Retirement Planning
Build a clear, confident roadmap toward the retirement you envision
Comprehensive Retirement Planning Process
A Personalized Strategy Built Around Your Life, Goals, and Timeline
Retirement planning is more than calculating a number — it’s about understanding the lifestyle you want and designing a path that gets you there. Our process begins with a deep look at your financial picture, from savings and investments to pensions, stock plans, and employer benefits. We help articulate what retirement means for you, then align your resources to support that vision. Every plan is customized, flexible, and grounded in long-term clarity. With the right structure, retirement becomes not just achievable, but purposeful and well-supported.
Retirement Goal Setting & Budgeting
Defining the Lifestyle You Want and the Income It Requires
A successful retirement plan begins with understanding how you want to spend your years after work. Together, we outline essential and discretionary expenses, account for major goals like travel or a second home, and identify long-term financial responsibilities. Longevity and inflation are included to ensure projections are realistic and durable. We also build a detailed retirement budget and stress-test it against different market environments so you can see how your plan performs in various scenarios. This clarity helps you make confident decisions before the transition begins.
Income Projection & Savings Targets
Calculating What You’ll Need for a Secure and Sustainable Retirement
Determining how much you need to retire starts with a full review of income sources — Social Security, pensions, investments, and other assets. Through Capital Needs Analysis, we project income versus expenses and identify any gaps that need to be filled. From there, we calculate a target nest egg and define the savings rate required to reach it. This analysis ensures you know exactly where you stand and what steps will help close the distance.
To support clarity and long-term planning, we review:
- Projected income streams: Including Social Security and employer benefits.
- Expected living expenses: Driven by your lifestyle and retirement goals.
- Retirement savings requirements: Aligning contributions with future needs.
- Gap analysis: Highlighting any adjustments needed to stay on track.
Building the Retirement Roadmap
A Step-by-Step Guide to the Milestones Leading to Retirement
Once your goals and projections are established, we translate them into a clear, actionable retirement roadmap. This includes defining milestones such as paying off your home, analyzing Social Security timing, enrolling in Medicare, and reviewing employer retirement benefits. Your roadmap outlines what to do each year or age marker, giving you structure and predictability on the path ahead. Investment adjustments and risk management strategies are incorporated directly into the plan so your portfolio evolves with your needs. With this roadmap, the transition into retirement becomes a guided, confident experience rather than an uncertain leap.
Common Questions About Retirement Planning
Your Retirement Transition Questions, Answered
How do I plan for retirement effectively?
Effective retirement planning starts with understanding your lifestyle goals, time horizon, and financial resources. By projecting income, expenses, and savings needs, you gain a clear picture of what your retirement will require. A structured plan helps align investments, taxes, and insurance with your long-term vision. With consistent review and guidance, the process becomes manageable and empowering.
What does a retirement planner do for me?
A retirement planner helps clarify your goals, evaluate your resources, and build a customized roadmap for your retirement years. They analyze income sources, investment strategies, tax considerations, and risk management needs. Planners also help optimize pensions, Social Security, and withdrawal strategies. The result is a coordinated, long-term plan designed to support stability and confidence.
How much do I need to retire at 65?
The amount required depends on your lifestyle, expenses, healthcare needs, and income sources. Through detailed projections and Capital Needs Analysis, we determine how much your retirement savings must generate to support your desired lifestyle. Inflation and longevity are factored in to ensure your plan is sustainable over multiple decades. This analysis provides a clear savings target and the action steps needed to get there.
Do I need to adjust my investments as I approach retirement?
Yes — adjustments help balance the need for growth with the importance of protecting what you’ve built. As retirement gets closer, shifting toward more stable, income-producing investments can reduce volatility and support smoother withdrawals. The transition is typically gradual to avoid drastic changes that disrupt long-term strategy. We guide you on when and how to rebalance as part of your retirement roadmap.
How do I plan my withdrawal strategy before retirement?
Planning ahead for withdrawals helps prevent surprises and ensures tax efficiency once retirement begins. We evaluate taxable, tax-deferred, and Roth accounts to determine the best sequencing of withdrawals. This strategy supports stable income, minimizes taxes, and helps preserve your portfolio. By preparing early, you can enter retirement with a clear, confident distribution plan.
