OUR PROCESS
Retire REGAL®, our proprietary process, leads your crusade toward the holy grail of retirement: FREEDOM to live a life you’ve always envisioned.
We incorporate planning and preparation for several key areas of retirement, which we call
The Five Realms of Retirement.
Along the way, you could encounter retirement risks that take you off course or set your retirement back completely. We call these risks
The Five Foemen of Retirement.
Whether you're in or near retirement, your journey starts with us.
Click or tap each Realm or Risk below to learn more about how our planning & investment strategy can help guide you and your family to a confident and sustainable retirement.
RETIRE REGAL®
THE FIVE REALMS OF RETIREMENT
Tap to learn more about each
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Social Security
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Dividends & Interest
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Pension
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Annuity
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401k, 403b & more
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Pension Distribution
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Social Security
Optimization
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Medicare
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Tax Strategies
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Utilizing the Fiscal Fortress™
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Help Keep More in the Family
THE FIVE FOEMEN OF RETIREMENT
Tap to learn more about each
MARKET Risk
The Five Realms of Retirement:
R E G A L
Retirement Income
At Owens Financial Group, we believe that true retirement freedom isn't a myth—it's achievable with the right strategy. Much like the legendary search for the Holy Grail, creating lasting retirement income requires perseverance, wisdom, and guidance.
The Quest for Lasting Income
Just as knights sought the Grail to grant eternal vitality, today’s retirees seek sustainable income that outlasts retirement. Our Retire REGAL® process helps you build a financial plan with income streams designed to help endure and provide stability.
Retirement income planning acts as a shield, helping to preserve your retirement savings from the unpredictability of life after work. By strategically creating income sources—such as annuities, dividends, and interest-bearing investments—you can help ensure that your "kingdom" has a reliable flow of resources, strengthening your retirement strategy even in the face of economic shifts.
What Is Retirement Income?
Retirement income is the regular cash flow that supports your lifestyle once you stop working. It comes from various sources, including:
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Social Security benefits
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Pensions
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401(k) plans or other employer-sponsored retirement accounts
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IRAs (Traditional, Roth, SEP)
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Annuities
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Investments such as dividends and interest
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Part-time work or other streams of passive income
Each of these income sources plays a role in ensuring you have enough money to cover your living expenses, healthcare, and unexpected costs throughout retirement.
Why Is Planning Retirement Income Important?
Without a steady paycheck, managing your retirement funds becomes essential. Failing to plan adequately could mean running out of money during your retirement years. Effective retirement income planning helps you:
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Maintain financial independence: Avoid relying on family or public assistance.
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Preserve your lifestyle: Continue enjoying the activities and comforts you're accustomed to.
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Manage risks: Protect your nest egg against inflation, market volatility, and longevity.
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Create peace of mind: Know that you have a plan in place for the future.
How the Retire REGAL® Process Can Help
Every stronghold needs a master architect. At Owens Financial Group, we serve as your guide and ally, helping you design a plan that’s resilient against market volatility, inflation, and unexpected expenses. From assessing income needs to strategically positioning your assets, we work to help align the pieces of your financial puzzle to provide a sustainable retirement strategy.
Start Planning Today
It’s never too early—or too late—to start planning your retirement income. Click here to see how our Retire REGAL planning & investment process works:
The Five Realms of Retirement:
R E G A L
Employer-Sponsored Plan Rollovers
One of the most important decisions you’ll face is what to do with your existing employer-sponsored retirement plan—such as a pension, 401(k) or 403(b). Rolling over your plan into an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) could provide greater control, more investment options, and continued tax-deferred growth.
In the days of old, wise councils advised kings on securing their realms. Today, our Retire REGAL® process helps to strengthen your financial position. From assessing your rollover options to mapping out a sustainable retirement strategy, we work to help preserve your wealth for the journey ahead.
What Is an Employer Plan Rollover?
An employer plan rollover allows you to move your retirement savings from your current employer-sponsored retirement plan into a new account, typically an IRA. You can rollover assets from plans like:
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401(k)
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403(b)
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457 plans
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Pension plans
This process can help you consolidate your retirement savings and avoid unnecessary fees, while maintaining tax benefits and potentially giving you access to a wider range of investment choices.
Why Consider Rolling Over?
When you leave your employer, you have several options for your retirement account. You can:
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Leave it with your former employer: While this is often the easiest option, you might have fewer investment options and limited control over your money.
