Header Template

Retirement Planning

We believe that it is essential for those who are retired or nearing retirement to understand the best ways to navigate the complexities of planning and saving for retirement. When you work with a financial advisor from The Retirement Income Source®, you are working with a Retirement Income Specialist who understands the best ways to help preserve your savings, so you can use it as a renewable source of income for retirement.

Retirement Financial Planning
As retirement advisors, we work closely with our clients to provide them with retirement planning advice that gives them the best chance of achieving their long-term financial goals. Our retirement planning services include strategies that can help you:

Generate steady income in retirement
Minimize your exposure to market risk
Maximize your tax savings

Although the growth-based financial strategies you used during your working years might have been effective in helping you grow your retirement savings, those same strategies could jeopardize your financial security in retirement.
That’s why some of the best retirement investment plans recommend that you should reduce your exposure to financial strategies that rely on stock market growth once you near retirement. Instead, it makes sense to work with a retirement consultant who can help you focus on income-based strategies designed to help you preserve your savings, so you can use it as a source of ongoing income. This is known as Investing for Income.
This does not mean that you cannot remain invested in the stock market once you near retirement. Certified retirement financial advisors and retirement specialists can help those with the ability to endure some level of market risk invest in high dividend-paying stocks as a way to enjoy steady income in retirement.

Retirement Income Process, Strategies, and Solutions

Create an effective retirement income plan to help maintain a client’s desired lifestyle over the course of retirement.
Identify retirement income needs and objectives and evaluate the client’s current situation relative to those goals.
Choose appropriate strategies to address income gaps.
Evaluate taxation, estate issues, and other risks to the retirement plan.
Prepare alternative solutions to mitigate plan risks.
Choose appropriate strategies for monetizing assets over the retirement period.
Integrate approaches, risks, products, and strategies to help create an effective retirement income plan.

Sources of Retirement Income

Recommend the optimal Social Security claiming age appropriate for each client’s situation.
Choose the optimal retirement age.
Choose appropriate uses of annuities.
Evaluate sources of retirement income including executive benefits, life insurance, benefits provided for federal employees and planning for business owners.
Understand the issues in building a retirement portfolio.

Managing the Retirement Income Plan

Choose a tax-compliant and tax-efficient strategy for planned withdrawals from tax-advantaged plans.
Recommend the best health insurance options for clients.
Select a method for funding long-term care needs.
Help a client with retirement housing decisions.
Consider the ethical issues in retirement income planning.
Create and manage retirement income portfolios appropriate for each client’s situation.

estate-planning
Wills, Trusts, and Estate Attorneys Effective estate planning involves much more than having a last...
social-security-maximization
Many people tend to minimize the value of Social Security, but Social Security benefits can...
tax-minimization-strategies
When it comes to growing your money over the long term, studies have shown that...
financial-planning
Making good decisions now can benefit the rest of your life, so we approach your...

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

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Name(Required)

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