Sometimes the math is the easy part.
In this episode, Ari responds to a voicemail from a listener who, on paper, looks like a retirement planning success story. Strong income, a meaningful pension, a well-funded portfolio, and a clear sense of how much they want to spend. The numbers point in the right direction before anyone has done the math.
But the more interesting questions are never the obvious ones.
Ari starts where he always does, not with the account balance, but with the spending goal. Using what he calls the reverse engineering approach, he works backward from how much someone wants each month, subtracts the fixed income that will arrive regardless of portfolio performance, and identifies what the investments actually need to produce. For someone with a pension and eventual Social Security, that gap is often far smaller than expected.
From there, the planning gets more nuanced. A large pre-tax balance that keeps compounding while fixed income covers most expenses will eventually create a forced distribution problem. The question of whether to do Roth conversions, and when, depends on the tax window between retirement and Social Security, whether a spouse is still earning income, and what spending actually looks like across a full retirement rather than just in year one.
The retirement smile adds another layer. Spending tends to be higher early when health and energy are strongest, lower in the middle years, and higher again near the end. A plan that treats every year identically misses something important about how retirement actually feels to live.
The goal is not to be told what to do. It is to understand the plan well enough to own it, question it, and trust it when life does not go exactly as modeled.
A good plan explains itself. A great plan builds the confidence to actually follow it.
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Advisory services are offered through Root Financial Partners, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. This content is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Viewing this content does not create an advisory relationship. We do not provide tax preparation or legal services. Always consult an investment, tax or legal professional regarding your specific situation.
The strategies, case studies, and examples discussed may not be suitable for everyone. They are hypothetical and for illustrative and educational purposes only. They do not reflect actual client results and are not guarantees of future performance. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal.
Comments reflect the views of individual users and do not necessarily represent the views of Root Financial. They are not verified, may not be accurate, and should not be considered testimonials or endorsements
Participation in the Retirement Planning Academy or Early Retirement Academy does not create an advisory relationship with Root Financial. These programs are educational in nature and are not a substitute for personalized financial advice. Advisory services are offered only under a written agreement with Root Financial.
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Ari Taublieb, CFP ®, MBA is the Chief Growth Officer of Root Financial Partners and a Fiduciary Financial Planner specializing in helping clients retire early with confidence.
