🏖️ Retirement Planning

Find a Retirement Planning Advisor

Specialists in retirement income, 401(k) rollovers, Social Security optimization, and building a plan that lasts 30+ years.

Search Retirement Advisors →

What a Retirement Planning Advisor Does

Retirement is the most complex financial transition most people ever make. A specialist handles every piece.

📊

Retirement Income Planning

Map out exactly how to draw from your 401(k), IRA, taxable accounts, and Social Security to minimize taxes and make your money last.

⏰

Social Security Optimization

Claiming at the right age can increase lifetime benefits by $50,000–$150,000. A specialist runs the numbers for your specific situation.

🔄

401(k) & IRA Rollovers

Rollover mistakes are costly and often irreversible. A retirement advisor guides you through transitions between jobs, plans, and account types.

Who Needs a Retirement Planning Advisor?

✓ You're within 5–10 years of retirement and need a concrete drawdown plan
✓ You're deciding when to claim Social Security and want the math done correctly
✓ You're changing jobs and need to roll over a 401(k) without costly mistakes
✓ You need to convert traditional IRA funds to Roth during a low-income year
✓ You're trying to optimize Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) starting at age 73
✓ You want to understand how healthcare costs and Medicare interact with your retirement plan

Questions to ask when hiring

"Do you specialize in retirement income planning specifically?"
"How do you approach Social Security timing decisions?"
"Can you help with Roth conversion strategy?"
"Are you a fiduciary at all times?"

What Retirement Planning Advice Costs

Retirement planning advisors use the same fee structures as general advisors, here's what to expect.

One-time retirement plan

$2,000–$5,000

Full retirement roadmap, Social Security analysis, drawdown strategy

Ongoing AUM management

0.5%–1% / yr

Best for portfolios $250K+ with ongoing investment management

Annual retainer

$2,500–$6,000/yr

Flat-fee ongoing planning, accessible at any portfolio size

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I start working with a retirement advisor? ▼

Ideally 5–10 years before your target retirement date. This gives enough lead time to optimize Roth conversions, adjust your asset allocation, stress-test your plan, and coordinate Social Security timing. That said, it's never too late, even one year out, a retirement specialist can help you sequence income streams and minimize taxes.

How much do I need to retire? ▼

The most widely used rule of thumb is 25x your annual expenses (the '4% rule'). If you spend $60,000/year, you need roughly $1.5M to retire safely. But this varies significantly based on your Social Security benefit, other income sources, health costs, and risk tolerance. Use our retirement calculator for a personalized estimate.

What is a fee-only retirement advisor? ▼

A fee-only retirement advisor is paid exclusively by you, no commissions from annuity sales or financial product referrals. This is critical for retirement planning, where commission-driven advisors often push expensive annuities. Fee-only advisors can still discuss annuities objectively because they have no financial incentive to recommend them.

Ready to build your retirement plan?

Find a fee-only CFP® who specializes in retirement income, no minimum account balance required.