Key Points Retirees with tax-deferred investment accounts must make annual withdrawals, called required minimum distributions (RMDs), beginning at age 73. RMDs are calculated by dividing the retirement account balance from the prior year by a life expectancy factor (found on an IRS table) based on current age. The 2026 RMD for a 73-year-old with $250,000 in a traditional IRA as of Dec. 31, 2025, will equal$9,434. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › Tax-deferred ...