You cannot easily avoid RMDs, but you can neutralize their impact:
The single most effective strategy is to systematically convert pre-tax balances to a Roth IRA during the low-income window between retirement and age 73. Roth IRAs do not have RMDs during your lifetime, letting your assets compound tax-free indefinitely.
If you are charitably inclined, the QCD is a massive tax loophole. Once you reach age 70½, you can transfer up to an inflation-indexed cap ($108,000 per person in 2025, slightly higher in 2026) directly from a traditional IRA to a qualified charity. The QCD counts toward your RMD but is excluded from your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)—meaning it will not trigger IRMAA or NIIT thresholds.
You can allocate up to an inflation-adjusted limit ($200,000) from your traditional accounts to purchase a QLAC. The QLAC defers the start of distributions up to age 85, removing that allocated capital from your RMD calculation during your 70s.