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Cash it out: This option can trigger significant tax consequences and penalties if you're under 59½.
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Roll it over into your new employer's plan: This keeps your money in one place but may have investment limitations similar to your previous plan.
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Rollover to an IRA: This potentially offers greater control, more investment choices, and can help streamline your retirement planning.
Rolling over to an IRA can give you more flexibility, which can help you better manage your financial future.
Benefits of an Employer Plan Rollover to an IRA
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Greater Investment Flexibility
Unlike employer-sponsored plans, IRAs typically offer a wide range of investment choices, from stocks and bonds to mutual funds and alternative investments. You can create a portfolio tailored to your goals and risk tolerance. -
Potentially Higher Guaranteed Income Options With a lump sum pension distribution, shopping the market for the highest guaranteed income payouts often enables us to provide a solution that could be higher than the one offered by your employer, resulting in more lifetime guaranteed income for you and your spouse.
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Consolidation of Accounts
If you've changed jobs multiple times, you might have several retirement accounts scattered across different employers. A rollover allows you to combine these into one IRA, making it easier to track your savings and manage your investments. -
Tax-Deferred Growth
By rolling over to an IRA, your funds continue to grow tax-deferred, meaning you won’t pay taxes until you start taking distributions in retirement. This can significantly boost your savings over time. -
Avoid Penalties
By completing a direct rollover, you avoid penalties and taxes that could apply if you were to withdraw the funds outright. -
Estate Planning Options
IRAs may offer more flexible estate planning options than employer-sponsored plans. You can designate beneficiaries and ensure your wealth is transferred efficiently to the next generation.
Types of Rollovers
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Direct Rollover: The safest and most common method. Your plan administrator transfers your funds directly to your new IRA account without you touching the money.
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Indirect Rollover: Your plan distributes the funds to you, and you have 60 days to deposit them into an IRA. If not completed within 60 days, the distribution may be subject to taxes and penalties.
How We Can Help
At Owens Financial Group, we help making the rollover process as simple and seamless as possible. Our services include:
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Personalized IRA selection: We help you choose the right type of IRA (Traditional or Roth) based on your financial situation.
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Guaranteed Income Options: With access to top insurance carriers, we can seek out guaranteed income payout options that may be higher than amounts offered by your employer.
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Investment guidance: Our team will work with you to create a diversified portfolio that aligns with your retirement goals.
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Tax-efficient strategies: We guide you through potential tax implications to ensure a smooth transition without unnecessary costs.
Start Your Employer Plan Rollover Today
Whether you’re rolling over a 401(k), 403(b), or another retirement plan, transitioning retirement accounts can feel like navigating an uncharted realm. But with our Retire REGAL® process, you’ll have the help and guidance you need during your journey to navigate from one kingdom to the next. Click here to see exactly how our Retire REGAL® process works:
The Five Realms of Retirement:
R E G A L
Government
Social Security, Medicare, and efficient tax strategies are all government-related areas that play a significant role in shaping your financial future. By optimizing these, you can significantly enhance your retirement income, manage healthcare costs, and help to ensure tax efficiency.
At Owens Financial Group, we help you make sense of this complex realm, so you can confidently sail ahead towards a secure and comfortable retirement.
Maximizing Your Social Security Benefits
Social Security is a key income stream for most retirees, but the amount you receive can vary greatly depending on when and how you claim. Knowing the right strategies can help you maximize your lifetime benefits.
Social Security Optimization Strategies:
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Timing Your Benefits:
You can claim Social Security as early as age 62, but doing so may permanently reduce your monthly benefit. Conversely, delaying your benefits until age 70 can result in a higher payout. We’ll help you determine the best age to claim based on your financial situation, life expectancy, and needs. -
Spousal Benefits:
If you’re married, divorced, or widowed, you may be eligible for spousal benefits, which could increase your overall payout. Coordinating the timing of spousal benefits with your own can be a powerful tool in maximizing income. -
Earnings Limits:
If you plan to work while receiving Social Security benefits before reaching full retirement age, there are earnings limits that could temporarily reduce your benefits. We’ll help you plan around these limits to avoid unnecessary penalties. -
Tax Considerations:
Up to 85% of your Social Security benefits may be taxable, depending on your overall income. We provide strategies to help manage your income and reduce the tax impact on your benefits.
By working with us, you can implement a customized strategy to help optimize your income throughout retirement.
