Your Tax Return Is a Blueprint — Here's How to Use It for Better Planning

Retire Smarter with Kevin Kroskey, CFP® & Tyler Emrick, CFA® CFP® · Apr 16, 2026 · 22m

Most people get their tax return back, sign it, and move on.

But your 2025 tax return is more than a summary of last year — it’s a roadmap for smarter tax planning going forward.

In this episode, Tyler Emrick, CFA, CFP®, walks line-by-line through the key parts of your return and shows you exactly what to look for, including:

Where interest income may be creating unnecessary tax drag

How dividends and capital gains impact your tax bill (and what to do about it)

Why your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) drives decisions like IRMAA, IRA eligibility, and Roth strategies

When it makes sense to itemize…