Meet John and Jane*, a couple in their early 50s. They are both career-oriented and want to ensure they have a comfortable retirement for them and to leave a reasonable amount to their children. After a close colleague suffered an unexpected health event, they began to explore when their retirement could begin if all went according to plan. This made John and Jane delve into the world of financial planning. They stumbled upon an article on “what is Financial Planning? ” and wanted to better understand the value of having a structured plan with known priorities and action items.
One aspect they learned was that a diversified portfolio could help them achieve their retirement goals. While John and Jane had participated in employer-sponsored retirement plans through their career, they developed purpose for investing their portfolios in mutual funds, ETFs, and other assets. In exploring the various assets that could yield higher returns over time, they also became more aware of the risks involved. They came across an insightful article on "Withdrawal Rate Risk" that shocked them because of how little they had heard of it prior, even from retired friends and family. The knowledge they now had helped them understand the reason of balancing spending with market fluctuations. Being careful not to spend too much in highly volatile years or even strategies to weather the recessions sure to come in their retirement journey.
As John and Jane progressed through their investment planning, they realized the importance of health planning after caring for Jane’s mother for years, first at home until eventually needing an assisted living community -- that easily cost double their mortgage payment before they had paid it off. They knew that healthcare costs could potentially derail their retirement plans, so they decided to explore options like insurance to help for at-home care, as well as having roles and resposibilities conversations with their family. Answering the most important question “Who will care for whom?”
By proactively planning for wellness in the later years of retirement, John and Jane could mitigate the risk of large unexpected healthcare expenses and preserve their hard-earned retirement savings by having a flexible plan. What they discovered was the ability to deploy their capital in the most efficient way to maximize enjoyment and minimize the risk, not just from traditional insurance but newer solutions, too.
As John and Jane's retirement planning journey progressed, they eased into the idea of living off their resources once they were a few years into retirement. As the family grew and more grandchildren arrived, the future moved into the present to discuss estate planning. While they wanted to leave a legacy for their children and grandchildren, they had to balance the monetarily and sentimental. By creating a comprehensive estate plan, they ensured their assets were distributed according to their wishes while maximizing tax savings and liquidity needs of their heirs.
Throughout their journey, John and Jane understood the value of having a trusted advisor. A firm that could provide ongoing support and guidance, helping them make informed decisions for their financial future. Moreover, their advisor team knew their family members personally, ensuring a seamless transition of wealth and knowledge across generations.