If you're a retiree in Pasadena, the questions that will shape the next 30 years of your finances aren't the ones your CPA has time to answer or your advisor is incentivized to dig into. How much to convert to Roth and when. When to claim Social Security to maximize lifetime benefits. How a single Roth conversion can spike your Medicare premiums two years later. What it takes to lock in guaranteed monthly income that doesn't depend on the stock market.
The Retirement Literacy Foundation runs free workshops and publishes free calculators specifically for retirees in Pasadena and the broader LA area. Founder Hans Goldstein is based in Huntington Beach and teaches the math first. RLF is a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit. Donations are tax-deductible, and all workshops and tools are free.
Free · one page · no cost, ever
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You’re reading “Retirement planning education for Pasadena retirees: without the sales pitch”. We’ll email you our plain-English guide to Social Security (the taxable-benefit thresholds, the survivor-benefit trap and the claiming-age math), plus an invite to the next free class. Free public education from a 501(c)(3); there is nothing to buy.
The Retirement Literacy Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 41-5062266).
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Free retirement workshops in Pasadena
We run live, in-person workshops at Pasadena libraries on Social Security optimization, Roth conversion strategy, and Medicare IRMAA brackets. 90 minutes. No products, no pitch. Just the math, with examples worked out on the board.
Past Pasadena workshop venues
Lamanda Branch Library · 140 S. Altadena Drive, Pasadena 91107
"Social Security & Tax" workshop · June 6, 2026
San Rafael Branch Library · 1240 Nithsdale Road, Pasadena 91105
"Social Security & Tax" workshop · May 9, 2026
La Cañada Flintridge Senior Center · 4469 Chevy Chase Drive, La Cañada 91011
"Social Security Reality Check" · April 22, 2026
→ See upcoming workshop dates and reserve a seat
What we cover for Pasadena and LA-area retirees
Three big things drive the biggest differences in retirement outcomes for Southern California retirees, and they're the same three things most CPAs and advisors don't have the bandwidth to go deep on:
- Roth conversion strategy across multiple years: the pre-RMD window between retirement and age 73 is the single most valuable conversion period of your life. The free Roth conversion calculator shows how a yearly conversion fills your bracket and where the next IRMAA line sits.
- Social Security claiming optimization: for a married couple, the difference between an optimal and average claiming strategy is often $100,000-$300,000 in lifetime benefits. Survivor planning matters more in California than most retirees realize.
- IRMAA Medicare bracket planning: the two-year lookback rule is the one that catches people. A 2026 Roth conversion can raise your 2028 Medicare premiums by about $2,297 to $13,872 a year for a couple, depending on the bracket (2026 figures). The free IRMAA calculator shows how close you are to the next line.
Free calculators built for Pasadena retirees
Run your own numbers. Every tool below was built and maintained by RLF, free to use:
Read first: the articles most Pasadena retirees benefit from
Frequently asked: Pasadena retirees
Are the workshops really free?
Yes. RLF is a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit. There is no charge, no product being sold at the workshop, and no obligation.
What's the geographic coverage?
RLF is based in Huntington Beach. Workshops have run in Pasadena (Lamanda + San Rafael libraries), La Cañada Flintridge, Atwater, Edendale, Mission Viejo, Laguna, Huntington Beach, and more. Classes are also live on Zoom, so you can join from anywhere.
Want to run your numbers with Hans?
Free 15-minute call by phone or Zoom. No charge, no products being sold, no pressure. Just the math on your specific situation. Available for Pasadena, La Cañada, Altadena, San Marino, South Pasadena, and surrounding LA-area retirees.
Book a free 15-minute call →
