but your account remains exposed to market volatility. Many retirees eventually move part of their IRA to a safer vehicle like a fixed or indexed annuity.
Is rolling my IRA into an annuity tax-free?
Yes. A direct IRA-to-annuity transfer maintains tax-deferred status. You can see the full process here: How to Transfer an IRA to an Annuity.
Does an annuity eliminate RMDs?
No. RMDs still apply, but annuity income can help structure them more predictably and reduce market risk.
Can I create guaranteed income with my IRA?
Yes. A lifetime income annuity can convert your IRA into a personal pension with guaranteed payments for life.
Should I convert part of my IRA to a Roth?
Maybe. Converting during low-income years can reduce future taxes and RMDs, but conversions must be planned strategically.
How do I avoid running out of money in retirement?
Combining predictable annuity income with Social Security can protect against market downturns and reduce withdrawal pressure on investments.
About the Author:
Jason Stolz, CLTC, CRPC, is a senior insurance and retirement professional with more than two decades of real-world experience helping individuals, families, and business owners protect their income, assets, and long-term financial stability. As a long-time partner of the nationally licensed independent agency Diversified Insurance Brokers, Jason provides trusted guidance across multiple specialties—including fixed and indexed annuities, long-term care planning, personal and business disability insurance, life insurance solutions, and short-term health coverage. Diversified Insurance Brokers maintains active contracts with over 100 highly rated insurance carriers, ensuring clients have access to a broad and competitive marketplace.
His practical, education-first approach has earned recognition in publications such as VoyageATL, highlighting his commitment to financial clarity and client-focused planning. Drawing on deep product knowledge and years of hands-on field experience, Jason helps clients evaluate carriers, compare strategies, and build retirement and protection plans that are both secure and cost-efficient.
