Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to our most commonly asked questions.

Do you help with estate planning?

We don't draft estate planning documents ourselves, but we work closely with a vetted estate planning attorney and can coordinate that piece of your plan alongside your financial strategy. 

Do you help with detailed tax, RMD, and Roth conversion calculations?

Yes, we build RMD timing and Roth conversion strategy directly into your financial plan. For complex tax preparation or filing, we refer clients to a qualified CPA firm.

Do you help with Medicare?

Medicare decisions are a big part of retiring at or before 65. We refer clients to a vetted Medicare specialist to navigate enrollment and coverage options, and we factor that cost into your retirement income plan. 

When should I consider a Roth conversion, and what are the benefits?

Many consider Roth conversions as they get close to retiring. There are many pros and cons to the strategy of Roth conversion, with various trade-offs. An excellent way to evaluate it is to complete a comprehensive financial plan, and to model the impact to your own situation.

Why should you consolidate your IRA's, 401k and spouse assests?

Individuals or couples should only be receiving one set of advice for comprehensive financial planning and investment advice in retirement. It is advisable to work with one financial planning & investment advisory professional that you can trust to be open, transparent and to act in your best interest.

How much retirement income can I take from my IRA's and 401k?

This is dependent on the asset allocation, and rates of return on the retirement assets. To have the opportunity for accounts to grow, returns need to offset the effect of taxes, inflation and withdrawals.  Every client is unique, and an excellent way to evaluate it is to complete a comprehensive financial plan, that enables you to test a variety of withdrawal percentages.

What can I do to understand if I will be ok in 5, 10, 20, 30 years in retirement?

Our best advice is to complete a comprehensive financial plan.  It is our best tool to comprehensively look at how your expenses, investments, volatility react to longevity and gradual inflation over a 30-year retirement period. Simply put, planning provides with a solid way to evaluate whether you are ok or not.

How can I reduce market volatility, while investing to grow my portfolio and income?

You can reduce short-term volatility by reducing your historical long-term return potential. Generally, it is a trade-off not advised for long-term investing. It is better to educate yourself and understand what normal market volatility is in a diversified portfolio and what you should come to expect.  Once educated you can see how it impacts your long-term financial plan.

Should I get a second opinion; How do I know if I am getting the right investment advice as I approach retirement?

Yes you should. Investing for long-term retirement income is very different and more complex than investing for accumulation. One excellent way to know if you are getting appropriate advice is if you are with an advisor that stresses comprehensive financial planning as part of the front-end process. One other item to highlight is to be cautious of illiquid investment recommendations – investments that charge the investor substantial fees to liquidate early, would be another reason to seek a second opinion.

How can my retirement income keep up with the rising costs of everything?

Maintaining purchasing power over a 20-30 year retirement is key. Consider investing in asset classes that have a long-term history of growing faster than the consumer price index, otherwise known as inflation, but keep in mind that past performance is no gurantee of future results. We educate extensively about this during our comprehensive financial planning process, and ongoing with clients on annual reviews.