Medicare open enrollment is here. Plus, two upcoming webinars and a new guide to comparing Part D plans.

Hi Reader,

Fall is one of the busiest stretches of the planning year. Medicare open enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7, fund companies are publishing their year-end capital gains estimates, and the window for 2026 Roth conversions, gifting, and most other year-end tax moves closes on December 31.

This month’s newsletter covers several of those themes.

Our October webinar on Friday, October 23rd, looks at mutual funds vs. ETFs and why the difference matters most in taxable accounts this time of year. We’re also announcing a special November webinar with Kate Hufnagel on digital estate planning, held live on Zoom, so you’ll want to RSVP.

Below that, you’ll find our Medicare guide for comparing Part D drug plans, Quinn’s latest post on Roth conversions in the top tax brackets, and our recent comments for an article in The Washington Post on target-date funds.

Read more below, and as always, if the topics in this newsletter prompt any questions or concerns, simply hit reply to this email and we will be in touch.

Regards,

The Arnold & Mote Team

October Webinar: Mutual Funds vs. ETFs - When the Difference Matters

If you own mutual funds in a taxable account, you may get a tax bill this December for gains you never chose to take. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are built differently, and that structure lets most of them avoid those year-end capital gains distributions.

That doesn’t mean you should sell your mutual funds tomorrow, because switching can cost more than it saves. In this 30-minute webinar, we’ll explain the key differences between ETFs and mutual funds, when moving to ETFs makes sense, and when holding on is the smarter choice.

What you’ll take away:

• Why ETFs are usually more tax-efficient: how mutual funds pass capital gains on to every shareholder, and how the ETF structure avoids most of them.
• When switching doesn’t make sense: large unrealized gains, IRMAA and other tax side effects, the step-up in basis at death, and charitable giving strategies that can beat selling.
• How to transition without a big tax bill: gradual approaches, and the new tax-free paths some fund companies now offer from mutual fund shares into ETF shares.
• Where mutual funds still have the edge: automatic investing and withdrawals, no trading spreads, and why the tax argument barely applies inside IRAs and 401(k)s.
• What to check before year-end: how to look up your funds’ estimated distributions and avoid buying a mutual fund right before it pays one.

Join us for the live broadcast at noon Central Time on Friday, October 23rd, streamed on our YouTube channel here:

Want a reminder before we go live? Click the button above and subscribe to our channel to be notified as the webinar begins.

If you can’t attend live, the replay will be available on our YouTube channel immediately afterward, alongside recordings of all our previous webinars.

Have a question you'd like us to address during the webinar? Just reply and let us know.

Missed last month's webinar? You can view a replay of 'How Index Funds Handle Mega IPOs' here.

RSVP for November's Webinar Now

We don't typically announce webinar topics more than a month in advance - but November's webinar will be special. On Friday, November 13th at noon Central time, we will be joined by Kate Hufnagel, founder of The Digital Wrangler.

We attended Kate’s session at a recent conference of NAPFA, a national association of fee-only financial advisors, and came away very impressed. So we asked her to talk with you about how technology is complicating estate planning, and why it pays to start your “digital estate planning” now.

Unlike our recent webinars, this one will be held live on Zoom instead of YouTube to make it interactive. You’ll need to RSVP here to receive the link; full details are below.

​Beyond the Will: Protecting Your Family from Digital Chaos​

The average estate takes over 900 hours to settle — and much of that burden falls on grieving families trying to track down digital accounts, passwords, photos, and devices with no roadmap. In today's high-tech world, our lives are more digital than ever, yet many of us haven't made a plan for what happens to that digital life when we're no longer here. In this eye-opening presentation, you'll be guided through the concept of a digital legacy and learn practical, easy-to-follow strategies to help reduce stress for your loved ones.

You'll learn why modern-day legacy planning goes far beyond legal documents and how to organize your life in a way that brings peace of mind to you and clarity to those you care about. Whether you're beginning to think about these details or want to enhance the plans you've already made, this session will help you confidently and thoughtfully take the next steps.

At the end of our hour together, participants will:

- Understand what a digital legacy is and why it matters for families navigating loss in today’s technology-driven world.

- Identify the types of digital assets — including passwords, photos, accounts, and devices — that belong in any legacy plan.

- Learn practical tools, tips, and routines to get organized and protect the people they love.

Everyone who RSVPs will receive an interactive workbook the week before the event. If you have questions for us or for Kate, just reply to this email, and we’ll make sure they’re answered during the webinar or follow up with you directly.

We look forward to seeing you at noon Central time on November 13th!

Helpful Resource: How to Do a Medicare Part D Review

Medicare's open enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7. Your Part D plan’s premiums, covered drugs, and pharmacy network can all change for 2027, and even if yours didn’t, another plan may offer the same coverage for less. Start with the Annual Notice of Change from your plan, then compare your options at Medicare.gov before the deadline.

Our Medicare Open Enrollment Guide (PDF) walks you through comparing plans on Medicare.gov step by step. It also covers what to review if you have a Medicare Advantage plan and what to do if you’ve received an IRMAA notice.

From the Arnold & Mote Blog - Do Roth Conversions in the Highest Tax Brackets Make Sense?

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Roth conversions are one of the most popular tax strategies in retirement planning — but if you’re already in a high tax bracket, paying more income tax this year to do a conversion can feel counterintuitive. So when does it actually make sense to do a Roth conversion if you are in the 35% or 37% federal income tax brackets?

In this blog post and video, Quinn Arnold explains when Roth conversions in the top tax brackets make sense and when to avoid them.

Arnold & Mote Featured in the Press

The Washington Post: The 401(k) Choice Many Don't Know They Are Making​

Target-date funds are now the default investment option in most 401(k) plans and hold nearly $5 trillion in retirement savings. While target date funds can be a great option for many, not all target date funds are the same. Some carry much higher costs, some include annuities, and some become overly conservative later in retirement.

We were interviewed for this Washington Post article about the strengths of target-date funds and where they can fall short. Our responses focused on diversification, asset allocation, and costs.

See more recent press mentions on our Press Page.

Looking for Something From a Prior Newsletter?

As a reminder, you can now find the last 12 months of our newsletters here:

Whether you're new and want to browse issues you missed, or you're following up on a topic from a few months ago, you'll find everything at the link above. We'll also keep this link at the bottom of all future newsletters.

Quinn and the Arnold & Mote Wealth Management Team

(319) 393-4020

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