Corporate Careers and Ready to Retire

The Challenge

Despite strong savings, Luke and Leah had several open questions:

• How do we turn savings into reliable retirement income?
• How should we use employer benefits and stock programs?
• When should we take pension income and Social Security?
• How do we reduce lifetime taxes, not just annual taxes?
• How do we support our children without creating dependence?
• Are we missing key planning opportunities?

Our Approach

We built a coordinated plan that connected investments, taxes, retirement income, and family goals — so every decision worked together instead of in isolation.

Investment Planning

Created a clear investment framework aligning all accounts with retirement and legacy goals. As lifelong real estate investors, we coordinated their philosophies and desired tilts into the investment strategy:

• Core equity fund positions
• Purchasing a rental property near their new home, in partnership with one of their sons
• Less fixed income than a traditional retirement portfolio, given large pensions and lower spending projections
• Established private real estate funds as they sold rental properties that no longer fit their life

Retirement & Income Planning

Prepared for the retirement transition by:

• Building a structured retirement income plan showing when and how to draw from different accounts — actually putting pen to paper
• Evaluating pension election and timing, and coordinating a Social Security strategy
• Establishing spending guardrails to balance lifestyle today with long-term security

Tax Planning

Focused on reducing lifetime taxes through:

• Deferring income into lower-tax retirement years
• Planning Roth conversions to reduce future taxable income
• Annual tax reviews to catch missed opportunities (including a $2,500 HSA-related correction) and collaborate with their CPA
• Coordinating quarterly tax payments for predictability and efficiency

Employee Benefits Optimization

Optimized employer benefits to improve long-term outcomes:

• Structured deferred compensation for retirement-timing efficiency
• Planned stock option exercises and employee stock purchase participation
• Integrated retiree medical planning into retirement projections

Multi-Generational Wealth Planning

As their retirement plan became clearer, the focus naturally expanded to their family. We helped design a thoughtful approach to supporting the next generation while preserving independence.

• Structured gifting to children
• Education support for grandchildren
• A charitable giving strategy to simplify giving and improve tax efficiency

Estate & Legacy Planning

We worked with their estate attorney to update documents and ensure their plan reflects their current goals, supports tax efficiency, and prepares the next generation for a smooth transfer of wealth.