Why does the order I withdraw from accounts in retirement affect my taxes?

Because different accounts are taxed differently, the sequence of withdrawals can change your lifetime tax bill significantly. A common framework is to spend taxable (brokerage) accounts first, then tax-deferred (traditional 401(k)/IRA), then Roth last, letting tax-free Roth money grow longest. But the smarter move is often to blend: in lower-income early-retirement years, deliberately draw from or convert tax-deferred accounts to "fill up" the lower brackets before required minimum distributions and Social Security push you higher at 73. Managing your taxable income also affects Medicare IRMAA surcharges, Social Security taxation, and capital-gains rates. Roth conversions in low-income gap years are a key lever. There's no single right order; it depends on your account mix and income timeline. Model scenarios with wealthserene.com/tools/retirement-planner.