Independent retirement & care planning · all of UT
Plan for care. Protect your income. Leave a legacy.
Most retirements aren't undone by the markets — they're undone by the cost of care. We help Utah families plan for long-term care, time Social Security, and turn savings into income that lasts. Educational, independent, no pressure.
The reality in Utah
What long-term care costs in Utah (2024)
These are annual costs for care in Utah. Medicare doesn't pay for most of it — a plan does. About 70% of people turning 65 today will need some long-term care in their lifetime.
Source: CareScout (Genworth) Cost of Care Survey 2024 — Utah. carescout.com/cost-of-care. Likelihood of care: U.S. Administration for Community Living.
How we help
Four pieces of a secure retirement
Plan for long-term care
About 70% of people turning 65 will need care — and Medicare won't pay for most of it. We help you plan before you need it.
Time your Social Security
When you claim, from 62 to 70, permanently changes your benefit. We help you weigh the trade-offs for your situation.
Build lifetime income
Turn savings into a dependable paycheck — coordinating Social Security, withdrawals, and annuities so you don't outlive your money.
Protect your family & legacy
Right-sized life insurance and hybrid policies protect the people who depend on you and pass on what you've built.
How it works
Get a plan in 3 simple steps
Talk to a planner
Tell us your goals, savings, and concerns about care. No cost, no pressure — ever.
Get a personal plan
We map likely Utah care costs against your savings and compare the protection tools that fit you.
Put it in place & review
We help you act on the plan and revisit it as your life and the numbers change.
Our services
What we help Utah families with
Long-Term Care Planning
A clear plan for how you'd pay for care — before you need it.
Long-Term Care Insurance
Traditional and hybrid policies that cover what Medicare won't.
Social Security Planning
Think through the best time to claim for your situation.
Retirement Income & Annuities
Dependable income you can't outlive, matched to your goals.
Life Insurance & Legacy
Protect your family and leave a legacy without overpaying.
Medicaid & Asset Protection
Understand how Medicaid fits — and when to involve an attorney.
Independent & in your corner
A planner who treats your money like family's
Brian Penner helps Utah families understand long-term care, Social Security, and retirement income in plain English — with the patience to make sure you understand every option before you decide. No pressure, ever.
Meet Brian Penner →Resources
Planning guidance & Utah data
Year-End Tax Moves for Utah Retirees: 2026 Checklist
Most retiree tax moves have a December 31, 2026 deadline. Take your RMD on time: a missed one can owe a 25% excise tax, or 10% if corrected within two years (IRS). At 70½ or older, you can give up to $111,000 per person by qualified charitable distribution, which counts toward your RMD and stays out of AGI. A couple who are both 65+ can deduct up to $47,500 in 2026, so about $148,300 of income keeps them in the 12% bracket, and long-term gains are taxed at 0% up to $98,900 of joint taxable income (Rev. Proc. 2025-32). Utah's rate is a flat 4.5%, but in the Social Security credit phase-out range extra income costs about 7% in Utah tax (Utah Code 59-10-1042). 2026 income generally sets 2028 Medicare IRMAA. Only 13.3% of Utah returns itemized in tax year 2023 (IRS SOI). Plus a 7-step year-end checklist.
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The $6,000 Senior Deduction: What Utah Retirees Get (2026)
For tax years 2025 through 2028, each person 65 or older can deduct an extra $6,000 on their federal return, or $12,000 for a couple when both qualify, with or without itemizing (IRS). It phases out by 6% of income above $75,000 (single) or $150,000 (joint) and is gone at $175,000 and $250,000. For 2026, a single filer 65+ can deduct up to $24,150 in total and a couple both 65+ up to $47,500. Utah's 4.5% tax barely changes, because Utah starts from federal AGI and its taxpayer credit uses line 12e, not the senior deduction on line 13b. It does not lower Medicare IRMAA or the tax on Social Security, and in the phase-out range it adds about 2.64 points to a couple's 22% Roth conversion rate. Plus four hypothetical Utah households, the 2026 stacking table and a year-end checklist; 434,922 Utahns were 65+ in 2024 (Census).
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Utah Life Expectancy at 65: How Long to Plan For (2026)
A 65-year-old in Utah could expect about 19.0 more years in 2022, according to the CDC's newest state life tables: 18.2 for men and 19.8 for women. That is only an average. About 53% of 65-year-old Utah women and 46% of men reach 85, 28% of women reach 90, and for a 65-year-old couple there is about a 44% chance at least one reaches 90 and 14% that one reaches 95. Utah men at 65 outlive the national average by about 0.7 years, while Utah women sit 0.4 years below it. Life expectancy at birth ranges from 73.3 years in San Juan County to 84.7 in Summit County (Utah DHHS, 2019-2023). On a hypothetical $2,000 Social Security benefit, waiting from 62 to 70 pays more in total after about age 80, an age most 65-year-old Utahns reach. Plus survival odds to 100, county comparisons, survivor income and a five-step longevity checklist.
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Plain-English answers
Does Medicare pay for long-term care?
Generally no. Medicare covers only short, skilled care after a qualifying hospital stay — not ongoing custodial help, assisted living, or extended nursing-home stays. That gap is exactly what a long-term care plan addresses.
How likely am I to need long-term care?
About 70% of people turning 65 today will need some long-term care, according to the U.S. Administration for Community Living. Around one-third may never need it, while about 20% will need it for longer than five years.
Do you charge for your time?
We provide free, no-pressure planning conversations. When you choose to put a product in place, insurance companies pay us — so our guidance costs you nothing. We'll always explain how any product works.
Is this financial or tax advice?
No. Everything we provide is educational, to help you understand your options. We are not a government agency and do not provide financial, tax, or legal advice — we coordinate with your other professionals when needed.
Do you serve my part of Utah?
Yes — we serve families across all of Utah, from the Wasatch Front and Utah County to St. George, Moab, and rural communities. Most planning is done by phone or video, with in-person available.
Let’s build your plan
Get a free, no-pressure planning conversation with an independent advisor who serves all of Utah.