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Pre-Retirees & Retirees

“A clear vision, backed by definite plans, gives you a tremendous feeling of confidence and personal power.”

– Brian Tracy


Perhaps you’ve been a lifelong saver, living well below your means or maybe you still have some catching up to do. We can help you figure out the next chapter, whether that’s relaxing on the beach or starting the consulting business you’ve thought about over the years. We’ll collaborate together on a plan and investment portfolio that give you confidence in facing the challenges of a “modern” retirement such as longevity, healthcare costs, lifetime income stream, and maintaining a purposeful life post-employment. And beyond taking care of yourself, we’ll help you thoughtfully consider and plan for other goals around kids, grandkids, and charitable causes, all informed by smart tax strategies.

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Case Study

The Millionaire Next Door


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Case Study

The Millionaire Next Door


“A penny saved is a penny earned.”


This story is a surprise to some people: One of our retiree households became multi-millionaires through living within their means. The couple raised four children in the suburbs, paid for four college educations and retired well. They took vacations. They enjoyed attending the symphony. They didn’t deny themselves anything. So, how did they become financially secure?

They lived within their means and saved the surplus. It’s so simple that many people find it hard to believe.

What does “living within your means” look like? It means living on 80 percent of your take-home pay and saving the rest. If you have debt, we suggest living on 70 percent of your take-home pay and allocating 10 percent to debt reduction until the debt is gone (other than a mortgage). If you can consistently live on 80 percent of your take-home pay, you will be amazed at how quickly you amass assets.  

The challenge is DOING IT.

We have found that most people do not have the willpower to simply “constrain spending.” We live in a consumer-driven society (Amazon!) and there is always “something more” we want to buy.

The most successful “millionaires next door” we know have multiple ways of saving:

  • Emergency fund with six months of living expenses in a liquid, safe account.
  • Their retirement plan at work (taken directly from paycheck).
  • An IRA with automatic monthly deductions from checking.
  • Life insurance: While this is an often-misunderstood product, one benefit of life insurance is forced savings and the accumulation of cash value in a tax-preferred vehicle.
  • Bank account: If you set up a second bank account and tell the bank to “move $X per month to the new account” you will see results (then, it is critically important that you leave it alone).
  • Investment account/mutual fund: An automatic monthly deduction for consistent savings.

*This is a case study and is for illustrative purposes only. Actual performance and results will vary. This case study does not constitute a recommendation as to the suitability of any investment for any person or persons having circumstances similar to those portrayed, and a financial advisor should be consulted. This case study does not represent actual clients but a hypothetical composite of various client experiences and issues. Any resemblance to actual people or situations is purely coincidental.

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