Skip to main content
Brandon Renfro on Muck Rack

Brandon Renfro

As seen in: MSN, Aol, Yahoo Finance, Yahoo Finance Singapore, Yahoo Finance UK, WICU-TV / WSEE-TV (Erie, PA), SmartAsset, WLUS-FM (Clarksville, VA), WMPW-FM (Danville, VA), WSHV-FM (South Hill, VA) and
Covers:  Personal financial planning, specifically with a retirement planning focus to include taxation, investments, and Social Security.

Get in touch with Brandon

Contact Brandon, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.

Learn more about Muck Rack

Actions

Share this page

Brandon Renfro’s Biography

Read Full Bio →

I am a former college professor and practicing financial planner in Longview TX that has been writing for over 5 years. My credentials include a PhD, CFP, RICP, and EA. I can write about retirement planning topics to include investing, Social Security, and taxes. I've written for independent registered investment advisors, as well as Bankrate, The Balance, US News, Kiplinger, RetireGuide, Bankers Life, Colonial Penn, Annuity.org, a recurring "Ask an Advisor" column for SmartAsset, and others.

Brandon Renfro’s Journalist Portfolio

Brandon Renfro, CFP®, RICP, EA | SmartAsset

Brandon Renfro, CFP®, RICP, EA | SmartAsset

View article →

Articles

Ask an Advisor: ‘I’m So Lost.’ Should I Roll My Old 401(k) into My Current Plan or Convert it to a Roth IRA?

|
By Brandon Renfro, Patrick Villanova
| SmartAsset
I’m so lost: I have a 401(k) that’s sitting doing nothing. I have not transferred the funds to my new employer‘s 401(k) because I’m not sure it’s the best decision. I’m thinking of transferring funds into a Roth IRA but I’m afraid it will affect our tax bracket because I’m sure we will have to pay the IRS. – Liliana You are correct that you’ll owe income tax on the money if you move it into a Roth IRA, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad idea.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

Ask an Advisor: How Much Should I Contribute to a Roth IRA vs. Traditional IRA?

|
By Brandon Renfro, Patrick Villanova
| SmartAsset
I’m 30 and wondering how much should I contribute to my Roth IRA vs. traditional IRA? What are the pros and cons of each account? Deciding how to split your savings between Roth and tax-deferred accounts is mostly about comparing your current and future tax rates. But the right mix is not always a simple either-or decision, especially when you have decades for your income, tax laws and retirement goals to change.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

Ask an Advisor: Do Roth Conversion 5-Year Rules Apply to Beneficiaries After Age 73?

|
By Brandon Renfro
| Yahoo Finance Verified
I want to do three Roth conversions in the next three years before I turn 73 in 2027 so that my beneficiary doesn’t have to deal with taxes. If I should die soon after the last conversion, will my beneficiary be subject to the five-year rules? This is a good question. The five-year rules are a regular source of confusion. We field a lot of questions about them in this column.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?
See all 125 articles

Interview

See all →

Have you ever used a typewriter?

Yes

How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?

Email

Why did you become a journalist?

Income