Retirement Planning
A clear roadmap from where you are to where you want to be, with the confidence that your money will last.
Retirement Is a Financial Transition, Not a Finish Line
Retirement planning isn't about picking a number and hoping for the best. It's about building a comprehensive income strategy that accounts for everything: Social Security timing, tax-efficient withdrawals, healthcare costs, inflation, market volatility, and the simple fact that you might live 30 years in retirement.
Michael works with clients at every stage of the retirement planning continuum, from 35-year-olds building their first investment portfolio to 62-year-olds deciding whether to retire this year or next. The approach is always personalized, always evidence-based, and always designed to give you clarity and confidence.
What Retirement Planning Covers
401(k) & IRA Rollovers
Evaluating whether to roll over employer plans to an IRA, considering investment options, fees, creditor protection, and RMD rules. We help you make the right decision, not the default one.
Social Security Optimization
Modeling when to claim, coordinating spousal benefits, and analyzing the tax implications of different claiming strategies. The difference between optimal and suboptimal claiming can be six figures over your lifetime.
Retirement Income Strategies
Building a sustainable withdrawal plan that sequences distributions from taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free accounts to minimize your lifetime tax bill while maintaining your desired standard of living.
Roth Conversion Analysis
Identifying the optimal years and amounts for Roth conversions, typically between retirement and age 73 when required minimum distributions begin. This is one of the most powerful tax planning tools available to retirees.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best time is now, regardless of your age. For younger clients, we focus on building a savings habit and taking advantage of compound growth. For those within 10-15 years of retirement, we shift to income planning, Social Security optimization, and withdrawal sequencing. The sooner you start, the more flexibility you have.
There's no universal number. It depends on your desired lifestyle, healthcare needs, Social Security income, pension benefits, and how long your money needs to last. Michael builds a personalized model based on your specific expenses, income sources, and goals, not a generic rule of thumb.
Roth conversions can be powerful, but the timing and amount matter enormously. We analyze your current and projected tax brackets, Medicare premium thresholds (IRMAA), and estate planning goals to determine if and when conversions make sense. Often the sweet spot is the years between retirement and age 73 when required distributions begin.
The decision of when to claim Social Security is one of the most consequential financial decisions you'll make. We model multiple scenarios, claiming at 62, full retirement age, and 70, and analyze the breakeven points, spousal strategies, and tax implications to find the optimal approach for your situation.
You have several options: leave it with your former employer, roll it to an IRA, or take distributions. Each option has different implications for investment flexibility, fees, creditor protection, and required minimum distributions. We help you evaluate the best path for your specific situation.
How close are you to your retirement goal?
Schedule a free discovery call and Michael will help you assess where you stand and what it will take to get where you want to be.
Schedule My Discovery Call