Names: Dan & Laura
Ages: 67 & 62
Primary Goal
Dan and Laura recently retired from rewarding careers and have lots of plans for their future. They want to ensure that their retirement plan not only enables the lifestyle they have envisioned in retirement but that they have a plan to make sure they never run out of money. Reducing taxes, improving investments, and creating a reliable income stream in retirement was their priority.
The Challenge
Dan devoted 35 years to his company before deciding it was time to move into the next phase of life. With his children grown, he and his wife Laura were looking forward to traveling, golfing, and giving back to their community. His retirement package included a 401(k), stock options, and a pension. He was hoping to put these assets to work so he and Laura could enjoy a comfortable future filled with all the things they dreamed of doing. Dan’s ultimate goal was to make sure that their money would outlive them while facilitating the comfortable lifestyle they envisioned.
The Approach
It was important to help make Dan and Laura’s retirement planning process easy, enjoyable, and stress-free. To avoid any major surprises, the first step was to identify any potential tax challenges they may soon face. Working together with Dan and Laura’s CPA, the planning process involved:
- Compiling all the information Dan needed from his company’s benefits administrator
- Summarizing all the options available to them along with any corresponding tax ramifications
- Establishing new investment/retirement accounts
- Strategizing a withdrawal plan to provide them with a reliable income stream
The Results
Being able to see and understand all their options removed a lot of worries. They were able to move forward with their plans, confident in knowing that they would be well looked after. The solutions adopted by Dan and Laura helped them in many ways:
- They were able to reduce taxes now and, in the future
- Dan & Laura’s retirement income was protected
- They had the advantage of a predictable stream of income that they would not outlive
Today, Dan and Laura are having the time of their lives. They travel between their home in the Michigan and their beach house in Florida, visit new golf courses, and spend time with their grandchildren every chance they get. They have the confidence of knowing their financial plan is sustainable and that he and Laura can relax and enjoy life on their terms. Dan and Laura’s retirement plan is reviewed regularly. Most importantly, new tax laws are being monitored each year to ensure they are taking advantage of any opportunities available to them.