Understanding Your Medicare Options
Healthcare is one of the largest expenses in retirement, and selecting the right Medicare plan is crucial for managing your medical costs. Whether you’re approaching 65 or already enrolled, we can help you navigate the many options available.
Key Medicare Decisions:
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Medicare Parts A & B (Original Medicare):
Part A covers hospital services, while Part B covers outpatient services like doctor visits and preventive care. However, Original Medicare doesn’t cover everything, and there may be gaps that could leave you exposed to high medical costs. -
Medicare Advantage (Part C):
Medicare Advantage plans are an alternative to Original Medicare, offering bundled services that include Parts A, B, and often Part D (prescription drug coverage). Many also provide additional benefits like dental, vision, and wellness programs. We help you compare the pros and cons of these plans based on your health needs and budget. -
Medigap (Supplemental Insurance):
A Medigap policy helps cover out-of-pocket costs like copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles that Original Medicare doesn’t cover. We’ll guide you through the various plans to find the one that best fits your needs. -
Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D):
Medicare Part D plans vary greatly in terms of premiums and covered medications. We help you select a plan that covers your prescriptions at the lowest possible cost.
By taking the time to choose the right Medicare options, you can potentially reduce out-of-pocket expenses and help to protect your retirement savings from unexpected healthcare costs.
Strategies for Tax Efficiency in Retirement
Effective tax planning in retirement can help you keep more of your hard-earned savings. Along with government programs like Social Security and Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from retirement accounts, it’s essential to have a plan that minimizes tax liabilities while maintaining a steady income.
Tax Efficiency Strategies:
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Roth Conversions:
Converting funds from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA allows for tax-free growth and tax-free withdrawals in retirement. Although you’ll pay taxes on the amount converted, this strategy can reduce your taxable income later in life, especially if you expect to be in a higher tax bracket. -
Tax-Managed Withdrawals:
Choosing the right accounts to withdraw from in retirement can have a major impact on your tax bill. We help you create a withdrawal strategy that balances taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free income sources to minimize overall taxes. -
Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs):
If you’re 70½ or older, you can make charitable donations directly from your IRA without increasing your taxable income. QCDs can also count toward your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD), reducing the taxes you would otherwise owe. -
Managing Social Security Taxes:
Strategic withdrawals and Roth conversions can keep your income below thresholds that trigger higher taxes.
By incorporating these strategies into your retirement plan, we can help you maintain tax efficiency and help to preserve your nest egg from being eroded by the retirement foeman of tax risk.
Let Us Help You Navigate & Optimize These Areas
Maximizing the benefits of Social Security, Medicare, and smart tax strategies is a key part of helping to ensure a financially confident retirement.
Click here to see exactly how our proprietary Retire REGAL® process works and start the journey towards your "Holy Grail" in retirement: The FREEDOM to live a life you’ve always envisioned!
The Five Realms of Retirement:
R E G A L
Asset Management
utilizing the
Centuries ago, the wealthy would build a castle or fortress to help protect their family, estate & assets from man-made threats & natural disasters. These structures were marvels of engineering that required careful planning and a team of skilled professionals to construct and maintain.
Today, it’s taken you years of hard work to create your wealth. Let us help you preserve and grow it with our proprietary planning & investment strategy called the Fiscal Fortress™, an integral part of our Retire REGAL® process.
We’ve broken this strategy down into simple, easy to understand concepts. We then offer a clear, plain-English strategy for getting everything on the right track.
Watch the video below for an in-depth overview of The Fiscal Fortress™ and how it can help strengthen your retirement strategy:
The Five Realms of Retirement
R E G A L
Legacy Preservation
Legacy Preservation is about more than just transferring assets—it’s about ensuring that your values, financial goals, and family legacy are protected for generations to come. At Owens Financial Group, we help you create a comprehensive plan to preserve your legacy so you can enjoy a comfortable, confident retirement.
What Is Legacy Preservation?
Legacy preservation is the strategic process of managing and protecting your assets so they can be passed on to your heirs and beneficiaries according to your wishes. It involves a combination of estate planning, tax strategies, charitable giving, and wealth management, all designed to minimize risk, avoid unnecessary taxes, and ensure a smooth transfer of your assets.
