5. Reduce and Manage Debt. Enter retirement with minimal debt to provide a comforting sense of financial freedom. Aim to pay off high-interest debts like credit cards and car loans first.

He has this little calendar—it’s kind of a countdown clock for people in those years leading up to retirement. He makes the point that that’s a great time to take a look at derisking your ...

You must do your conversion by Dec. 31, 2024, if you want your five-year countdown to begin on Jan. 1, 2024. If you wait until January 2025 to do the conversion, your countdown begins on Jan. 1, 2025.