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Mark Singer

Your Retirement Guide

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My Approach

Taking the Mystery Out of Successful Retirement Planning

I help clients pursue and enjoy the retirement of their dreams using a 7-Step Process to provide personalized guidance throughout the retirement journey. My approach is neither typical nor transactional — no generic advice or one-dimensional service. Instead, my goal is to ensure that each client benefits from a comprehensive offering as I walk with them, hand-in-hand as a financial educator and guide.

My conversations with clients are different.

What I truly believe sets me apart from the competition lies in the conversations I have with clients. These discussions are different from the typical financial planning meetings you might have with a traditional advisor, which are often focused on just money management. A successful retirement is about so much more than just the money. My focus is on 1) your goals and 2) providing the education necessary to help ensure you understand what strategies are best suited for your unique situation.

Understanding what clients want

My clients have spent the majority of their lives working hard. So when they are ready to retire, I have found they want to have a plan in place that secures the fulfilling and engaging experience they deserve. Based on countless conversations I’ve had over the years, I’ve been able to identify three critical components that support a successful transition into retirement and through retirement:
I

A trusted guide
for the journey.

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II

Confidence that you can’t
outlive your money.

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III

Assurance that your family
will be taken care of.

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Questions You Should Be Asking

As you approach retirement, everyone has a unique set of circumstances and everyone is operating from a different level of understanding about what lies ahead. Below, you will find answers to some of the most common questions I receive. As you will see, you are not alone and your concerns are valid; the good news is, we can begin working through challenges and your fears of the unknown together.

What do I do with the rest of my life?

For many of my clients, having sufficient money is not their main concern. Once we do the planning, they often feel confident that they won’t outlive their money. At that point, the real concern is, “what do I do with the rest of my life?” If this is the primary issue you have, we can figure it out together to help ensure your retirement journey is a joyful experience.

How important is financial organization?

One of the most important conversations I have with clients has to do with financial organization. They are often overwhelmed by paperwork and details. The truth is, it’s not uncommon for people to be unclear about what they own, whether or not the information they have is correct, or where to locate it. So I’ve developed a comprehensive Financial Organization System that clients can plug into for easy access.

Am I taking on too much or too little risk with my portfolio?

Good question. The answer is, it depends. As you move from the accumulation stage to the distribution stage, the way you look at your investments may change. The goal moves from growing your portfolio to “how do I get my income?” To move through each phase and successfully manage the transition, it’s important to establish a Personal Investment Benchmark unique to your situation so you know how to properly invest as you shift to retirement. This is one of the only ways to know what level of risk to hold in your portfolio.

How do I get my monthly income in retirement?

They say cash is king, and no truer statement can be made about retirement. If you have the cash flow to do what you want to do when you want to do it, then you can move forward on your journey with confidence. I’ve developed what I call the “Income Faucet” to help clients understand where to get their income and how to reduce the impact of taxes on that income.

Will I run out of money?

This is often the biggest concern many people have. Without careful retirement planning, far too many seniors do find themselves running out of savings to support their desired lifestyle. My 7-Step Retirement Planning System simplifies the process and can help you to secure the income you need for the rest of your life. With comprehensive planning, your plan is strategically built to address this concern.

When should I take my Social Security?

There are 567 different Social Security strategies available. Making the wrong decision could potentially cost a household upwards of $250,000 in lost income over their lifetime. To help clients make an informed decision about when to take Social Security, I’ve developed a series of Social Security calculators to help our clients maximize their benefit. Using a calculator will offer clear guidance for identifying when the best time is to apply and which strategy is best for both spouses. This is an important consideration as we develop the income plan for your retirement.

A trusted guide for the journey.

All too often, people work with financial advisors who fail to provide the level of attention and service they deserve, so they’re left dissatisfied and frustrated. What you really want is a partner that will guide you for the entire journey so you feel confident that whatever life throws at you, you’ll still be on track to pursue your retirement goals.

Confidence that you can’t outlive your money.

The right plan needs to provide confidence. You will have the ability to do what you want when you want to do it. Going from working and receiving a paycheck to living in retirement shouldn’t be a challenge that impacts how you live. One of the important questions you want answered is, “If I spend the money today, will it be there tomorrow?”

Assurance that your family will be taken care of.

As clients move into this new phase and realize they are in the latter years of a fulfilling life, they recognize the importance of preserving the lifestyle of their spouse and family members no matter what may happen to them. This involves many considerations, such as the right ways to gift money, whether a trust is appropriate or not, tax mitigation strategies, and identifying important charitable considerations. To help ensure goals are met and strategies remain relevant requires ongoing discussion and careful attention.

Which stage of retirement planning are you in?

Where are you on the road to pursuing your retirement dreams? Knowing exactly what stage you’re in is the best way to discover your next right step and to help set financial confidence. Ready to retire? Let’s find out!