With a thoughtful approach to legacy preservation, you can:
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Provide financial security for your loved ones
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Support charitable causes that reflect your values
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Minimize estate taxes and legal fees
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Ensure your wishes are followed after your passing
Benefits of Legacy Preservation Planning
Taking the time to develop a comprehensive legacy preservation plan provides numerous benefits, including:
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Financial Security for Your Heirs: A well-structured legacy plan ensures that your loved ones are financially protected, no matter what happens.
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Control Over Your Wealth: You can decide exactly how and when your wealth will be distributed, reducing the risk of mismanagement.
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Tax Efficiency: Proper planning can minimize estate, gift, and income taxes, preserving more of your wealth for the next generation.
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Avoiding Probate: Trusts and other legal strategies can help avoid the delays, costs, and public disclosure associated with the probate process.
Start Preserving Your Legacy Today
Legacy preservation is a vital part of any comprehensive retirement plan. At Owens Financial Group, we help you preserve your wealth so your values can be honored for generations to come.
Click below to see exactly how our proprietary Retire REGAL® process works and start the journey towards your Holy Grail in retirement: The freedom to live a life you’ve always envisioned!
The Five Foemen in Retirement:
Income Risk
One of the most pressing concerns retirees face is income risk—the chance that you may outlive your savings or experience a significant drop in income during retirement. Our Retire REGAL® process helps you navigate and mitigate these risks with a well-structured, personalized plan.
What is Income Risk in Retirement?
Income risk refers to the possibility that your financial resources may not last throughout your retirement. This risk can stem from several factors:
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Living longer than expected (Longevity Risk)
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Market downturns affecting your investments (Sequence of Returns Risk)
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Inflation reducing your purchasing power (Inflation Risk)
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Unforeseen health care costs (Health Care Risk)
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Spending too quickly (Withdrawal Rate Risk)
Planning for these risks is essential to ensuring your retirement years are as stress-free as possible.
How the Retire REGAL® Process Helps You Mitigate Retirement Income Risk
The Retire REGAL® process takes a comprehensive approach to managing income risk in retirement. Here are some of the ways we can help:
1. Creating a Sustainable Income Stream
We work closely with you to develop a withdrawal strategy that balances your need for income with the longevity of your savings. This includes:
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Structuring a withdrawal rate that meets your needs without depleting your assets too quickly.
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Reviewing your plan regularly to make adjustments as markets, needs, or economic conditions change.
2. Shielding Against Market Volatility
Market risk can threaten your retirement savings, particularly if a downturn occurs early in your retirement. To help protect against this:
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We build a diversified portfolio tailored to your risk tolerance and retirement timeline using our proprietary Fiscal Fortress™ planning and investment strategy. Our goal is to help ensure your lifestyle isn’t dependent on what the market does.
3. Managing Longevity Risk
Outliving your savings is a real concern as life expectancies continue to rise. To safeguard against longevity risk, we may recommend solutions such as:
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Annuities to provide guaranteed lifetime income.
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Ensuring a mix of durable income sources that last as long as you do, including Social Security optimization.
4. Planning for Inflation
Inflation can erode your purchasing power over time, especially if your retirement income is fixed. We help:
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Build inflation-protected investments into your portfolio.
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Design strategies that allow some portion of your investments to grow over time to keep pace with inflation.
5. Preparing for Health Care Costs
Health care and long-term care are significant expenses in retirement that can derail even the best plans. We assist by:
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Helping you explore options like long-term care insurance.
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Factoring future health care costs into your retirement plan, ensuring you have a cushion for medical emergencies.
Why Choose Owens Financial Group for Your Retirement Journey?
Retirement income planning requires more than just saving money—it requires expertise in managing and preserving that income to last throughout your lifetime. We provide:
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Tailored Solutions: We provide customized retirement plans based on your unique goals and financial situation.
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Ongoing Support: Our team offers ongoing advice and plan adjustments as your needs and market conditions change.
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Experience: With years of experience helping clients navigate retirement, our team is equipped to handle even the most complex retirement income challenges.
Click below to see exactly how our proprietary Retire REGAL® process works and start the journey towards your Holy Grail in retirement: The freedom to live a life you’ve always envisioned!
The Five Foemen in Retirement:
Tax Risk
One of the most notorious of the Five Foemen is Tax risk. Tax risk in retirement can be a significant concern if not properly planned. Our Retire REGAL® process helps you navigate the complexities of taxes in retirement to help you keep more of what you earn.
What is Tax Risk in Retirement?
