Simplifying the Retirement Puzzle for Bob & Alison

Bob and Alison had always been disciplined savers. Bob, age 64, spent decades in the biotech industry, while Alison, age 62, built a successful career working in the insurance field. Together, they’d raised two children, now ages 33 and 29, and were proud grandparents to two young grandchildren.

But recently, their careers had taken a toll on them. Both of their companies had gone through multiple rounds of layoffs – cutting staff but not reducing workloads. The pressure was relentless, and Bob and Alison found themselves feeling burned out, questioning how much longer they could keep up the pace.

Despite having saved $1.8 million in retirement accounts, they were stuck on the same questions many couples face:

“Can we afford to retire?”
“How do we turn this money into income we can actually live on?”
“Are we making tax mistakes we’ll regret later?”

Their finances were scattered across multiple accounts – 401(k)s, IRAs, brokerage accounts – and they’d received conflicting advice from different sources, leaving them overwhelmed and unsure where to start.

The Solution: One Plan. Total Clarity.

When Bob & Alison came to us, we focused on simplifying everything.

We started by helping them create a clear, consolidated One-Page Retirement Plan – a high-level but actionable document that outlined exactly:

• How much income they could safely spend in retirement
• When and how to draw from their accounts
• Where their money would come from over the next 5, 10, and 20+ years
• Specific tax strategies to reduce their future tax bill

We incorporated:

• Roth conversions during their early retirement years, taking advantage of lower tax brackets to shift funds from their IRAs to Roth IRAs for long-term tax-free income.
• A coordinated withdrawal strategy that blended taxable, IRA, and Roth accounts to keep their taxes low and their cash flow steady.
• An analysis of their future healthcare costs and Medicare premiums, ensuring their plan accounted for these critical expenses.
• A charitable giving strategy they could implement through a Donor-Advised Fund now and eventually through qualified charitable distributions.

Why It Worked: Simple, Clear, Actionable

For Bob & Alison, the biggest win wasn’t just the numbers – it was the simplicity.

They went from feeling overwhelmed and scattered to feeling in control. They had:

• A clear income plan
• A tax strategy that gave them flexibility
• A simple, consolidated view of their retirement finances
• Peace of mind knowing their plan could adapt if life changed

Most importantly, they finally felt confident enough to start planning their retirements – knowing they had a straightforward, step-by-step roadmap guiding them.

The Outcome: Less Stress, More Freedom

Today, Bob & Alison are no longer stuck in the cycle of burnout and financial uncertainty. They’ve made a plan for transitioning out of their careers and into a life that gives them more time with their family – especially their grandkids.

And they’re doing it without the stress of juggling multiple accounts or worrying about missing tax strategies. They know exactly where they stand and how to move forward – one clear, simple step at a time.

Could This Be Your Story Too?

If you and your spouse feel overwhelmed by scattered accounts, unclear advice, or workplace burnout, we can help.

We specialize in creating simple, actionable retirement plans that bring clarity, confidence, and peace of mind – so you can focus on what truly matters.