We do love it when someone refers a family member or friend to us. Sometimes the question is, “How can we introduce them to you?” Well, there are multiple ways but a very easy way is to simply forward them a link to this webpage.
Here are this week’s items:
Portfolio Update: Murs and I have recorded our portfolio update for May 19, 2025
The Peace of Mind Pathway – Step 2 – Implementation
Radon and Murs discuss the second step in the Peace of Mind Pathway—Implementation. This is where the planning becomes reality. After building your personalized retirement roadmap, it’s time to put your financial planning for retirement into motion. ...
The Peace of Mind Pathway – Step 2 – Implementation
In The Peace of Mind Pathway™: Your Roadmap , we laid the foundation. We got to know your goals. We clarified your income needs, investments, taxes, and healthcare decisions. Now, it’s time to bring that plan to life—with care, clarity, and coordination. That’s where Implementation, the second phase of our Peace of Mind Pathway™, comes in…
Retirement isn’t a single decision. It’s a series of carefully timed moves, thoughtful adjustments, and proactive strategies.
In The Peace of Mind Pathway™: Your Roadmap , we laid the foundation. We got to know your goals. We clarified your income needs, investments, taxes, and healthcare decisions. Now, it’s time to bring that plan to life—with care, clarity, and coordination.
That’s where Implementation, the second phase of our Peace of Mind Pathway™, comes in.
From Paper to Action
After the planning work in the Peace of Mind Roadmap™ phase—including your Introduction, Planning, and Strategy meetings—you now have a complete financial plan built around your goals.
Phase 2 is where that plan comes to life.
Implementation means more than just opening accounts or shifting investments. It means putting strategies into action: transitioning accounts, adjusting investments, initiating estate planning, coordinating tax strategy, and handling key retirement decisions like Medicare or long-term care. It’s the moment when your plan starts actively working for you.
We serve as your single point of contact through it all—keeping everything aligned, simplified, and fully coordinated.
What Happens During Implementation?
Implementation looks a little different for everyone, but this phase includes:
Transferring assets to your new custodian
Applying your personalized retirement income strategy
Executing your investment bucket strategy for retirees
Every part of this phase is implemented with clarity and care.
Transferring Your Assets
Once you decide to move forward, we begin by transitioning your assets into your new accounts. This includes:
Opening IRAs, Roth IRAs, and brokerage accounts as needed
Signing transfer paperwork
Moving investments “in-kind” (without selling them during the transfer)
We know this is a big decision, one we do not take lightly. We monitor and communicate every step of the process to help you feel confident and informed.
Common Question: Will I Miss Market Gains During the Transfer?
No. With in-kind transfers, your investments move as-is, so you stay fully invested and there is no disruption to your exposure in the market.
Activating Your Investment Strategy
With assets in place, we can see your full financial picture in real time and begin fine-tune and apply your investment plan using the bucket strategy discussed during the Peace of Mind Roadmap™ phase:
Cash Bucket – For near-term spending and emergency reserves
Safety & Income Bucket – Structured for reliable, predictable income and reduced risk
Growth Bucket – For long-term growth and inflation protection
This structure is designed to bring clarity and calm, by aligning your portfolio with your risk tolerance, income needs, and long-term goals— ensuring a steady stream of income, even in volatile markets.
Estate Planning (Simplified & Included)
If you don’t already have an estate plan in place, this becomes one of the top priorities in the implementation phase. Your Peace of Mind Pathway™ includes guidance on:
Wills
Powers of Attorney
Health care directives
Revocable living trusts (when appropriate)
Even better, your estate plan is flexible. If you make changes down the road, you’re not penalized. Updates are easy, quick, and all included as part of your relationship with us.
Retirement Tax Strategy: From Talk to Action
Taxes can be one of the biggest expenses in retirement, and retirement tax planning is not something to be ignored or delayed. Implementation starts a proactive approach by:
Analyzing your current and projected tax brackets
Developing multi-year tax strategies to reduce lifetime tax burden
This isn’t just a one-time meeting. Tax strategy includes year-round support from our in-house tax strategist, Taylor Wolverton, CFP®, Enrolled Agent. She helps you with:
Roth conversion planning
Withholding optimization (to avoid April 15 surprises)
Charitable giving strategies, including:
Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)
Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs)
Tax strategy is ongoing, flexible, and customized to your evolving needs.
Frank and Lily came to us unsure if a Roth conversion was worth it. Five years later, their strategy reduced their lifetime tax burden by over $300,000—all from a series of quiet, confident moves that started in Implementation.
Medicare & Healthcare Coordination
Healthcare decisions matter—for both your well-being and your wallet in retirement. Whether you’re retiring before 65 or approaching Medicare eligibility, finding healthcare plan that fits your timeline and budget comes into focus in the Implementation phase.
We connect you with our in-house Healthcare Professional specializing in Medicare, Shawn Southard, who offers:
Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D guidance
Help choosing between Supplement and Advantage plans
Private insurance strategies before age 65
These are important decisions. We make sure you don’t navigate them alone.
Long-Term Care Planning
We take a realistic, balanced approach to long-term care planning. For many, this is one of the biggest unknowns in retirement.
Fortunately, options have improved significantly in recent years:
Hybrid policies with better benefits
More affordable premiums
Flexible coverage for different levels of care
Implementation includes a thoughtful discussion about whether insurance is necessary and how much coverage fits your needs.
How Long Does Implementation Take?
Implementation is a deliberate process. It doesn’t happen overnight—and that’s by design. This means taking small, intentional steps to ensure clarity, comfort, and confidence. Every situation is different, but here’s a general timeline to help set expectations:
Day 1–10: Asset transfer begins
Day 30–45: Investment strategy finalized and deployed
Months 2–6: Address estate planning and tax strategy
Months 6–12: Dive deeper into healthcare and long-term care planning
This step-by-step process ensures thoughtful decisions at every turn.
