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For retirees & pre-retirees
You spent a career building it. Now it has to pay you.
We help people within about ten years of retirement, or already there, turn old 401(k)s, IRAs and savings into dependable income, without giving up more control than they need to.
Sound familiar?
What we hear in first conversations
"My 401(k) is still at the company I left in 2019. I'm not sure if that's a problem."
"I don't want my income to depend on what the market does the year I retire."
"I know how to save. I don't know how to turn savings into a paycheck."
"I'd like to leave something to my kids, not just spend it all down."
Representative questions, paraphrased. Not client testimonials.
Old 401(k)
Four options for a 401(k) you left behind
None is right for everyone. A good comparison includes leaving it exactly where it is.
Leave it in the old plan
Can make sense when fees are low and the fund menu is strong. You keep ERISA creditor protection and the age-55 rule.
Move it to a new employer's plan
One account to watch. Only an improvement if the new plan's fees and funds are better.
Roll it to an IRA
Widest choice and direct control. You may give up the age-55 penalty exception and some creditor protection.
Convert some to a Roth
Tax now for tax-free growth and no lifetime RMDs. Watch Social Security taxation and IRMAA two years out.
What we do
Four ways we help
Retirement income planning
We map Social Security, pensions and savings against your essential and discretionary expenses to find any gap, year by year.
401(k) and IRA rollover review
A written comparison of what you pay and hold today against your other options, with all fees in dollars, including staying put.
Guaranteed income options
How fixed and income annuities work, what is and isn't guaranteed, what they cost, and how surrender periods limit access.
Life insurance and legacy planning
Protecting a surviving spouse's income and passing assets to heirs efficiently.
Side by side
Staying invested vs. a guaranteed income option
A general comparison. The right mix depends on your age, health, other income, liquidity needs and risk tolerance.
| Factor | Invested 401(k) or IRA | Guaranteed income annuity |
|---|---|---|
| Growth potential | Tied to the market. No ceiling. | Limited by caps, participation rates or a fixed rate. |
| Downside protection | None. The account can lose value, including principal. | Index credits typically floor at 0%. Fees and rider charges can still reduce account value. |
| Lifetime income | Not guaranteed. Depends on your withdrawal rate and returns. | Can be contractually guaranteed for life, usually through a rider with its own fee. |
| Access to money | Generally available any time (taxes and penalties may apply). | Often limited during a surrender period of several years. |
| Costs | Fund expenses and any advisory fee. | Product, rider and surrender charges. Vary by carrier. |
| Taxes | Withdrawals taxed as ordinary income (traditional accounts). | Same when held in an IRA. Tax deferral alone is not a reason to buy one inside an IRA. |
| Backed by | The underlying investments. | The claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. Not FDIC insured. |
General information, not a recommendation. Features, fees and surrender terms vary by product, carrier and state. Read: IRA vs. annuity in plain English.
The process
From first question to ongoing check-ins
Free guide
Read at your own pace. No calls, no commitment.
A conversation
What you have, what you spend, what worries you.
A full review
Statements, pensions and Social Security estimates.
Options on paper
Side by side, including changing nothing, with costs in dollars.
Written summary
Plain English, before anything is signed. Commissions disclosed in writing.
Yearly check-ins
Income, beneficiaries and RMDs reviewed as life changes.
Free guide
5 Ways to Turn Savings Into Retirement Income
An 11-page, plain-English guide to old 401(k)s, guaranteed income options and the questions to ask before you decide anything. Sent to your inbox right away.
Prefer to talk first? Call (713) 570-6295