Retirement Planning for the Decisions that matter Most
I help people who are retired or getting close to retirement coordinate income, investments, Social Security, taxes, and risk into one clear retirement plan.
Retirement Income Planning
Once retirement gets close, the question changes from “How much can I save?” to “How much can I safely spend?”
Retirement income planning is about turning your savings into income while accounting for taxes, market changes, Social Security, pensions, and the reality that life does not always go exactly as planned.
This may include:
» Estimating how much you can spend in retirement.
» Deciding which accounts to draw from first.
» Coordinating withdrawals with Social Security, pensions, and other income sources.
» Building in guardrails to help guide spending adjustments over time.
» Planning for market declines, inflation, and unexpected expenses.
» Helping you understand how your income plan is designed to work.
Social Security & Pension Decisions
Social Security and pension decisions can play a major role in your retirement income plan.
When you claim Social Security, which pension option you choose, and how those income sources fit with your portfolio withdrawals can all affect your taxes, cash flow, and survivor income.
This may include:
» Comparing Social Security claiming options in the context of your full retirement plan.
» Evaluating pension choices such as single life, joint survivor, lump sum, or period certain options when available.
» Coordinating Social Security and pension income with portfolio withdrawals.
» Reviewing how income choices may affect taxes and Medicare premiums.
» Considering the impact on a surviving spouse if one spouse passes first.
» Helping you make these decisions with the rest of your retirement plan in mind.
Tax-Aware Withdrawal Planning
Taxes can affect nearly every retirement income decision you make.
Which accounts you draw from, when you claim Social Security, whether you do Roth conversions, and how much income you recognize each year can all impact your tax bill, Medicare premiums, and future RMDs.
Tax-aware withdrawal planning may include:
» Deciding which accounts to draw from first.
» Evaluating Roth conversion opportunities before RMDs begin.
» Coordinating IRA withdrawals, taxable accounts, Social Security, and pensions.
» Planning around Medicare IRMAA thresholds when appropriate.
» Identifying opportunities to reduce unnecessary taxes over time.
» Coordinating with your CPA or tax professional when needed.
Investment Strategy
Your investments should support your retirement income plan, not exist in isolation.
Once you are near or in retirement, the question is no longer just how much growth you can get. It is how your portfolio can help provide income, manage risk, and stay aligned with the withdrawals you may need over time.
Depending on how we work together, investment strategy may include:
» Building a diversified investment strategy that fits your needs.
» Coordinating your investments with your retirement income plan.
» Balancing growth, income, and stability.
» Planning for market declines.
» Keeping your portfolio aligned with your broader retirement plan.
» For ongoing clients, managing and rebalancing the portfolio over time.
Risk & Survivor Planning
Retirement planning is not just about income and investments. It is also about preparing for the events that could put pressure on the plan.
That may include a major market decline, unexpected healthcare costs, long-term care needs, inflation, or the financial impact if one spouse passes first.
Risk and survivor planning may include:
» Stress-testing your plan against market declines and unexpected expenses.
» Reviewing how income would change if one spouse passes first.
» Considering healthcare and long-term care risks.
» Reviewing whether additional protection strategies may be appropriate.
» Planning for inflation and changes in spending over time.
» Helping build a plan that does not depend on everything going perfectly.
Get the Retirement Tax Guide
Taxes can affect which accounts you use first, when you claim Social Security, whether Roth conversions make sense, and how much income you recognize each year.
I put together a guide to help retirees and soon-to-be retirees understand some of the key tax planning decisions that can come up in retirement.