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Featured Retirement Income Specialists

Planning and saving for retirement has changed dramatically over the past few decades. You used to be able to work for a company for 20-30 years and enjoy reliable pension income throughout retirement. Now, many of today’s aspiring retirees must take it upon themselves to help ensure they’ll have the income they need to enjoy a more comfortable retirement.

At the Retirement Income Store, we believe that a retirement plan focused on generating income in the form of consistent interest and dividend payments can be a viable way for hard-working Americans to help enjoy “pension-like” peace of mind during retirement.

A good first step is to sit down and visualize exactly what it is you want to do during retirement. Do you plan on traveling, playing golf, or going out to eat frequently? Try to be as specific as you can with your goals and once you’ve identified your goals, you can begin to ponder questions like: “How much do I need to save for retirement?

However, before you start contemplating your retirement budget, we suggest taking a moment to make sure the financial advisor you are working with is best qualified to help you make the transition into living in retirement.

You see, an advisor focused on growth-based investments can be suitable during your working years, since you still have time for the stock market to bounce back if it experiences a major correction. Unfortunately, as we near retirement, we no longer have that luxury. So, it makes sense to gradually reduce our exposure to investments that can experience dramatic drops in value.

Instead, we believe that those nearing retirement should shift to focusing on income-generating investments designed to help preserve your principal and help provide steady interest and dividend payments you can count on well into retirement. That’s why we think a critical component of living a less stressful retirement is working with a financial advisor knowledgeable about the best ways to make the shift to investing for income. 

With that said, here’s our list of Featured Retirement Income Specialists: 

Tim Sparks – Financial Advisor, Sparks Financial Group, A Retirement Income Store®, Lexington, Kentucky

Everyone’s goals for retirement are different, and once you enter retirement, your goals and dreams can change. That’s why, as a fiduciary, Tim Sparks takes the time to get to know every client before creating a personalized financial plan for them. It’s also why he conducts regular client reviews to help ensure that a client’s financial plan reflects their evolving goals and priorities.

You might be wondering: “What is a fiduciary?” It’s a person who acts on behalf of another and is legally and ethically bound to act in the other person’s best interests. Dedicated to helping pre-retirees and retirees protect and grow their assets ahead of retirement, Tim specializes in helping clients establish steady streams of income for retirement. Tim and Sparks Financial Group stand ready to help those in the Lexington, Kentucky area achieve the retirement they truly deserve.

Eric Lardner – Financial Advisor, Founder & President, Abundant Wealth Management, A Retirement Income Store, Dallas, Texas

Eric Lardner is the Founder and President of Abundant Wealth Management (AWM). Eric has nearly 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, providing financial market analysis, financial planning, and retirement advice to those in the Dallas area. Eric’s firm provides comprehensive financial planning services including investment management, fixed income investments, insurance, and estate planning.

A big proponent of financial literacy and financial education, Eric has written pieces for international publications on some of the unique ways to help protect and distribute wealth as a legacy. Eric founded AWM to focus on helping clients maximize income when retired—through steady interest and dividend payments they can count on. Dedicated to the core principals of trust and integrity, AWM works to help maximize clients’ retirement income while always keeping the needs and best interests of their clients first and foremost.

Eric is a Series 65-licensed Investment Advisor Representative and fiduciary.

James Lineweaver CFP®, AIF® – Financial Advisor, Founder, Lineweaver Financial Group, A Retirement Income Store, Valley View, Ohio

James S. Lineweaver is the Founder and CEO of Lineweaver Financial Group, a Northeastern Ohio independent financial advisory firm—providing sound financial strategies and solutions since 1993. Jim is also the Founder of the Lineweaver WealthWATCH Center, a comprehensive resource center that brings independent financial, tax, legal, and insurance professionals together under one roof.

During nearly three decades known as Ohio’s “Financial Quarterback”, Jim has found that too many people have lost opportunities because of a lack of coordination between their lawyer, accountant, insurance agent, and financial advisor. That’s why he wrote the book, Your Retirement Playbook—to help every Ohio public employee avoid leaving money on the table when it comes to the benefits they’ve earned and deserve.

As a financial advisor and former Ohio law enforcement officer, Jim knows that some of the most important issues related to your pension and retirement benefits can be complex and difficult to understand. That’s why he included numerous real-life examples and practical tips to make the book informative and easy to understand.

