Susan and Tom, a couple who epitomize the phrase “work hard, play hard.”
Susan’s 59 and has spent decades in education, shaping the minds of future generations. Tom’s 61 and nearing the end of a successful career in sales. Together they’ve built a life they’re proud of, complete with a beautiful home, a passion for exploring the world, engaging hobbies, and a handful of the materialistic things that many also enjoy.
As they approached the retirement redzone (60+), Susan and Tom were thirsty for confidence and answers. They wanted to make sure all the pieces of their financial puzzle were in place before taking the leap, so they reached out to us with a simple but important question:
“Guys, are we ready?”
The Weight of Uncertainty
Susan and Tom did a lot right—they saved diligently, lived within their means, and kept their retirement dreams in focus. But with retirement on the horizon, they wanted more than guesswork.
Tom shared his concerns during our first meeting:
“I don’t want to make any mistakes that would force me to work longer. We’ve worked hard to save, but we don’t know if it’s enough, or how we’ll turn it into income?”
Susan added:
“The bottom line is that we want to make sure we’re making the best choices—especially with taxes and our Social Security decisions. This is obviously all new territory for us.”
Building Confidence Before Retirement
It was clear that Susan and Tom wanted guidance and a financial plan. After on boarding them as new Know My Plan clients, together we developed a roadmap that provided the clarity they needed to proceed into retirement with confidence.
Here’s a summary of our focus:
- Defining Their Timeline: We analyzed their savings, expenses, and goals to determine exactly when they could retire comfortably and securely.
- An Income Strategy: We helped craft a plan to turn their savings into steady, reliable income by blending Social Security, retirement accounts, and other investments.
- Tax Optimization: We implemented strategies to reduce their tax burden and maximize their income throughout retirement.
- Goals to Maintain Their Lifestyle: Whether it was traveling, spending time with family, or simply enjoying their home, we made sure their plan prioritized what mattered most to them.
Flourishing in Retirement
Today, Susan and Tom are on track to retire within the next year, and they know exactly what their financial future looks like:
- Confidence: They know they’ll be able to retire without worrying about running out of money.
- Clarity: Soon they’ll begin drawing retirement income from their accounts and they know exactly where it will be coming from
- Efficiency: They know that their tax situation is optimized and managed efficiently, leaving the most for them to enjoy life.
As Susan recently shared:
“I can’t tell you how good it feels to know this is taken care of, the right way. I wish we’d started this conversation years ago—it’s made all the difference.”
Are You Asking the Same Questions?
If you’re approaching retirement and want to ensure you’re on the right track, let’s talk. Whether you’re unsure when to retire, how to create income, or how to invest today, we’d love to help.
Schedule a quick call today or forward this email to someone you know who’s starting to think about retirement. Together, we’ll build a plan that works for you.
We work with high-achieving professionals and are currently taking on great new clients.
Cheers,
Nic
This is a hypothetical situation based on real life examples. Names and circumstances have been changed. The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific individualized investment, tax or legal advice for any individual. We suggest that you discuss your specific situation with a qualified, legal advisor and financial advisor.
