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Case Study #1

Carl & Christine

Work Optional

Primary goals:

Reduce taxes, improve investments, and create a reliable stream of income in retirement.


Starting off right:

Carl (61) and Christine (59) don't have a set retirement date. Not because they can't retire, but because they're not sure when (or if) they want to stop working.  Carl is an engineer at General Motors and Christine is a respected veterinarian. 

They both enjoy their careers.  They have worked for decades to excel in their fields, and they are not ready to leave their passions simply because they’re nearing traditional retirement age. Their work adds purpose to their lives.  

The challenge is not overcoming any financial mistakes, they have been doing many things right:

  • Generating high six-figure incomes
  • Maxing out retirement accounts
  • Paying off all of their debts

The challenge:

Carl and Christine wonder if they're missing something.  Is their current plan right for them?

They admit... they don't know what they don't know.

As they approach the next stage of life, they want an expert to help them make strategic decisions with their money.  They also want help navigating taxes.

The approach:

Carl and Christine were not sure where to begin, which is why they pursued professional help from a financial planner.  Plus, they are busy and do not want to get bogged down by trying to figure our everything out on their own.



The results:

When Carl and Christine hired a financial planner, they were concerned about more than just their investments.  They wanted help with the entire financial picture.

A comprehensive plan was put together that met all their needs:

  • A more tax-efficient retirement funding strategy that helped optimize their last few years of higher employment income.
  • An investment strategy to reduce investment costs, lower volatility, and provide for a more secure income stream.
  • A tax-smart retirement plan that aligned all their sources of income (pensions, social security, rental, etc).
  • A blueprint for helping reduce their lifetime tax bill through charitable giving, Roth conversions, social security timing, and more!

Carl and Christine now enjoy the peace of mind that comes from a clear financial plan.  They have more energy and mental space to dedicate toward what they enjoy - knowing they have the choice to retire when the time is right.

Note: The above case study is hypothetical and does not involve an actual RWS client.  No portion of the content should be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience the same or certain level of results or satisfaction if RWS is engaged to provide investments advisory services.