Deferred Compensation in 2025: What’s Changed, What to Watch For & New Planning Opportunities

Retire Smarter with Kevin Kroskey, CFP® & Tyler Emrick, CFA® CFP®

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Deferred compensation plans can be a powerful retirement tool — but they’re often misunderstood and carry unique risks. In this episode, Tyler Emrick, CFA®, CFP®, breaks down how these plans work in 2025, from 409A rules to 457(b) and 457(f) plans that are especially common in the healthcare industry. We’ll cover why so many executives and physicians use them, how payout rules can trigger unexpected tax bills, and what happens when your employer is acquired — including timely insights for those in Northeast Ohio as Summa Health transitions from nonprofit to for‑profit under a private equity firm.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

🧾 Know the fine print – Rules on payout timing are strict and often irreversible.

⚠️ Watch for triggers – Job changes or company buyouts can force unexpected distributions.

📉 Subject to credit risk – If your employer fails, you could lose your deferred comp.

📊 Plan your income – Coordinate payouts with your tax strategy to reduce the hit.

💡 Advanced tools – Strategies like TALS can help offset large taxable events.

Part 1: The Long and Short on Tax-Aware, Long-Short (TALS) Investing - https://www.truewealthdesign.com/podcasts/part-1-the-long-and-short-on-tax-aware-long-short-tals-investing/

Part 2: The Long and Short on Tax-Aware, Long-Short (TALS) Investing - https://www.truewealthdesign.com/podcasts/part-2-the-long-and-short-on-tax-aware-long-short-tals-investing/

Part 3: The Long and Short on Tax-Aware, Long-Short (TALS) Investing - https://www.truewealthdesign.com/podcasts/part-3-the-long-and-short-on-tax-aware-long-short-tals-investing/

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