We’re 78 and Want to Use Our 2026 RMD to Treat Our Kids and Grandkids to a Vacation. How Should We Approach This?

Question: We’re 78, retired, and want to use our 2026 RMD to treat our two children, spouses, and six grandkids to a week-long vacation. We’re mobile but don’t have the same energy as the younger folks (no matter how much coffee we drink)! How should we approach this?
Answer: For people with money in a traditional retirement savings plan, required minimum distributions (RMDs) can be a blessing and a curse. While RMDs can inevitably produce a sizable tax bill, they can also serve as an opportunity to splurge on experiences you otherwise wouldn’t dream of.
If you’re 78 years old with a mandatory RMD coming your way this year, you have a choice. You could grumble about having to take that withdrawal and pay the IRS its share, or you could use the money to treat your grown children, their spouses, and your six grandchildren to a week-long family vacation.
At 78, the return on investment of an experience, such as a family vacation, is likely higher than any