John mentions he is currently in the 35% tax bracket and plans to pay off his $350,000 mortgage once he drops out of it after retirement. His current taxable income is above $512,450 for married filing jointly, the 2026 threshold where the 35% bracket begins. His pension alone will pay $9,500 a month, or $114,000 annually, well below that threshold. His tax rate in retirement will almost certainly be lower than today, and the gap between those two rates is where his planning opportunity lives.Have You read ...