We help you determine if your current actions will allow you to retire when you want, with the lifestyle you desire. In other words, are your retirement goals realistic? We help you to formalize your retirement plan, optimize your retirement savings, and provide a roadmap to serve as a guidepost going forward to improve your chances for success.   

A major concern for retirees is how to generate income once they no longer have a paycheck. We develop a plan to provide for an inflation-adjusted cash flow designed to maintain your lifestyle throughout your retirement years and, at the same time, preserve your nest egg for you and for the benefit of your beneficiaries. We determine the optimal strategy for when and how much to withdraw and where to withdraw from. 

We review your options in terms of your own retirement benefit, spousal benefit, and survivor benefit if available. When to claim your benefits and how to synergize with your spouse are critical. We will coordinate your Social Security benefit with other retirement resources, assess your cash flow requirements – now and in the future, reduce or eliminate taxes on your benefits and make sure that you make educated and well-informed choices. 

We analyze your investment portfolio to determine if it is properly structured to support your most important goals. We help you to see the big picture, understand your asset allocation, and evaluate investment risk. We will Identify opportunities to reduce investment expenses and lower taxes. Your portfolio is monitored on an ongoing basis and evaluated in terms of its success in achieving your financial goals. 

We will analyze your tax picture, including a review of your tax return and Form 1099’s with a view toward finding opportunities to reduce your tax liabilities – in the current year and in years going forward. We do not prepare tax returns, but we will coordinate with your CPA or tax professional to make sure we are all on the same wavelength.

We will ascertain that your estate plan not only provides for distribution to the ones you love but also protects your children’s and grandchildren’s legacy from divorce, death, and litigation. To the extent possible, we will reduce federal and state estate taxes and minimize estate settlement costs. We will also review beneficiary designations to determine that there are no inconsistencies. We coordinate with your attorney and CPA as necessary.

The loss of a spouse is perhaps one of the most traumatic experiences anyone will ever go through. We help you assess the financial impact and determine the actions you should take today to ensure that your loved one can maintain his/her desired lifestyle when you are gone. We want to reduce unnecessary stress and provide financial security to your spouse or significant other.

The cost of providing long-term care, whether in your own home, in assisted living facilities, or in a nursing home, can be catastrophic and can ultimately unravel even the best of retirement plans. In addition to the emotional stress, these costs can impair a family’s financial security and legacy objectives.  You need a plan. We identify your options, including the use of asset protection trusts, asset re-titling, gifting, and long-term care insurance.

We assist our clients in implementing strategies to assist in funding education costs for children and grandchildren, including the use of 529 Savings plans and the creative use of Roth IRAs as college funding vehicles. We explain to clients the impact various funding vehicles can have on need-based financial aid with the objective of optimizing eligibility for financial aid.

Optimizing the use of IRAs’ is an important part of financial planning. We take advantage of opportunities for tax-deferred growth in traditional IRAs and tax-free growth in Roth IRAs. We advise on Roth IRA conversions, deductibility of contributions, and penalties for early withdrawals. We calculate required minimum distributions and ensure that IRS requirements are met on a timely basis. Beneficiary designations are reviewed to ensure accuracy, up-to-date contact information, and conformity with current wishes.

For many people, their employer-sponsored plan is their largest investment asset. We review employer-matching features and the palette of investment choices to make sure you are taking advantage of available opportunities and coordinating with your overall plan. When you separate from service or retire, we will help you to evaluate your rollover options and help you decide which actions will work best for you.

 We help our clients to determine their life, disability, and long-term care insurance needs. We request and review policy updates, in-force ledgers, and beneficiary designations. We advise our clients on policy status, adequacy of coverage, possible modifications, policy terminations, replacement options,  and lower-cost alternatives if available and appropriate.