Case Studies
Where are you on the journey?
Pre-Retirement
Making the Most of the Final Decade
Portfolio:
$2.2 Million
Where They Started:
David (55) and Karen (54) came to us with a straightforward goal: make the next decade count. They had a high household income and a healthy portfolio, but a growing concern: Are we actually on track, and if so, are we being as efficient as possible getting there?
When we mapped out their full financial picture, the good news was clear – they were ahead of where most people are at 55. But there was opportunity being left on the table. Their investment mix carried more risk than necessary for this stage of life. Seventy-five percent of their savings was being held in pre-tax accounts. And they didn’t have clarity on when, or how, they could confidently retire.
We started by realigning their portfolio, adjusting allocations to better match their goals and their timeline. From there, we focused on addressing their tax exposure. We created a multi-year tax strategy focused on tax efficient asset location and early retirement Roth conversions which would help to transition their current pre-tax investments into a tax efficient system. They now knew, step-by-step, what actions to take over the next 10 years, and had a plan to implement once retirement started.
Finally, we stress-tested their plan across multiple scenarios: market volatility, inflation, longevity, and different retirement timelines. For the first time they were able to see, in real numbers, what their retirement could look like and when it could start.
David and Karen didn’t just leave with a plan – they left with actionable steps to take to maximize the next 10 years and beyond.
- Key Strategies
- Retirement Readiness Planning
- Portfolio Rebalancing
- Roth Conversion Strategy
- Tax Planning
- Retirement Income Projections
- Scenario Planning
Retiring Soon
From “Can We Retire?” to “How Do We Want to Retire?”
Portfolio:
$2.8 Million
Where They Started:
Financially ready, emotionally uncertain
When Frank (62) and Marianne (61) first came to us, they were already in a strong financial position, but still asking themselves: Can we retire? They wanted a clearer understanding of how their savings would translate into the retirement they envisioned.
We started with their goals: what they wanted their retirement to look like, the experiences they valued most, and what that lifestyle would realistically cost. From there, we laid out their full picture. With key decisions approaching, around Social Security and Frank’s pension, they needed an income strategy that brought everything together. We developed clear spending assumptions, defined their true income needs, and built a tax-efficient plan to turn their savings into sustainable income.
Then came the scenario planning. We stress-tested their plan across a range of outcomes: retiring in a down market, different Social Security filing strategies, pension elections (lump sum vs. annuity), unexpected expenses, and even the possibility of supporting their children. For the first time, they could clearly see how their retirement would hold up under different conditions, and how their decisions today would shape that future.
From there we focused on implementation, turning the plan into action. We aligned their investment strategy with their withdrawal needs, ensuring their assets were positioned for both short-term income and long-term growth. We mapped out when each income source would start, how withdrawals would adjust over time, and how taxes would be managed year by year. They now had a framework they could follow that adapted as their life evolved.
The question shifted from “Can we retire?” to “How do we want to retire?” With a structured income plan and the confidence to execute it, Frank and Marianne left our meetings excited about their future – not anxious about when they were allowed to start it.
- Key Strategies
- Retirement Readiness Planning
- Social Security Strategy
- Scenario Planning
- Pension Decision Analysis
- Tax-Efficient Withdrawal Strategy
Already Retired
When “What If” Becomes the Most Important Question
Portfolio:
$4.3 Million
Where They Started:
Simplifying Retirement & Survivor Planning
Carol (73) and Jim (75) had been retired for about 10 years when they first came to us. On the surface, everything looked fine, they had a comfortable income and a life they were genuinely enjoying. But underneath, their financial picture felt scattered. There was no unifying strategy, and they weren’t sure if everything was working together towards a clear goal.
A recent health scare for Jim brought that uncertainty into focus: They didn’t just want to simplify, they needed to.
Their portfolio wasn’t bad; it just had simply never been managed as a whole. We consolidated and restructured their investments into a cohesive, low-cost strategy aligned with their income needs, risk tolerance, and timeline. From there, we built them a tax-efficient income plan, coordinating Social Security, Jim’s small pension, and portfolio withdrawals so each piece worked together.
But the health scare raised a difficult question: what happens to Carol if Jim passes away first? By walking through various scenarios step by step, Carol gained a clear understanding of what her financial picture would look like, and what steps to take if that transition occurred.
With clarity around their portfolio and income plan, we turned our focus to legacy planning. The steps they were taking to strengthen their own financial future also created an opportunity to better prepare the next generation. We introduced their children to our Retirement Sustainability Assessment – available to all children and heirs of our clients – which helped them understand their own financial trajectory and opened the door for more meaningful conversations around inheritance and planning.
What began as a desire to simplify became a comprehensive planning engagement. Carol and Jim didn’t just organize their finances, they built a plan that addressed the hard questions, protected each other, and created a stronger path forward for their family.
- Key Strategies
- Survivor Income Planning
- Social Security Optimization
- Beneficiary Review
- Legacy Planning
- Tax Planning
- Retirement Sustainability Assessment
- Portfolio Consolidation
- Pension