Retirement Income Planning
Make your savings
pay you for life.
Saving for retirement and living off it are two very different skills. I help you make the switch with a written income plan that coordinates Social Security, guaranteed income, and smart withdrawals — so your paycheck keeps coming long after the working years end.
From nest egg to paycheck
For decades the goal was simple: accumulate. Then retirement arrives and the question flips to something far harder — how do you turn a lump sum into steady, lasting income without running out or overpaying the IRS? That shift is where good planning earns its keep.
I start by separating your essential expenses from your lifestyle ones, then build income to match: guarantees for the must-haves, flexible portfolio withdrawals for everything else. The result is a plan you can actually see — and a retirement you can actually relax into.
What your income plan covers
Social Security timing
A benefit-claiming analysis built on your numbers — so you don’t leave lifetime income on the table.
Withdrawal sequencing
A tax-smart order for tapping IRAs, Roth accounts, and taxable savings to reduce lifetime taxes.
Guaranteed income layer
Optional annuity income to cover essentials, so a market drop never threatens your grocery money.
Required distributions (RMDs)
A plan for RMDs and Roth conversions that manages your tax bracket over time.
Inflation & longevity
A strategy stress-tested for a long retirement and a rising cost of living.
Healthcare & the unexpected
A cushion for medical costs and surprises, coordinated with your Medicare decisions.
Good questions
Retirement income questions
What is a retirement income plan?
It’s a written strategy that answers one question: how will your savings pay you a reliable “paycheck” every month for the rest of your life? It maps your income sources — Social Security, pensions, annuities, and portfolio withdrawals — to your expenses, in a tax-efficient order, so you always know where your next dollar comes from.
When should I claim Social Security?
It depends on your health, your other income, your marital situation, and your tax picture. Claiming early locks in a smaller benefit for life; waiting can increase it substantially. I run the numbers for your specific situation so the decision is based on math, not a rule of thumb.
How much can I safely withdraw each year?
The old “4% rule” is a starting point, not an answer. Your safe withdrawal rate depends on your mix of guaranteed vs. invested income, your time horizon, and market conditions when you retire. A real plan adjusts the number to you — and revisits it as things change.
What is sequence-of-returns risk?
It’s the danger of a market downturn early in retirement while you’re withdrawing money. Selling investments in a down market to fund living expenses can permanently shrink your portfolio. We manage this by covering essentials with guaranteed income and holding a buffer, so you’re not forced to sell low.
Will your money last?
Let’s build you a written income plan.
In one complimentary meeting we’ll sketch where your retirement income will come from — and spot the gaps before they become problems.