Why Having Investments Isn’t the Same as Having a Retirement Strategy
Walk into any financial seminar, open your latest statement, or chat with a friend over coffee, and one question often comes up:
“Are you happy with your portfolio?”
But here’s a better question: “Is your portfolio part of a bigger plan?”
Because there’s a big difference between owning investments… and having a strategy for how those investments support your life, your income, and your legacy in retirement.
The Truth About Portfolios
Most retirees and pre-retirees we meet come in with a portfolio. Maybe it’s a mix of mutual funds, an IRA, a 401(k), or a brokerage account. These are tools, they’re important. But a pile of tools doesn’t build a house.
Too often, we see people holding onto investments that were built for growth in their working years, not for income, stability, or tax efficiency in retirement.
That’s like using a sports car to tow a boat—it’s built for speed, not endurance.
The Missing Piece: A Retirement Income Plan
In retirement, you’re no longer building your nest egg. You’re living off of it.
That shift demands a plan that answers critical questions:
- Where will your income come from each month?
- How much investment risk is appropriate now that you’re not working?
- How will Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) impact your taxes and Medicare premiums?
What happens if there’s another 2008… or 2020?
Will you outlive your money—or will your money outlive you?
A true retirement plan connects the dots between investments, income, taxes, healthcare, and estate goals. And when done right, it gives you the one thing money can’t buy: peace of mind.
A Plan Answers, a Portfolio Reacts
When the market dips, people with portfolios panic.
When the market dips, people with plans pivot.
There’s a difference.
Having a customized income plan means your strategy is built to weather uncertainty, not react to it. And that’s especially important when RMDs force you to withdraw money, regardless of market performance, potentially locking in losses if you don’t have safe, reliable income sources in place.
Is It Time to Turn Your Portfolio into a Plan?
At Strategies For Wealth Management, we help people just like you turn financial clutter into clarity. Whether you’ve saved $250,000 or several million, the key isn’t just what you’ve saved—but how you use it to build a Rock-Solid Retirement Plan.
If you’re within 10 years of retirement or already retired, now is the time to evaluate:
- Is your portfolio still aligned with your goals and risk tolerance?
- Are your assets protected from market volatility and tax drag?
- Do you know what your income strategy will look like over the next 20+ years?
If you’re unsure, you’re not alone. But you don’t have to figure it out on your own, either. Let Strategies For Wealth Management help you build a Rock-Solid Retirement Plan. Call 203-372-4442 and ask to speak to one of our trusted financial advisors.