Goals, Guardrails, and Growth
A Framework to Maximize Retirement Satisfaction while
dramatically Reducing Retirement Risks.
Goals
"We define success by how well your plan helps you achieve your goals."
Even though money is considered a foundational need, it’s important to recognize that desire of money isn’t what’s important, it’s what money provides.
It’s a method, a vehicle, that gives us control over our accessibility, and allows us the freedom to pursue goals that are in line with our values.
Conversely, money can also provide financial safety, security, and predictability in times of chaos and uncertainty.
Given that, we believe that the secret to retirement happiness results from the balance of matching money to your goals and values, providing the safety and security needed to ensure success, and then optimizing performance to enhance them.
Guardrails:
"Retirees have less capacity for risk, and become more
vulnerable to reducing their standard of living when risks occur."
Entering retirement is like crossing the threshold into an entirely foreign way of living.
Engineering principals reveal how some systems thrive from shocks, volatility, and uncertainty, instead of breaking from them, and we adapt these more “durable” traits in our plans so you can thrive in an uncertain and chaotic world.
The COVID-19 pandemic is one (obvious) example, but these ‘large event’ dynamics have always been at play. For example, the 2000-2002 Dot Com bubble crash and 2008 Global Financial crisis destroyed fragile financial plans and the effects of smaller recessions and crashes have hugely impacted fragile retirement plans who have had all their eggs in one risky basket.
But there are far more risks beyond financial markets. Even in positive economic times, we’ve seen retirees (or their spouse) left penniless from an unexpected death, serious illness, or even when government agencies intervene and change the rules mid-game.
Worst of all, ironically, many are at risk of living too long and outliving their money.
Our plans are built to last for the long term, are simple and flexible enough to adapt when needs change. It has guardrails in place so that it produces results day after day, in good times and bad. (Major risks are removed from the system)
Growth
"Retirement Efficiency must be defined from the perspective of how long you live."
The holy grail of retirement income planning is finding strategies that enhance retirement efficiency.
What most advisor miss, is that retirement efficiency must be defined from the perspective of how long you live.
Related to this point, a number of strategies can enhance efficiency over the long term (but not necessarily over the short term) with more spending and more legacy.
Common examples of long-term efficient assets are: social security, pensions, and guaranteed-lifetime annuities.
If you live a long time, you will reap the long-term benefits, but dying early you will not fully realize those assets’ potential.
Therefore, the best strategy usually is a blend of both short-term efficient assets and long-term efficient ones.
Our plans are built to create value for you next week, next month, next year, next decade, and beyond. It will continue to grow and improve consistently, gaining momentum over time.