1. Planning Comes Before Investments

We believe retirement planning should begin with understanding lifestyle goals, spending needs, and financial realities — particularly in a higher cost-of-living region like Greater Boston.

Before making portfolio decisions, we focus on:

  • Retirement timing and lifestyle expectations

  • Anticipated spending needs

  • Income sources and potential gaps

  • Risk tolerance as retirement approaches

Investments are then aligned to support the plan, rather than drive it.

2. Retirement Income Is the Central Focus

As retirement nears, the focus shifts from accumulation to income.

Our planning emphasizes:

  • Coordinating multiple income sources

  • Evaluating withdrawal strategies

  • Managing longevity and sequence-of-returns risk

  • Creating income that supports flexibility and confidence

The goal is sustainability over time, not short-term performance.

3. Risk Management Becomes More Important Near Retirement

Market volatility can have an outsized impact when retirement is close.

We approach risk by:

  • Aligning portfolios with income timelines

  • Stress-testing plans under different scenarios

  • Emphasizing diversification and discipline

  • Avoiding reactionary, short-term decisions

Risk is always evaluated in the context of the full plan.

4. Tax Awareness Is Integrated Into the Plan

Taxes are a meaningful factor in retirement planning, especially for Massachusetts residents managing a mix of taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free accounts.

Our approach incorporates tax awareness by:

  • Considering withdrawal sequencing

  • Evaluating the tax impact of income decisions

  • Coordinating with clients’ tax professionals when appropriate

For some Massachusetts families, long-term planning also includes awareness of the state’s estate tax as part of broader legacy and wealth transfer considerations.

5. Planning Continues Through Life Transitions

Retirement is not a single moment — it is a transition.

We work with clients through:

  • The years leading up to retirement

  • The transition from work to retirement income

  • Changes in health, family, or priorities

  • Market and economic uncertainty

Plans are reviewed regularly and adjusted as circumstances evolve.

Our Philosophy in One Sentence

We help Massachusetts pre-retirees coordinate income, investments, risk, and taxes into a clear retirement plan that adapts over time.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards enter for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization’s initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.