In 2026, thousands of Nashville Baby Boomers will reach full retirement age. They’re facing the question of how to blend Social Security and savings into income that lasts. One firm believes that diligent planning is the answer.
For many Nashville retirees, two of the most important levers involve knowing when to take Social Security and how to handle IRA or 401(k) rollovers. Getting these decisions right has long-term implications for income security. Many retirees begin to worry about lifetime income later than they should, but things are changing.
Social Security accounts for up to 40% of income for many retirees, according to the Social Security Administration. But your monthly check can vary significantly depending on age. Claim at 62 and you'll receive up to 30% less than if you wait until full retirement age. Wait until 70, and your monthly payment could be more than 75% higher than the early-claim amount.
At 62, a retiree's Social Security check can decline by nearly 30%. Wait until 70, and the monthly payout may be more than three-quarters higher. Health, income needs, and spousal coordination all come into play here. In many cases, couples maximize long-term income by staggering their claims—one spouse filing early to cover expenses while the other defers to lock in higher survivor benefits.
At the same time, many retirees have accumulated substantial savings in 401(k)s or IRAs. Rolling over those accounts properly is critical to avoid unnecessary taxes, early withdrawal penalties, and loss of growth opportunities.
Some common mistakes include:
Done right, rollovers can help retirees create a tax-efficient income stream, rebalance portfolios with lower fees, and consolidate accounts for easier management.
The pinch point is where Social Security meets the required minimum distribution (RMD) requirements. Under SECURE 2.0, RMDs begin at age 73, forcing withdrawals from tax-deferred accounts even if you don't need the cash. Tennessee doesn't tax wage or Social Security income, but federal rules still apply: depending on "combined income," up to 85% of your Social Security benefits can be taxable, and RMDs can push you into higher brackets.
The solution lies in timing—many Nashville retirees smooth their tax bill by drawing modestly from IRAs before age 73 or converting to Roth in lower-income years, while deferring Social Security, which spreads taxable income and preserves more after-tax spending power.
Financial advisors in Nashville are seeing heightened concern around these issues in late 2025 (and soon as we head into 2026) as more Baby Boomers reach full retirement age. "People often think of Social Security and rollovers separately, but they're actually two sides of the same coin," says one fiduciary advisor. "Handled together, they can create a reliable income stream that's also tax efficient."
Firms like Goldstone Financial Group in Nashville specialize in retirement income strategies that weave both steps into a single plan. That can include running break-even analyses on claiming ages, examining the tax impacts of staggered rollovers, and developing withdrawal strategies that sustain income for 25-30 years — the average length of retirement today, according to the SSA's 2022 life tables.
More than 4.1 million Americans will turn 65 in 2025, the highest on record, and thousands are here in Middle Tennessee. For Nashville retirees, the choices surrounding Social Security and rollovers will shape their income for the next two to three decades. Those who put both levers to work in tandem stand a better chance of reducing taxes, extending savings, and maintaining stability throughout retirement.
"Goldstone Financial Group, LLC (“GFG”) is a registered investment advisor with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or qualification. This material is provided for informational purposes only. Opinions expressed herein are solely those of GFG. None of the information presented in this material is intended to offer personalized investment advice and does not constitute an offer to sell or solicit any offer to buy a security or any insurance product and is not intended to be used as the sole basis for financial decisions, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual’s situation."
