Walli Miller’s journey to a comfortable and secure retirement is a testament to the power of early planning, strategic investments, and disciplined saving. Her story, featured on GOBankingRates, provides valuable insights into how following essential retirement planning steps can lead to a fulfilling retirement.
 
Early Retirement Goals
Walli set clear retirement goals with the help of a financial advisor, prioritizing saving and investing consistently. She aimed to retire by the age of 40 and worked diligently towards this goal. By starting early, she took advantage of compounding, allowing her savings to grow significantly over time.
 
Diversified Investments
To manage risk and maximize returns, Walli established a wealth management strategy that included diversified her investment portfolio across stocks, bonds, and real estate. This balanced approach helped her weather market volatility and ensured steady growth of her retirement funds. Her story highlights the importance of not putting all your eggs in one basket and regularly reviewing and adjusting your investment strategy. We would also add that diversifying how your assets are managed (active vs. Passive) is also an important consideration.
 
Conscious Lifestyle Adjustments
Walli collaborated with her financial advisor and made conscious lifestyle adjustments to free up more funds for retirement savings. She cut unnecessary expenses and lived below her means, which significantly reduced her living costs. These adjustments allowed her to save more aggressively and reach her retirement goals faster. Walli shared, “I retired from my 19-year career in public interest but have started a side hustle. I do not rely on that income, but it is a way for me to teach others to do the same and stay productive.”
 
Planning for Healthcare Costs
Understanding the potential financial burden of healthcare expenses, Walli included long-term care insurance in her retirement plan. This foresight ensured that she would not deplete her savings on medical expenses, providing her with peace of mind.
 
Creating a Spending Plan
A detailed spending plan helped Walli manage her finances effectively. She tracked her expenses, adjusted her spending habits, and ensured she lived within her means. This disciplined approach prevented overspending and allowed her to enjoy her retirement without financial stress. Walli mentioned, “I made adjustments along the way, but I have several years’ worth of history to notice which categories remained constant and which ones fluctuated the most and required flexibility.”
 
Staying Engaged and Active
Retirement for Walli was not just about financial security; it was also about maintaining a fulfilling lifestyle. She engaged in hobbies, volunteered, and stayed socially active, which enhanced her quality of life and kept her mentally and physically healthy. Walli stated, “I’ve used the same Excel spreadsheet since college and have the data to show how my income and spending have changed.”
 
Conclusion
Walli Miller’s story underscores the importance of early planning, strategic investments, and disciplined saving for a successful retirement. As we like to point out to clients, it is a series of little things, done consistently that make the difference in whether you reach your financial goals or not.

Most people lack the discipline that Walli demonstrated. For them, they may someone to guide them to reach their goals and that is where a good financial advisor can help.  If that's you?  Click the link below to get started today.

2025 has been quite a year! The President is quickly introducing new tariffs, and Elon Musk's team at the Department of Government Efficiency is rapidly downsizing the government. This has caused some market turbulence and volatility, which might lead to a recession or, for now, just a sharp correction.
​
So, how can you stay calm and collected in such a volatile market?

​Here are ten strategies to help you stay calm and focused:
​

1. Hire the Right Manager: Choose a financial advisor or wealth management professional who prioritizes risk management and downside protection. A good manager will help you navigate market volatility by implementing strategies that minimize losses and protect your investments[1].  Also see our blog post from last month “Why Professional Wealth Management Makes a Difference in Volatile Markets.”                                                                                             
2. Diversify Your Portfolio: Proper diversification can reduce risk by spreading investments across various asset classes, sectors, and geographies. This helps mitigate the impact of market fluctuations on your overall portfolio and achieve your financial goals and plans[2].                                                                                                                                                                             
3. Focus on Long-Term Goals: Remind yourself of your long-term financial objectives. Avoid making impulsive decisions based on short-term market movements. Keeping a long-term perspective or work with a skilled financial advisor who can help you stay committed to your investment plan[3].                                                                                                                                  
4. Stay Informed but Avoid Overreacting: Stay updated on market trends and economic news, but avoid making hasty decisions based on sensational headlines. Trust your financial plan and the advice of your manager[3].                                               
5. Regularly Review Your Financial Plan: Periodically review your financial plan to ensure it aligns with your goals and risk tolerance. Adjustments may be necessary as market conditions change[1].  You might want to read our post entitled “Start the New Year off with a Plan.”                                                                                                                                                                 
6. Manage Behavioral Biases: Be aware of common behavioral biases, such as loss aversion and overconfidence, that can affect investment decisions. Working with a manager who understands behavioral finance can help you make more rational choices[1].                                                                                                                                                                                           
7. Segment Your Investments: Consider assigning specific roles to different parts of your portfolio, such as short-term needs, long-term growth, and emergency funds. This simple financial planning exercise can help you manage risk more effectively and reduce anxiety during volatile periods[3].                                                                                                                             
8. Turn Down the Media Noise: Limit exposure to constant market updates and sensational news. Focus on your financial plan and avoid getting caught up in the daily ups and downs of the market[3].                                                                                        
9. Stay Invested: Staying invested through short-term market volatility can be crucial for achieving long-term growth. Reducing downside capture through asset allocation and diversification can help keep you invested while still seeking growth[2].                                                                                                                                                                                                             
10. Seek Support: Don't hesitate to discuss your concerns with your financial advisor. They can provide reassurance and help you stay focused on your long-term strategy[1].

