RETIREMENT
At Surity Advisors, we’re all about people—not just portfolios. The questions our clients ask matter to us, because behind every question is someone looking for clarity or simply a conversation. Here are some of the most common questions we hear—chances are, you’ve wondered about a few of these too.
RETIREMENT Q&A WITH SURITY ADVISORS
That’s where strategy meets flexibility. If a shortfall appears, we explore ways to close the gap—like saving more now, reallocating your investments, working a bit longer, adjusting spending in retirement, or using income-generating tools like annuities. Our goal is to help you reach the summit without unnecessary risk or sacrifice.
Great question. The final step in your climb is ongoing monitoring. Life happens—jobs change, health shifts, the market moves—so we revisit your plan regularly and adjust. Whether you’re years from retirement or already descending the mountain, we’re here as your guide.
Taxes are like unpredictable weather—you need to prepare for them. We help you understand how each type of retirement account is taxed (pre-tax vs. post-tax), how to avoid early withdrawal penalties, and how to manage required minimum distributions (RMDs). For example, traditional IRAs and 401(k)s grow tax-deferred but are taxed on withdrawal, while Roth IRAs offer tax-free withdrawals (if qualified). We also make sure your plan reflects RMD timing and avoids unnecessary penalties—sometimes as high as 50%!
We coordinate your retirement accounts with your estate plan to help prevent unexpected tax or legal consequences for your heirs. And with Social Security, we help determine the right time to claim benefits based on your income, life expectancy, and marital status—especially since up to 85% of your Social Security benefit could be taxable depending on your income.
You don’t have to climb this mountain alone. We’re your financial guide—helping you choose the best path, carry the load, and adjust the route when needed. As Certified Financial Fiduciaries, we are legally and ethically bound to put your best interest first, always. Retirement should feel like a peak moment, not a guessing game. With the right plan, you'll know exactly where you’re headed—and feel confident getting there.
Think of retirement as your personal mountain summit. Retirement planning is the detailed map that helps you reach that peak—prepared, confident, and secure. At Surity Advisors, we consider a wide range of variables: your current financial position, future goals, expected expenses, income sources, taxes, and more. We use modeling techniques and tax-smart strategies to assess whether your current path leads to success—or if a new trail might serve you better.
Ideally, now. Whether you’re still climbing or nearing the top, planning is essential. Retirement isn’t a moment—it’s a long stretch of the trail, and the earlier we can help you plan, the better prepared you'll be. We start by identifying your short- and long-term goals, then build a tailored strategy to reach them.
Not at all. No matter where you are on your climb—just starting out or nearing the summit—we’re here to help. You don’t need to bring a specific number to the table. We work with individuals and families across all wealth ranges and all stages of retirement planning. Whether you're building wealth, securing it, or preparing to pass it on, we have flexible strategies and solutions tailored to where you are now and where you want to go. Every climber deserves a guide, no matter how high they’ve climbed.
That’s step one: determining your retirement income needs. A common approach is to aim for 60–100% of your current income. Another is to project your future expenses and adjust for inflation. We also consider factors like paying off a mortgage, increased healthcare costs, and the possibility of a longer life. It’s not just about getting to retirement—it’s about thriving once you’re there.
Your income sources are the basecamps along your climb. We’ll assess all of them: Social Security, pensions, 401(k)s, IRAs, annuities, SEP and SIMPLE IRAs, and even part-time income. We project the future value of these assets using conservative growth rates—typically 4% to 5%—so we don’t overestimate. This helps us build a reliable plan that reveals whether you’ll face a shortfall or a surplus.