Although Your Retirement Playbook emphasizes public employees in Ohio, government employees across the country will discover solid financial advice about supplemental retirement benefits and options available through 403(b)s, 457(b)s, traditional IRAs, and Roth IRAs.

Lindsey Cotter and Nathan Cox – Financial Advisors & Co-Founders, Retirement Income Solutions, LLC, A Retirement Income Store, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Lindsey Cotter is the Chief Executive Officer and Nathan Cox is the Chief Financial Officer of Retirement Income Solutions, LLC, an independent practice built on trust, reliability, and experience through a variety of market conditions. Lindsey and Nathan have more than three decades of combined experience helping clients achieve their retirement goals. Using time-tested, income-generating investment strategies, they help clients establish renewable streams of income for retirement while helping minimize risks to their retirement savings.

In addition to providing their clients with superior customer service, Retirement Income Solutions, LLC aims to provide clients with financial peace of mind by helping them invest for income. Using strategies to help reduce their exposure to risk, Lindsey and Nathan can help you maximize the amount of income your investments generate for retirement.

Lindsey and Nathan are also the co-hosts of the Retirement Income Solutions Radio Show, airing every Saturday and Sunday on WGNS News Radio (FM 100.5 & 101.9), and on WGOW Talk Radio (102.3 FM & 1150 AM). 

Jeffrey Small – Financial Advisor, President, ARBOR Financial Services, Inc., A Retirement Income Store, Melbourne, Florida

Jeffrey Small is the President of ARBOR Financial Services. ARBOR stands for Assisting Retirees Beyond Ordinary Results. Not only is ARBOR an appropriate acronym for Jeff Small’s firm, but it is also a philosophy based on Jeff’s years of industry and market experience. In addition to being the national Brand Ambassador for The Retirement Income Store, Jeff is an Amazon Bestselling Author and co-host of the TV show The Income Generation with David Scranton.

A long-time Florida resident with nearly 35 years of experience, Jeff’s book, Turning Financial Planning Right-Side Up, reached #1 on Amazon’s List of Hot New Releases. It reveals how many growth-based financial advisors that focus exclusively on stock market-based investments can steer investors nearing retirement into poor decisions. Instead, the book prescribes proven alternatives that can help investors prepare for retirement in a manner that places them on a path to reach and exceed their financial goals.

Dedicated to helping clients reap the rewards of a well-planned retirement, Jeff has appeared on CNBC, Fox News, and Bloomberg to share insights gained through decades of being a fixed-income investor. A proponent of financial literacy, Jeff has hosted hundreds of public seminars on topics such as the importance of financial defense and financial strategies that can help generate reliable and consistent income for retirees.

Jeff is a licensed Insurance Agent with the Florida Department of Financial Services and is an Investment Advisor Representative. Both he and ARBOR Financial Services of Florida are members in good standing with the Central Florida Better Business Bureau and the National Ethics Association.

Connect with an advisor in your area to find out if your retirement is on track.

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Within Ten Years of Retirement

Risk Management:
How prepared is your portfolio for a market downturn?

I haven’t thought about what a big market drop would do to my savings.

I know a downturn would hurt, but I’d probably recover over time.

I’ve already adjusted my investments, so a downturn won’t derail me.

Optimization of Income:
How clearly do you know the income you’ll need in retirement?

I’m not sure what I’ll need or where it will come from.

I have a ballpark number, but no detailed plan.

I’ve calculated my income needs and know exactly how I’ll fund it.

Unexpected Expenses:
If something happened to you tomorrow, how prepared would your dependents be?

They’d be financially lost without me.

They’d manage for a little while, but eventually struggle.

They’d be more financially secure because I’ve planned ahead.

Tax Efficiency:
How well do you understand the taxes you’ll pay on retirement accounts?

I have no clue how retirement withdrawals are taxed.

I know the basics, but I’m not sure how it affects me.

I fully understand and have strategies in place to help minimize taxes.

Estate Planning:
How prepared are you with wills, directives, and estate plans?

I don’t have anything written down.

I’ve started, but my plan is incomplete or outdated.

I have a complete and current estate plan in place.

"*" indicates required fields

Risk Management: How prepared is your portfolio fora market downturn?
Optimization of Income: How clearly do you know the income you’ll need in retirement?
Unexpected Expenses: If something happened to you tomorrow, how prepared would your dependents be?
Tax Efficiency: How well do you understand the taxes you’ll pay on retirement accounts?
Estate Planning: How prepared are you with wills, directives, and estate plans?
Thank you for taking our risk assessment quiz! Please fill out this form, so we can help tailor a more risk-free retirement plan suited for your needs.

