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Retirement Income Strategy

A clear, tax‑smart roadmap for replacing your paycheck with dependable income across seasons, markets, and life changes.

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Retirement Readiness Check (10-minutes)

What is a Retirement Income Strategy?

  • Buckets & guardrails that define how paychecks are created and when they change.
  • Tax smart sequencing across taxable, pre tax, and Roth accounts.
  • Social Security & pension timing integrated with portfolio longevity and survivor benefits.
  • RMDs & IRMAA planning so surprises don’t wreck the plan.
  • Business owner realities: seasonal cash needs, salary vs. distributions, and exit runway planning.

*Plain-English version

  • How to turn savings into a steady monthly paycheck.
  • Which account to tap first (taxable, pre-tax, or Roth) so taxes stay lower over time.
  • When to start Social Security—and why that timing matters.
  • How much cash to keep on hand and when to refill it.
  • What to do if markets drop or spending changes (simple guardrails).
  • How RMDs and Medicare brackets can affect your plan—and how to avoid surprises.
  • For business owners: how salary vs. draws and a future sale fit into your income.

Outcomes You Can Expect

  • A written Retirement Income Map aligned to lifestyle spending, seasonality, and taxes.
  • Guardrails for how much you can safely spend—and when to adjust.
  • A one page Withdrawal Policy Statement (WPS)—the rulebook for paychecks, refills, and adjustments.
  • Coordinated timing for Social Security, pensions, RMDs, and Roth conversions.
  • Asset location that lowers lifetime taxes (taxable vs. pre tax vs. Roth).
  • Simple checklists for any actions that involve your CPA or attorney.

How this works (in plain English)

Buckets & Guardrails

  • Liquidity Bucket (1–3 years): Cash/short‑term reserves for spending, tax payments, and business seasonality.
  • Stability Bucket (3–7 years): Income‑oriented, lower‑volatility assets to refill Liquidity.
  • Growth Bucket (7+ years): Long‑term investments for inflation and legacy.
  • Guardrails: Pre‑set thresholds (e.g., 20% portfolio movement or spending variance) that trigger an upshift/downshift in withdrawals—documented in your WPS.

Tax Smart Sequencing

  • Coordinate order of withdrawals (taxable → pre‑tax → Roth, or the reverse when conversions make sense).
  • Use filling low brackets and IRMAA thresholds to time Roth conversions pre‑RMD.
  • Align Social Security start age with portfolio longevity, survivor benefits, and risk capacity.

What Can You DO?

  • Social Security optimization (claiming windows, survivor benefits, breakeven analysis).
  • RMD strategy: pre‑RMD conversions, QCDs at 70½, and tax bracket management.
  • Healthcare gap: pre‑65 coverage/ACA planning around MAGI.
  • Sequence of returns protection: cash flow buffer + dynamic spending rules.

What You Get (Deliverables)

  • Retirement Income Map (12‑month cash flow + 10‑year projection).
  • Withdrawal Policy Statement (WPS) – see example below.
  • Tax Location & Sequencing Plan (account‑by‑account).
  • Social Security & RMD Timeline (with IRMAA guardrails).
  • Action Checklist for coordination with CPA/attorney.
Sample Withdrawal Policy Statement (WPS)

Mini Case Studies

Owner: HVAC firm, age 52
Retiree Couple, ages 63/60

Faqs

What withdrawal rate is “safe”?

It depends on your mix, taxes, and flexibility. We set a custom rate with guardrails instead of a fixed rule.

Only if cash‑flow, health, or survivor math points that way—otherwise delays can enhance lifetime income.

Sometimes as a “floor” for non‑negotiable expenses. We evaluate costs, riders, and fit within your plan.

Quarterly reviews plus an annual reset—or sooner if a guardrail trips.

Yes. We coordinate strategy and paperwork.

Ready for a paycheck you can trust?

Build my income plan

With whom would you like to schedule?

Sean Williams

PRINCIPAL AND LEAD ADVISOR

Nick O’Kelly

DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL PLANNING AND LEAD ADVISOR