These are just a few of the strategies that can help you manage the psychological challenges of a volatile market and stay on track with your financial goals and plans.

Do you have any specific concerns or questions about your investments?  

References
[1] Manage Emotions and Client Expectations in Volatile Markets
[2] Help clients stay invested amid market volatility - BlackRock
[3] Market Volatility: 10 Ways Advisors Calm Client Nerves - ETF.com
[4] http://www.etf.com/sections/advisor-center/market-volatility-10-ways-advisors-calm-client-nerves

In today's unpredictable financial landscape, market volatility has become an inevitable reality for investors. Professional wealth management isn't just a luxury, it's increasingly a necessity for those looking to protect and grow their assets regardless of market conditions.

Understanding Market Volatility's Impact

According to SmartAsset's February 2025 study, clients working with professional financial planners were 60% less likely to make panic-driven selling decisions during market downturns compared to self-directed investors. This disciplined approach resulted in portfolio performance that was 4.3% higher on average over a five-year period.
 
How Financial Planners Navigate Market Turbulence

A skilled financial planner brings several advantages during volatile markets:

1.  Strategic Asset Allocation

Professional wealth managers develop diversified portfolios designed to withstand market fluctuations. The SmartAsset study revealed that professionally managed portfolios maintained 15-20% in counter-cyclical assets, providing crucial stability during recent corrections.

2.  Emotional Discipline

The SmartAsset study found that 72% of self-directed investors made significant portfolio changes based on emotional reactions to market news, compared to just 18% of investors working with financial professionals.

3.  Opportunistic Rebalancing

Wealth management clients benefited from strategic rebalancing during market dips, with advisors increasing equity positions by an average of 12% during the last significant correction.

4.  Personalized Financial Planning

​Professional financial planning offers customized approaches based on your unique risk tolerance, time horizon, income needs, tax situation, and estate planning goals.
​
The February SmartAsset study highlighted that 83% of clients working with financial planners had documented investment policies that included specific volatility response strategies.

5.  The Cost-Benefit Analysis

The SmartAsset study provides compelling evidence that professional management pays for itself:

• Clients experienced average annual returns 1.8% higher than self-directed investors after accounting for all fees
• Professionally managed portfolios demonstrated 23% lower tax liabilities through strategic tax-loss harvesting
• 91% of clients reported significantly reduced financial stress during market downturns

​Finding the Right Financial Partner

​When selecting a wealth management professional, consider:

• Fiduciary status (ensuring they're legally obligated to act in your best interest)
• Experience navigating previous market downturns
• Communication style and frequency
• Fee structure transparency
• Comprehensive planning capabilities

 
Conclusion: Peace of Mind Through Professional Guidance

In an increasingly complex and volatile investment landscape, professional wealth management offers both performance advantages and peace of mind. The February SmartAsset study found that 87% of clients working with professional financial planners reported feeling confident in their long-term financial plans despite market turbulence while earning higher long-term performance on average and lowering both portfolio volatility and taxes.
 
Why not partner with us today to see if you could realize similar benefits and peace of mind.  Reach out today!

References:
SmartAsset. (February 2025). "The Value of Professional Financial Guidance During Market Volatility." SmartAsset Research Division.

​Deciding when to start taking Social Security benefits is one of the most crucial financial planning decisions you will make as you approach retirement. The timing of your claim can significantly impact your financial well-being throughout your retirement years. In this blog post, we will explore why it is essential to determine the right time to take Social Security and how we can help you in making a more informed decision.
 
Why Timing Matters
 
The age at which you begin claiming Social Security benefits affects the amount you receive monthly. Here are some key points to consider:

1. Early Claiming Reduces Benefits: You can start receiving Social Security benefits as early as age 62, but doing so will permanently reduce your monthly payments. For example, if your full retirement age (FRA) is 67 and you claim at 62, your benefits could be reduced by up to 30%1.
2. Full Retirement Age (FRA): Your FRA is the age at which you are entitled to receive 100% of your Social Security benefits. This age varies depending on your birth year but is generally around 66 to 67 for most people1.
3. Delayed Retirement Credits: If you delay claiming benefits beyond your FRA, your monthly benefit amount will increase. For each year you delay, up to the age of 70, you can receive an increase of about 8% per year. This can result in significantly higher lifetime benefits, especially if you live longer2.
4. Longevity and Health Considerations: Your health and life expectancy play a crucial role in deciding when to claim Social Security. If you expect to live longer, delaying benefits might be more advantageous. Conversely, if you have health concerns, claiming earlier might make more sense.
5. Spousal Benefits: If you are married, coordinating the timing of Social Security claims with your spouse can maximize your combined benefits. Understanding spousal and survivor benefits is essential for optimizing your overall retirement income2.

