Retirees and near retirees
The decade around retirement carries more consequence per decision than any other period in a financial life.
The questions that dominate this stage
- Will the income last, and what happens if the first years are poor market years.
- Which accounts should be drawn first, and what does that do to taxes.
- When should Social Security begin, and how does that interact with other income.
- How would a long term care event be funded without dismantling the plan.
- What happens to the surviving spouse, financially and administratively.
- What is left for heirs, and in what form.
Where plans typically need work
Most near retirees arrive with an investment strategy and no distribution strategy. The portfolio may be well constructed for growth while nothing addresses which account funds January's expenses, or what the tax result looks like once required distributions begin.
The other common gap is the surviving spouse scenario. Filing status changes, some income sources reduce, and administrative responsibility often falls to the spouse least involved in the planning.
Relevant strategies
Retirement income planning
Structuring dependable income against essential spending.
Read moreAnnuity strategies
Understanding what each type does before deciding whether one fits.
Read moreTax advantaged wealth
Withdrawal sequencing and bracket management.
Read moreLegacy and transfer
Making sure documents, designations and titling agree.
Read moreImportant disclosure
This page is general education, not legal, tax or investment advice, and not a recommendation of any specific product. Individual circumstances differ. Work with your own licensed legal and tax professionals before acting.
Last reviewed 2026-08-09 by Tim Parnell.
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