Tax risk refers to the potential for taxes to reduce the amount of income available to you during retirement, as well as the potential burden you may pass on to your heirs. Many retirees face higher taxes than expected due to a variety of factors, including:
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Taxable withdrawals from retirement accounts (such as 401(k)s, IRAs)
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Social Security benefits being taxed
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Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) pushing them into higher tax brackets
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Changes in tax laws that may increase future tax rates
Planning for tax risk is crucial to preserving your income and making sure you don’t outlive your savings.
Take Your REGAL Tax Test
If you’ve saved for retirement in an IRA, 401(k), or other tax-deferred vehicle, you have taxes due in retirement. That’s because you’ve deferred your taxes to the future. Test your knowledge of your potential tax bill due in retirement. Take our free REGAL Tax Test by clicking here:
Common Sources of Tax Risk in Retirement
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Withdrawals from Tax-Deferred Accounts
Contributions made to traditional retirement accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs are often tax-deferred, meaning you don’t pay taxes on the income until you withdraw it in retirement. However, once you begin taking distributions, those withdrawals are considered taxable income. This can push you into a higher tax bracket, especially if you're also receiving Social Security or pension income. -
Social Security Taxation
Depending on your overall income in retirement, up to 85% of your Social Security benefits could be taxed. This happens if your combined income (including Social Security, retirement account withdrawals, and any other earnings) exceeds certain thresholds. -
Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)
Once you reach age 73 (as of 2024), you are required to start taking RMDs from most retirement accounts, including traditional IRAs and 401(k)s. These mandatory withdrawals are taxed as regular income, which can push you into a higher tax bracket or increase the taxation of your Social Security benefits. -
Capital Gains and Investment Income
In retirement, you may sell investments or receive dividends and interest from taxable accounts, which can generate capital gains or other taxable income. Managing when and how you realize these gains is critical to minimizing tax exposure.
Strategies to Minimize Tax Risk in Retirement
The Retire REGAL® Process helps design a retirement income plan with a focus on minimizing tax risk. Here’s how we help:
1. Tax-Efficient Withdrawal Strategies
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We help you create a withdrawal plan that helps to maximize your income while minimizing taxes. This may involve strategically withdrawing from different accounts (tax-deferred, tax-free, and taxable) in a way that lowers your overall tax burden.
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We also explore converting portions of your traditional IRA or 401(k) to a Roth IRA, allowing future withdrawals to be tax-free.
2. Roth IRA Conversions
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Converting a portion of your traditional IRA or 401(k) into a Roth IRA can provide tax-free income later in retirement. While you’ll pay taxes on the conversion now, future withdrawals from a Roth IRA are tax-free, and Roth IRAs are not subject to RMDs.
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We evaluate if Roth conversions make sense for you based on your current tax bracket and future tax outlook.
3. Managing RMDs
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Planning ahead for RMDs is key to avoiding higher tax brackets. We work with you to manage RMDs in a way that minimizes their impact, such as taking distributions earlier or making qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) to offset taxes.
4. Timing Social Security Benefits
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Deciding when to start taking Social Security benefits is crucial to minimizing taxes. We help you time your Social Security income by balancing it with other income sources.
5. Harvesting Capital Gains
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We guide you in realizing capital gains in a tax-efficient way, possibly during lower-income years when your tax rate may be lower. You can also use tax-loss harvesting to offset gains, reducing your taxable income.
6. Utilizing Life Insurance to reduce taxes on income and estates.
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Taking tax-free loans or withdrawals against the cash value in a life insurance policy to supplement retirement income
7. Staying Up-to-Date with Tax Law Changes
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Tax laws can change, and it’s important to adjust your retirement plan as needed. We stay on top of legislative changes that may impact your retirement taxes.
The Value of Professional Tax Planning in Retirement
Tax planning in retirement isn’t just about saving money today; it’s about maximizing your lifetime income. With the right strategies, you can avoid unnecessary tax hits and keep more of your hard-earned money.
At Owens Financial Group, we take a holistic approach to retirement planning that considers both your income needs and tax implications, helping you have a sustainable, tax-efficient plan for the long term.
Schedule your Retire REGAL® Review Today
Concerned about how taxes will affect your retirement income? Schedule a free Retire REGAL® Review today. Together, we’ll review your current plan and identify strategies to help reduce your tax liability and keep your retirement income on track.
Click below to see exactly how our proprietary Retire REGAL® process works and start the journey towards your Holy Grail in retirement: The freedom to live a life you’ve always envisioned!