At Retirement Age

Risk Management:
How would a market swing affect your lifestyle right now?

It could force me to delay or change my plans.

I might need to tighten my budget for a while.

It wouldn’t change my retirement lifestyle.

Optimization of Income:
How certain are you about your retirement income sources?

I don’t really know where the money will consistently come from.

I know the main sources, but I haven’t planned how to use them.

I’ve mapped out all income streams and how they work together.

Unexpected Expenses:
How prepared are you for long-term care costs?

I haven’t planned for them.

I’ve thought about them, but I haven’t secured coverage.

I have protection and funding strategies in place.

Tax Efficiency:
How well do you understand taxes on your withdrawals and RMDs?

I don’t understand them at all.

I have a general idea, but not a detailed strategy.

I fully understand and have a tax-efficient plan.

Estate Planning:
How prepared is your estate plan?

I don’t have one.

I’ve started, but it’s incomplete.

I have a complete, updated plan in place.

"*" indicates required fields

Risk Management: How would a market swing affect your lifestyle right now?
Optimization of Income: How certain are you about your retirement income sources?
Unexpected Expenses: How prepared areyou for long-term care costs?
Tax Efficiency: How well do you understand taxes on your withdrawals and RMDs?
Estate Planning: How prepared is your estate plan?
Thank you for taking our risk assessment quiz! Please fill out this form, so we can help tailor a more risk-free retirement plan suited for your needs.

ALREADY RETIRED

Risk Management:
How do you feel about market volatility?

It makes me anxious that I’ll run out of money.

It worries me sometimes, but not always.

I feel secure no matter what the market does

Optimization of Income:
How secure do you feel about sustaining your income?

I’m worried I’ll outlive my money.

I think I’ll be okay, but I’m not fully certain.

I’m confident my income will last.

Unexpected Expenses:
If you faced a major medical expense today, what would happen?

It would devastate my finances.

It would hurt, but I could manage.

I’d be covered without stress.

Tax Efficiency:
How prepared are you for taxes on withdrawals, RMDs, and Medicare penalties?

I haven’t planned for them at all.

I know about them, but I don’t have a strategy.

I’ve implemented tax strategies to help reduce their impact.

Estate Planning:
How updated is your estate plan?

I don’t have one.

It exists, but it needs updates.

It’s current and clearly protectsmy wishes.

"*" indicates required fields

Risk Management: How do you feel about market volatility?
Optimization of Income: How secure do you feel about sustaining your income?
Unexpected Expenses: If you faced a major medical expense today, what would happen?
Tax Efficiency: How prepared are you for taxes on withdrawals, RMDs, and Medicare penalties?
Estate Planning: How updated is your estate plan?
Thank you for taking our risk assessment quiz! Please fill out this form, so we can help tailor a more risk-free retirement plan suited for your needs.

Retirement Readiness Self-Assessment Survey

____ RISK MANAGEMENT

My retirement accounts have been stress-tested for various market conditions.

My investments are safeguardedagainst market crashes.

Fear won’t stop me from enjoying retirement when the market drops.

My current investments match my risk tolerance.

____ OPTIMIZATION OF INCOME

I know how much income I need to support my retirement goals.

I know how much I can spend without touching my principal.

I have calculated inflation into my need for retirement income.

I don’t fear running out of money because I have a solid income plan.

____UNEXPECTED EXPENSES

If I were not here tomorrow,my dependents would be fine financially.

I’m prepared for the cost of future medical events.

I can handle long-term care expenses without running out of money.

My current investment strategy will keep up with rising medical costs.

____ TAX EFFICIENCY

I understand how retirement accounts are taxed,and I’m paying the minimum.

I have a plan to help minimize taxes on RMDs from my 401(k)s and IRAs.

I have implemented a conversion strategy to help maximize my tax savings.

I have a plan in place to help minimize IRMAA penalties.

____ ESTATE PLANNING

My estate plan establishes proper distribution of my assets.

My estate will not have to payprobate fees.

I have POAs for healthcare, medical,and a living directive.

I’m protected from anyone contesting my last wishes.

"*" indicates required fields

____ RISK MANAGEMENT
_____ OPTIMIZATION OF INCOME
_____ UNEXPECTED EXPENSES
_____ TAX EFFICIENCY
____ ESTATE PLANNING