 
How We Can Help

We use a powerful financial planning tool called RightCapital. This is a powerful financial planning tool that can help you navigate the complexities of Social Security claiming strategies. Here is how it works:

​RightCapital's Social Security Optimization module allows you to compare different claiming strategies and their impact on your retirement income. You can examine the income amounts and break-even points for various filing strategies, helping you make an informed decision3.
 
Here we can see the software has computed the optimal strategy for this sample couple vs. their current desired ages for claiming social security (i.e., 62 years of age for both spouses), the difference in claiming strategy benefits is substantial at $951,513 over their expected lifetimes.

​Obviously, longevity figures into this strategy and many clients will question at what age is there a crossover or breakeven in benefits. In the case of this sample client, that breakeven is at age 77. If their family histories led them to believe they would not live to age 77, this client would obviously opt to take their benefits early. However, as a rule, most U.S. persons are living longer, and medical advances continue to extend the age the average American will survive too.

​A comparison graph allows us to look at all the options outlined by the software and to make certain judgements based on the varied scenarios as there is no one right answer for all clients. 

Finally, we can look at Social Security claiming if for example that the client had an aggressive reinvestment plan for such payments that made taking the benefits early. In this example, let us assume the client was involved in private equity and these funds would benefit from reinvestment at return rates greater than 10% per annum.
​
In this case, the entire strategy is turned upside down and the couple then benefits from retiring earlier at age 67 for each (still not the early retirement they had initially desired).

Conclusion
Determining the right time to take Social Security is a critical decision that can have a lasting impact on your retirement income. By understanding the factors that influence your benefits and using tools like RightCapital, we can help you make informed decisions that maximize your financial well-being. Whether you choose to claim early, at your FRA, or delay until age 70, we can provide the insights and guidance you need to make the best choice for your unique situation.
​
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further assistance with your financial planning and wealth management!
 
1Charles Schwab Guide on Taking Social Security 
2 The Motley Fool on Social Security Benefits 
3 RightCapital Social Security Optimization Tool

There is no better time to reexamine where you are financially than the new year!  Along with the more common goals to lose weight, work out more and take up some new hobby, planning for your financial future (or at least reviewing that plan) should be on everyone's list of the goals or priorities for the new year. 

Strangely, it is not all that common for Americans to have such planning.  According to the website Spendmnot, only 1 in 3 Americans have some kind of long-term financial plan.  According to the same site, 70% of Americans say their financial planning needs work.

Here at InTrust Advisors, we recently updated our financial planning software to RightCapital from another provider.  The switch was quite frankly about lowering our annual software cost, but RightCapital has won us (and the clients that we have worked with it so far) over.  It is simple to use and highly visual/intuitive.
 
The software provides clients with a clean looking dashboard/snapshot outlining important KPIs related to their finances including:

• The probability of success for the proposed plan.
• Their net worth.
• Their effective tax rate.
• A balance sheet of their assets.
• An asset simulation of their proposed plan.
• A tax allocation summary.
• Their current investment allocation.
• To dos/notes.

 
All in a clear one-page snapshot or dashboard.
 
Either with our help or in some cases on their own, you/we can then dig into each of these areas, make changes as appropriate for changing goals or circumstances, come up with action plans and more.    Here is what those Snapshot looks like for a sample client:

​Once the software profile information is updated for asset values, expected income, savings, financial goals and expenses, it gives the user a clear understanding of the probability of achieving those goals seen above at the Probability of Success or below as the Retirement Analysis (Current Plan).

In this sample case for a pre-retirement client, the current plan has a lower than acceptable probability of success than one would like at just 46%.
 
However, we made a few changes to the plan and, just like that, the probability of success rose to a more acceptable level of 84%.  
 
The action items tab above pulls down and here is where those changes are made in real-time while sharing information back and forth between the client and the advisor.  These changes are shown as the Proposed Plan below.

​In this sample case, the following changes were made to the base case:

• The monthly retirement expenses were cut from $8,000 to $7,000 on the back of less travel or maybe consolidating autos or any number of reasons.
• Pre-Retirement taxable savings assumptions were raised by $10,000 per annum. 
• Retirement ages were raised from 62 to age 67.
• The investment allocation was adjusted to a balanced approach. 
• Social security was optimized for the maximum benefit.
• A customized tax strategy was implemented.
• An updated Education strategy was also implemented.

 
The result was a clear plan and peace of mind for this client, and this is just a small subset of the capabilities of the software as we can dig deeper into such strategies as:

• Roth IRA conversion strategies
• Distribution strategies
• Social Security claiming strategies
• Insurance coverages and the adequacy of such coverages
• Savings strategies
• Spending strategies in retirement
• Investment allocations
• Estate planning
• and more.

Maybe we can help you gain the same peace of mind that a clear plan brings?

Click here to reach us and find out more

Ready to get started with RightCapital now?  It is free and easy to get started.  Click the link below to get started.