The Five Foemen in Retirement:
Legislative Risk
Retirement planning often focuses on saving and investing, but one area that’s frequently overlooked is legislative risk—the risk that changes in laws and regulations could affect your retirement income.
Whether it's new tax laws, changes to Social Security, or adjustments to healthcare policies, legislative changes can have a profound impact on your financial future.
At Owens Financial Group, we help you stay ahead of these risks by building flexibility into your retirement plan and keeping you informed of potential changes.
What is Legislative Risk in Retirement?
Legislative risk refers to the potential for new laws or changes to existing laws to impact your retirement savings, income, or benefits. Common examples of legislative changes that may affect retirees include:
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Changes in tax laws that alter the taxation of retirement accounts like IRAs and 401(k)s.
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Adjustments to Social Security benefits, including possible increases in the full retirement age or changes to how benefits are taxed.
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Modifications to Medicare and healthcare coverage, including potential increases in premiums or changes to coverage options.
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Alterations to required minimum distributions (RMDs) from retirement accounts.
Staying informed about these potential changes and having a proactive strategy can help you mitigate the risks to your retirement income.
How Legislative Changes Can Impact Your Retirement
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Tax Law Changes
Tax laws can change, impacting how your retirement income is taxed. For example, changes in tax brackets, tax treatment of capital gains, or the introduction of new taxes on certain types of income (such as investment income or withdrawals from tax-deferred accounts) could increase your tax burden in retirement. -
Social Security Reform
Social Security is a critical source of income for many retirees, but there are ongoing discussions about its long-term viability. Potential changes could include:-
Raising the full retirement age.
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Reducing benefits for higher earners.
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Increasing the payroll tax that funds Social Security. Any of these changes could affect when and how you claim benefits.
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Healthcare Legislation
Medicare is a crucial part of retirement planning, but changes to its funding or coverage options could increase your healthcare costs. Legislative changes that alter Medicare premiums, deductibles, or what’s covered can result in higher out-of-pocket costs for retirees. -
Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)
The age at which you must start taking RMDs has changed several times in recent years, and further adjustments are possible. Changes to the RMD rules could impact how and when you take money from your retirement accounts, potentially increasing your tax liability or affecting your overall income plan.
How the Retire REGAL® Process Helps You Manage Legislative Risk
At Owens Financial Group, we understand that legislative changes are beyond your control, but with proactive planning, you can reduce their impact. Here’s how we help:
1. Building Flexibility into Your Retirement Plan
Flexibility is key to managing legislative risk. We work with you to create a diversified retirement income plan that could include multiple income sources—such as Social Security, pensions, annuities, life insurance, and investment accounts—so you’re not overly reliant on any one source that could be affected by legislative changes.
2. Tax-Efficient Strategies
Tax law changes can affect how much of your retirement income you keep. We help you:
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Diversify your tax exposure by balancing tax-deferred, tax-free, and taxable accounts.
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Consider strategies like Roth conversions, which can provide tax-free income in retirement and potentially protect you from future tax hikes.
3. Social Security Optimization
Social Security is subject to legislative risk, but smart claiming strategies can help maximize your benefits. We stay informed of any proposed changes to Social Security and adjust our recommendations as needed to help you get the most from your benefits, even in a changing legislative environment.
4. Monitoring Healthcare Changes
With healthcare costs being a significant concern in retirement, we help you plan for potential increases by:
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Including healthcare cost projections in your retirement plan.
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Recommending supplemental insurance options or health savings accounts (HSAs) to offset any increases in Medicare premiums or deductibles.
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Staying on top of Medicare changes that could affect your coverage or costs.
5. Keeping You Informed of Legislative Changes
We monitor legislative developments and alert you to potential changes that could impact your retirement plan. Our ongoing service includes regular reviews of your plan to ensure that it remains up-to-date with the latest tax, Social Security, and healthcare laws.
The Importance of Staying Informed and Proactive
Legislative risk is always present, but it doesn’t have to derail your retirement. By staying informed and maintaining flexibility in your retirement plan, you can minimize the impact of any changes that come your way. At Owens Financial Group, we are committed to helping you navigate these complexities so that you can enjoy a secure and stable retirement.
Schedule a Retire REGAL® Review Today
Concerned about how future legislative changes could affect your retirement? Schedule a consultation with one of our expert advisors today. We’ll review your plan, discuss potential risks, and create a strategy to help strengthen your overall retirement strategy.
