top of page

Retirement Planning

Retirement Planning is the section that answers the questions that most people want to know, "When can I retire and what would retirement look like financially".  I find this area of analysis to be the most beneficial part of a Comprehensive Financial Plan psychologically.   A detailed analysis can provide you with the peace of mind that comes with knowing what you are working toward, how long it will take to reach your goals, a realistic estimated retirement age and a clear picture of your estimated lifestyle in retirement.  The freedom to pursue other interests instead of fretting over your financial security is the true value-add of a Financial Plan.  A lot of anxiety can be alleviated by knowing that if you work "X" number of years earning "Y" income and stick to your savings and investment plan that you can retire at a specific age and maintain your lifestyle for the remainder of your lifetime while being protected from unexpected events.

Analysis

Projections over a long time horizon can seem very make believe and dreamlike for a lot of clients.  A longer time horizon actually makes the projections more realistic and accurate because the economic variables that we must make assumptions on are easier to predict over a longer time horizon.  It is important to be conservative in projecting future income streams and investment returns to be sure I do not overstate the client's financial position resulting in a shortfall in the later years of the plan.  Similarly, it is important to be realistic and accurate on the tracking of lifestyle expenses to make sure that actual spending is congruent to the figures used in the plan and to monitor the affects of inflation on annual spending.  Some of the key factors in this analysis include;

​

  • Expected or Desired Retirement Age​

  • Expected Income in Retirement

  • Expected Lifestyle Expenses in Retirement

  • Projected Asset Levels at Desired Retirement Age

  • Planned Asset Sales

  • Survivor Lifestyle Expenses upon death of one spouse

  • Life Expectancy

Points of Interest

  • What are your plans during retirement?

  • Identify any cash flow surpluses or deficits in retirement

  • Use the Client's Financial Management analysis to determine areas of the client's spending and saving habits to help improve the retirement outlook and time horizon

  • Determine the Tax Efficiency of the Client's Retirement Income

  • Integrate Risk Management for unforeseen medical expenses in retirement and to protect your lifestyle

    • Insurance ​

    • Medical Plans​

Setting Retirement Age

There are two primary ways to determine retirement age

  • Choose a Desired Age - you choose a target retirement age (60) and I take the assets that will be needed to fund retirement at 60, your current assets and expected savings plans to calculate the required rate of return on investments to reach your retirement age goal

  • Calculate a Target Age -  I take your current assets, savings plans, expected rates of return on investments to calculate how many years it will take you to get to your retirement savings goal to fund expenses.

Rate of Return Required

Expected Savings & Deposits

Current Assets and Liabilities

Asset Level Required to Fund Retirement

Desired
RETIREMENT AGE
Calculated

Desired Asset Level to Fund Retirement

Expected Rate of Return on Investments

Expected Savings & Deposits

Current Assets

bottom of page