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Suze Orman couldn’t have put it more clearly in a 2023 podcast when she declared: “A Roth is the absolute best retirement account. Bar none” (1).
That’s because a Roth account protects you from the devastating effects of tax torpedoes—yes, that sounds ominous.
But how did this tax storm happen, and most importantly, how to avoid it? One of the best ways to do this is to reduce your reliance on Social Security in retirement.
When your total income reaches a certain threshold, the tax torpedo strikes. It triggers additional taxes on your Social Security benefits.
Up to 85% of Social Security benefits may be taxed for single filers with combined income over $34,000 or for married couples filing jointly over $44,000. Even if your income is between $25,000 and $34,000 as an individual, or between $32,000 and $44,000 as a couple, 50% of your benefits may still be taxable(2).
It’s more common than you think, with 40 percent of Social Security recipients paying taxes on their benefits. Also, if your provisional income calculation puts you into a higher Social Security tax bracket, your tax rate may also be higher than you originally expected.
If you’re already worried about where you’ll pay your taxes in retirement, rest assured there are certified professionals who can help.
If you’re looking for financial advice, Advisor.com connects you with vetted fiduciary financial advisors near you. All you have to do is answer a few simple questions about your finances, and Advisor.com will match you with a short list of certified experts to choose from.
You can then schedule an introductory meeting without hiring.
Another fatal blow strikes if your state also imposes an income tax. The good news: If you use a Roth account, you can avoid tax torpedoes. There are many other ways to reduce your reliance on Social Security in retirement, such as developing a healthier, more robust retirement portfolio.
Orman also emphasized in a blog post the importance of regularly reviewing your financial portfolio. “You should log in and make sure your portfolio — stocks/bonds/cash/—is aligned with your long-term goals.”
Qualified Roth IRA withdrawals (after age 59 and a half and meeting the 5-year rule) are tax-free and are not included in prior income calculations.
Orman is a big supporter of Roth IRAs and encourages all of her followers to donate as close to the maximum amount as possible. “If you don’t typically contribute the maximum, I hope you’ll consider pushing yourself to increase your retirement savings,” she wrote in a blog post.
Through 2025, the maximum allowed contribution for Traditional and Roth IRAs cannot exceed $7,000. If you are 50 or older(3), this amount increases to $8,000.
Because Roth IRA withdrawals are tax-free, your combined income will be lower, hopefully helping you avoid triggering the Social Security tax threshold. This is where assets that protect you from inflation or market fluctuations can play an important role.
For example, a gold IRA allows you to hold a physical asset like gold to hedge against rising and falling markets and inflation. While a gold IRA is subject to income taxes and will be included in your taxable income in retirement, a gold IRA can serve as a risk-adjusted supplement to a Roth IRA, which may be riskier depending on the assets you hold.
Choosing a gold IRA allows you to invest directly in physical precious metals instead of stocks and bonds.
Priority Gold is a leader in the precious metals industry, providing physical delivery of gold and silver. Additionally, they have an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and a 5-star rating from Trust Link.
If you want to convert an existing IRA to a gold IRA, Priority Gold offers 100% free rollover, free shipping, and free storage for up to five years. Qualifying purchases will also receive up to $10,000 in free silver.
To learn more about how Priority Gold can help you reduce the impact of inflation on your savings, download their free 2025 Gold Investor Bundle.
Learn more: Warren Buffett turned $9,800 into a $150B fortune using 8 solid, repeatable money rules. Start using them to get rich (and stay rich) today
When planning for retirement, you need to consider more than just the account types available, such as a Roth IRA or gold IRA. Make sure you have the right stocks, ETFs and savings plans to give you the returns you need for a comfortable retirement.
IRAs can offer certain tax benefits, but they won’t be of much help if you don’t invest them correctly.
“I encourage you to keep returning to this thought exercise,” Orman wrote in a LinkedIn post. What financial steps might you take today to be kind to your future older self? 88, 90, 95? “
In addition to investing in the stock market, real estate is a great way to diversify your retirement portfolio and reduce your reliance on Social Security.
But it can be cumbersome, costly and administratively intensive.
If you want to buy a property in the United States, the median sales price in the second quarter of 2025 is $410,800(4). For most people, putting down 20% down is not feasible at this price tag. This could mean your mortgage interest rate is around 6% (5).
Then there are the additional costs of home maintenance and upkeep. According to Zillow, the average annual cost is over $10,000(6). All of these factors can make real estate investing seem unfeasible, but there are still options.
For years, direct access to the $22.5 trillion commercial real estate sector has been limited to a handful of elite investors—until now.
First National Realty Partners (FNRP) allows accredited investors to diversify their portfolios through grocery store-focused commercial properties without the responsibilities of a landlord.
With a minimum investment of $50,000, investors can own a share of properties leased by national brands such as Whole Foods, Kroger and Walmart that provide essentials to their communities. Thanks to Triple Net (NNN) leasing, accredited investors are able to invest in these properties without having to worry about tenant costs impacting their potential returns.
Just answer a few questions – including how much you want to invest – to start browsing their full list of available properties.
You can get into this market by investing in shares of vacation homes or rental properties through Arrived.
Backed by world-class investors including Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of vacation and rental properties and earn a passive income stream without the additional work of being a landlord of your own rental property.
To get started, simply browse their selection of vetted properties, each chosen based on their potential appreciation and income-generating capabilities. Once you select a property, you can start investing with as little as $100, potentially earning quarterly dividends.
You can continue investing even after retirement. Investing spare change from everyday purchases can add up quickly without putting a strain on your finances.
Acorns is an automated investing app that makes it easy to build smart portfolios.
All you have to do is sign up and follow the steps to link your bank account. The app will automatically round up the total cost of your purchase and invest the difference in a diversified ETF portfolio. So, to strengthen your portfolio and save for retirement, just make everyday purchases and watch your money grow.
Plus, sign up today and get a $20 bonus. These simple, effective tools for increasing your savings are sure to get Suze’s approval.
You can continue to make low-risk investments even after retirement. This can help you build wealth without having to worry about market fluctuations.
We rely only on vetted sources and reliable third-party reports. For more information, see our Editorial Ethics and Guidelines.
suzeorman.com (1); Congressional Research Service (2); IRS (3); Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (4); Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (5); Zillow (6)
This article provides information only and should not be considered advice. It is provided without any warranty of any kind.