Click below to see exactly how our proprietary Retire REGAL® process works and start the journey towards your Holy Grail in retirement: The freedom to live a life you’ve always envisioned!
The Five Foemen of Retirement:
Market Risk
The possibility of losing money due to fluctuations in the stock market—can pose a significant threat to retirees, especially those who rely on their investments for income.
Our proprietary planning and investment strategy, The Fiscal Fortress™ can help you understand and manage market risk so that you can maintain a stable and sustainable income throughout retirement, no matter what the markets do.
What is Market Risk in Retirement?
Market risk refers to the potential for losses in your investment portfolio due to fluctuations in stock, bond, or other financial markets. In retirement, market risk is particularly concerning because:
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You may be withdrawing funds from your investments, making it harder to recover from losses.
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A downturn early in retirement can have a long-lasting impact on your portfolio, a phenomenon known as "sequence of returns risk."
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Market volatility can lead to uncertainty, potentially forcing you to sell investments at the wrong time or reduce your retirement lifestyle.
Understanding market risk and taking steps to mitigate it is critical to ensuring your financial stability in retirement.
How Market Risk Affects Your Retirement Income
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Sequence of Returns Risk
The sequence in which you experience investment returns is crucial in retirement. If you experience poor market performance in the early retirement years while withdrawing funds from your portfolio, it can deplete your savings faster than expected. Even with a long-term average return that looks favorable, negative returns early on can dramatically reduce the lifespan of your portfolio. -
Increased Volatility
As markets fluctuate, the value of your retirement savings can experience sharp increases and decreases. This is particularly concerning for retirees because you may not have the luxury of waiting for markets to recover before needing to access your funds. -
Inflation and Purchasing Power
Market risk isn't just about potential losses—it’s also about maintaining your purchasing power. If your investments don’t keep up with inflation, your income might not be sufficient to cover rising living costs in retirement. -
Emotion-Driven Decisions
Market volatility can lead to emotional reactions, such as selling investments during a downturn or over-adjusting your strategy. Such decisions often lock in losses and hinder long-term financial growth.
How The Fiscal Fortress™ Helps You Manage Market Risk
At Owens Financial Group, we take a proactive approach to managing market risk in your retirement plan. Our proprietary planning and investment strategy helps to ensure your lifestyle isn’t dependent on what the market does.
Here’s how we help:
1. Diversified Investment Strategies
Diversification is key to reducing exposure to market risk. We work with you to create a portfolio that balances growth and safety, incorporating diversification through our Fiscal Fortress™ planning & investment strategy.
2. Building a Sustainable Withdrawal Plan
Having a clear and sustainable withdrawal strategy can help mitigate the impact of market risk. We develop a plan that considers:
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The sequence of returns and how to manage withdrawals during volatile markets.
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Flexible withdrawal rates that allow you to adjust during down years, preserving your portfolio for future growth.
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Using income sources, such as Social Security or annuities, to reduce reliance on market-based income.
3. Implementing Income-Producing Assets
To reduce dependence on market-driven returns, we incorporate income-producing assets into your portfolio, such as:
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Dividend-paying stocks and bond ladders that provide consistent income.
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Annuities that offer guaranteed income, regardless of market conditions.
4. Managing Volatility with Asset Allocation
We monitor and adjust your asset allocation to align with your risk tolerance and retirement timeline. As you age, we may gradually shift your portfolio toward more conservative investments to reduce market exposure. However, we endeavor to ensure a balance that maintains enough growth potential to keep up with inflation.
5. Downside Risk Strategies
Strategies like dynamic asset allocation or market hedging can help protect your portfolio from severe downturns. By incorporating investments that tend to perform well during market declines or using tools like options, we can help to limit the downside risk while preserving the upside potential.
Schedule a Retire REGAL® Review Today
Concerned about how market risk could affect your retirement? Schedule a Retire REGAL® Review today. We’ll review your current portfolio, discuss potential risks, and develop a strategy designed to help reach your Holy Grail of retirement: Freedom to live the life you’ve always envisioned for yourself.
The Five Foeman in Retirement:
Health Risk
Healthcare costs are one of the most significant financial risks facing retirees today. As we age, the likelihood of needing more frequent medical care increases, and without proper planning, these costs can quickly erode retirement savings. At Owens Financial Group, we help you understand the potential health risks in retirement and develop strategies to protect your financial well-being, so you can focus on enjoying your retirement without worrying about unexpected medical expenses.
