Here are three questions you can ask yourself that will lay the groundwork for planning your long-term strategy.
1. What do you own, in what types of accounts?
Start by separating your assets into qualified (tax-deferred) and non-qualified (taxable) accounts.
- Tax-qualified assets typically include 401 (k)s or individual retirement accounts (IRAs).
- Non-qualified assets include assets like bank savings, individual equities, mutual funds, municipal bonds, and fixed income investments.
- Rental real estate, land, and business property should be cataloged separately because they may provide income and may be repurposed in the future.
- Also, identify any insurance policies that have large cash values.
2. Will you be in a higher tax bracket when you retire?
- Employment income—whether it’s from full-time, part-time, or consulting work.
- Income from Social Security, pensions, disability, insurance payments, or rental income.
- Investment income from the assets listed under Question 1.
- Annuities that include a guaranteed income benefit rider.
3. What changes are coming?
Next, determine how much income you currently generate each year. It helps to categorize your income into these buckets:
- Determine whether you will start Social Security at the earliest age possible, or defer Social Security to get a permanently increased base.
- Know whether your pension gets a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), or if it has a survivor benefit for your spouse.
- Determine approximately how much you will have to take at age 72 (73 if you reach age 72 after Dec. 31, 2022), when required minimum distributions (RMDs) begin.
- Try to project if your expenses will materially change in the coming years for reasons such as a mortgage or college expenses being paid off, medical premiums going up or down due to Medicare, or medical premiums going up due to increased needs.
Once you know what you own, how much you generate in income, and how changes may affect you, you’re on your way to developing a solid withdrawal strategy. We can help you align your investment portfolio with your retirement income needs and withdrawal strategy, helping you feel confident in living out the retirement lifestyle you envision.
Working With Janney
Depending on your financial needs and personal preferences, you may opt to engage in a brokerage relationship, an advisory relationship or a combination of both. Each time you open an account, we will make recommendations on which type of relationship is in your best interest based on the information you provide when you complete or update your client profile.
When you engage in an advisory relationship, you will pay an asset-based fee which encompasses, among other things, a defined investment strategy, ongoing monitoring, and performance reporting. Your Financial Advisor will serve in a fiduciary capacity for your advisory accounts.
For more information about Janney, please see Janney’s Relationship Summary (Form CRS) on www.janney.com/crs which details all material facts about the scope and terms of our relationship with you and any potential conflicts of interest.
By establishing a relationship with a Janney Financial Advisor, we can build a tailored financial plan and make recommendations about solutions that are aligned with your best interest and unique needs, goals, and preferences.
Contact us today to discuss how we can put a plan in place designed to help you reach your financial goals.
About the author
Related Articles
-
Retirement Planning
Living In Retirement: Staying On Track & Making Your Assets Last
Congratulations—you’ve made it to retirement! As you enjoy this phase of life, maintaining your l... -
Business Planning
Is Your Company Prepared to Implement the New Catch-Up Contribution?
If you’re a retirement plan sponsor, you now have until January 1, 2026, to prepare for implement... -
Retirement Planning
Benefits of Saving and Investing Early (Compound Interest)
When is the best time to start saving or investing for your future? The answer is “as early as po...