May 2, 2025
Tips for Successful Retirement Investing
“In my experience working with retirees, many overlook tax planning opportunities early on,” says Avanti Shetye, certified financial planner (CFP) and founder of Maryland-based Wealthwyzr. “While they focus on building wealth, they often underestimate the impact of RMDs in later years.”
Roth IRAs, however, do not have RMDs, which means that money can grow tax-free over the account owner’s lifetime.
Shetye notes that large RMDs can push retirees into higher tax brackets—potentially increasing their tax burden “significantly.” She recommends strategic Roth conversions in early retirement to minimize lifetime taxes.
Mar. 5, 2025
Experts Share Smart Strategies to Lower Retirement Taxes and Keep More of What You’ve Earned
Retirement income comes from various sources, so it’s essential to understand that each gets taxed differently. Pensions and withdrawals from tax-deferred accounts and income from 401(k)s or traditional IRAs are taxed as ordinary income when withdrawn, explains Avanti Shetye, MBA, CFA, CFP, owner and financial planner at Wealthwyzr, LLC.
She adds that Social Security benefits are taxed differently, as their taxability depends on your provisional income, including your adjusted gross income (AGI), tax-exempt interest, and 50 percent of your Social Security benefits. She breaks it down as follows:
Feb. 28, 2025
Don’t get burned: 5 red flags to watch out for before choosing a financial advisor
This sales-focused approach particularly troubles Avanti Shetye, CFA, CFP and founder of Wealthwyzr, a financial planning firm in Ellicott City, Maryland. “A big warning sign is when a financial advisor dives straight into their own products and solutions without hearing about your life goals and what you’re trying to accomplish through financial planning.”
Avanti Shetye, founder of Wealthwyzr, explains that “investments are only one part of a financial plan, and when evaluating performance, one must talk about risk-adjusted performance. Investment returns can’t be isolated from risk.”
Aug. 2, 2023
Vanguard vs. Fidelity: Which Is Best for You?
The companies’ index funds perform similarly, as they track the same market indexes. However, Avanti Shetye, a chartered financial analyst in Ellicott City, Maryland, says the fees and investment minimums vary between companies. “Fidelity funds have no minimum requirements on initial investments,” she says. “Vanguard, on the other hand, [often] has a minimum investment requirement of $3,000. For an investor who is just starting and either doesn’t have $3,000 or wants to test the waters before getting comfortable investing, Fidelity is the clear choice with its zero minimum requirement.”
Dec 27,2022
Here’s How 50% of Wealthy Millennials Plan To Retire Before Age 65
Consider investing in dividend stocks or low-cost diversified funds focused on dividends, said Avanti Shetye, CFA, founder of Wealthwyzr.
“Companies that pay dividends do so on a schedule, usually quarterly,” she said. “Companies may cut dividends during an economic downturn, but if you are invested in a dividend fund instead of single stocks, you are likely to receive some amount in regular dividends because not all companies are likely to cut dividends at the same time.”
Dec 24,2022
Yes, You Can Benefit From Rising Rates—Here’s How
“While rising interest rates hurt current retirement savings in investment portfolios, they offer an opportunity to invest in stocks funds and bonds funds at a discounted rate,” Avanti Shetye, Founder of Wealthwyzr in Ellicott City, Maryland. “As you add more capital to your retirement savings, you can deploy this additional capital to earn more over your target horizon.”
Dec 12, 2022
Don’t Let The Allure Of Bonds Mask Reinvestment Risk
“This is much easier to explain with an example,” says Avanti Shetye, Founder of Wealthwyzr in Ellicott City, Maryland. “Let’s say you own a mortgage-backed security with cash flows backed by mortgage payments from homeowners. When mortgage rates fall, homeowners tend to refinance their homes and return capital to their current lenders, who in turn return the capital to investors in those mortgage-backed securities. Investors not only lose the opportunity to earn interest on the returned capital, but also must reinvest that capital at current market rates, which are usually lower.”
Oct 10, 2022
Your Credit Card: Should You Focus on Low APR or Cash Back?
“Lowering your credit limit increases your credit utilization ratio, which is your total outstanding balance on all accounts divided by the credit limit on all accounts,” explains Avanti Shetye, CFA, founder of Wealthwyzr.
Oct 10,2022
9 reasons why your credit score has suddenly dropped
“Lowering your credit limit increases your credit utilization ratio, which is your total outstanding balance on all accounts divided by the credit limit on all accounts,” explains Avanti Shetye, CFA, founder of Wealthwyzr.