What is Health Risk in Retirement?
Health risk in retirement refers to the potential for unexpected healthcare expenses to impact your financial stability. As we age, we are more likely to face costly medical treatments, long-term care, and other health-related expenses, which can significantly reduce retirement savings if not properly planned for. Key health risks include:
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Rising healthcare costs
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Long-term care needs
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Chronic illness or disability
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Medicare limitations that may leave gaps in coverage
Planning for these potential risks is essential to maintaining your financial security throughout retirement.
How Health Risks Can Affect Your Retirement
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Rising Healthcare Costs
Healthcare costs are rising faster than inflation, and retirees often underestimate how much they will spend on medical expenses. According to studies, the average retired couple may need hundreds of thousands of dollars just to cover healthcare expenses throughout retirement. These costs can include premiums for Medicare, prescription drugs, out-of-pocket expenses, and medical treatments not fully covered by insurance. -
Long-Term Care Needs
One of the most significant health-related risks in retirement is the need for long-term care. This includes services like assisted living, nursing home care, or in-home care, which can cost thousands of dollars per month. Medicare typically does not cover long-term care, leaving many retirees financially vulnerable to these costs. -
Chronic Illness or Disability
As we age, the likelihood of developing a chronic illness increases. Conditions like heart disease, diabetes, or arthritis can lead to ongoing medical costs and a need for specialized care. Managing a chronic illness or disability can quickly become financially burdensome if you don't have a plan in place. -
Limitations of Medicare
While Medicare provides critical healthcare coverage for retirees, it does not cover everything. There are often out-of-pocket expenses, deductibles, and coverage gaps, especially for long-term care and certain specialized treatments. Understanding what Medicare covers—and doesn't cover—is crucial to managing your health risk in retirement.
How Owens Financial Group Helps You Manage Health Risk
At Owens Financial Group, we believe that healthcare planning is a crucial part of your overall retirement strategy. We offer personalized solutions to help you prepare for potential health risks and ensure that unexpected medical expenses don’t derail your retirement. Here’s how we help:
1. Estimating Healthcare Costs in Retirement
We work with you to estimate how much you might need for healthcare in retirement, factoring in:
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Medicare premiums and out-of-pocket costs
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Prescription drug costs
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Potential long-term care needs These projections are integrated into your retirement plan to ensure you’re financially prepared.
2. Long-Term Care Planning
Long-term care can be one of the most expensive health risks retirees face. We help you:
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Explore long-term care insurance options that can cover costs associated with assisted living or nursing homes.
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Develop strategies, such as using life insurance policies with long-term care riders, to ensure you have a financial safety net.
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Consider using Medicaid planning if you might qualify, to help offset some of these costs.
3. Medicare Optimization
Understanding how to maximize your Medicare benefits is key to reducing out-of-pocket healthcare expenses. We help you:
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Review your Medicare options, including Medigap or Medicare Advantage plans, to find the best coverage for your needs.
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Plan for potential gaps in coverage, such as dental, vision, or hearing care, which Medicare doesn’t cover.
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Discuss the costs of premiums and out-of-pocket expenses to ensure they’re accounted for in your retirement budget.
4. Managing Chronic Illness and Disability
If you have a chronic condition or are at risk of developing one, we help you plan for the costs associated with ongoing care. This can include:
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Factoring the cost of regular treatments, medications, or specialized care into your budget.
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Setting aside emergency funds for unexpected medical expenses.
Why Health Risk Planning is Essential to Your Retirement Security
Failing to plan for health risks can lead to unexpected expenses that quickly deplete your savings, leaving you financially vulnerable. Our Retire REGAL® process integrates healthcare cost projections into your retirement plan to help prepare for any scenario. This comprehensive approach allows you to focus on enjoying your retirement, knowing that you have a solid plan in place for potential health-related costs.
Schedule a Retire REGAL® Review Today
Are you prepared for healthcare expenses in retirement? Schedule a Retire REGAL® Review for your current plan and discuss strategies to manage health risks. Together, we’ll create a customized approach that can help you and your family live a comfortable & confident retirement journey.
Click below to see exactly how our proprietary Retire REGAL® process works and start the journey towards your Holy Grail in retirement: The freedom to live a life you’ve always envisioned!