Flexibility is Built In
Your plan is never set in stone. Implementation is just the beginning. If your goals change or life throws a curveball, we continue to adapt your Peace of Mind Pathway™ with you.
And remember: everything you see here is included in one transparent fee. You won’t get separate invoices for tax strategy, estate planning, or Medicare coordination. We keep it simple.
What Comes Next?
Implementation is not the end of the journey—it’s the beginning of your retirement lifestyle. Once your plan is in motion, we move into Phase 3: Nurture. This includes monitoring performance, adjusting to life changes, and maintaining regular communication.
Stay tuned for Phase 3: Nurture, where we walk through how we continue supporting you for the years to come. Until then, if you’re curious about what Implementation could look like for you, we offer a complimentary 15-minute call.
Schedule your call and learn how the Peace of Mind Pathway™ can help you move from planning to progress—with confidence.
We do love it when someone refers a family member or friend to us. Sometimes the question is, “How can we introduce them to you?” Well, there are multiple ways but a very easy way is to simply forward them a link to this webpage.
Here are this week’s items:
The Retirement Checklist Challenge
Radon Stancil and Murs Tariq discuss the Retirement Checklist Challenge, a structured approach to evaluating how prepared you are for retirement. The goal of the challenge is to help you assess your readiness by scoring yourself on 34 key factors that contribute to a Secure Retirement Plan....
Radon Stancil and Murs Tariq introduce a Retirement Checklist covering Retirement Income Planning, Tax-Efficient Retirement Strategies, Medicare and Retirement, Long-Term Care Planning, Risk Management, and Estate Planning for Retirees. The goal of the challenge is to help you assess your readiness by scoring yourself on 34 key factors that contribute to a Secure Retirement Plan….
Today we’re going to walk you through the Retirement Checklist Challenge. This checklist covers five crucial areas: income planning, medical and healthcare, advanced financial planning, risk management, and tax-efficient strategies. Whether you’re preparing for retirement or already retired, this checklist helps you assess your preparedness and identify areas that need attention.
The goal? Score as high as possible—ideally, a perfect 34 out of 34! If your score is lower, it might be time to consult a financial professional to bridge any gaps. At the end of this blog, we’ll tell you how to get your complimentary copy of the Retirement Checklist so you can find your score. Let’s get started!
The Five Key Categories of the Retirement Checklist Challenge
1. Income Planning: Will Your Money Last?
One of the biggest fears retirees face is running out of money. Even if you’ve saved diligently, market downturns, unexpected expenses, and inflation can impact your financial security. The Retirement Checklist Challenge ensures you have a solid plan in place by addressing the following questions:
Do you have a clear budget or spending plan for retirement?
Have you identified your essential and discretionary expenses?
Do you know where your income will come from? (Social Security, pensions, investments, rental income, etc.)
Have you considered tax implications on different income sources?
Have you optimized your Social Security strategy to maximize benefits?
2. Medical and Healthcare Planning: Are You Covered?
Healthcare costs can be one of the biggest expenses in retirement. Planning ahead ensures you’re not caught off guard by unexpected medical bills or long-term care needs. Here are key considerations:
Do you understand your Medicare options and have a plan in place?
If retiring before age 65, have you considered health insurance options?
Have you factored in potential long-term care needs?
Do you have a Health Savings Account (HSA) or other healthcare funding strategies?
Medicare and long-term care planning are critical components of a secure retirement plan, ensuring you have adequate coverage for the future.
3. Advanced Financial Planning: Are Your Finances in Order?
Beyond basic budgeting and income planning, financial planning for retirement involves evaluating fees, estate planning, and overall financial structure:
Do you understand the fees associated with your investment accounts and financial advisor?
Have you reviewed your estate plan (wills, trusts, power of attorney)?
Have you updated beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and insurance policies?
Many retirees overlook estate planning, but having these documents in place protects your loved ones and ensures your wishes are carried out.
4. Risk Management: Are You Prepared for Market Volatility?
Market fluctuations are inevitable, so having a risk management strategy is key to preserving your wealth:
Have you assessed your risk tolerance as you approach retirement?
Does your retirement investment strategy include non-correlated assets?
Do you have a plan in place to protect against market downturns?
Having a balanced mix of assets, including alternative investments, can help minimize risks while still providing growth opportunities. If your risk exposure feels too high, adjusting your portfolio to align with your retirement goals may be necessary.
5. Tax-Efficient Strategies: Are You Minimizing Your Tax Burden?
Taxes don’t stop when you retire—strategic tax planning can help maximize your savings and reduce unnecessary tax burdens:
Have you considered Roth conversions to minimize taxable income later?
Are you taking advantage of charitable giving strategies for tax efficiency?
Have you planned for Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from retirement accounts?
Do you have a strategy to minimize Social Security taxation?
Tax planning isn’t just about filing returns—it’s about implementing proactive strategies to reduce what you owe over time.
How to Get Your Retirement Checklist Score
This challenge isn’t just about completing a checklist—it’s about ensuring you have a secure retirement plan in place. If you’re working with Peace of Mind Wealth Management, our goal is that you easily score 34 out of 34!
What If Your Score Is Low?
If your score is below 30, don’t panic! It just means there are areas where you may need professional guidance. Whether it’s retirement income planning, Social Security strategies, estate planning, or risk management, we can help tailor a strategy that fits your needs.
To get your copy of the Retirement Checklist Challenge, simply email us at info@pomwealth.net or call our office at 919-787-8866 and request the Retirement Challenge checklist. It’s a fillable document that allows you to assess your readiness and identify areas for improvement.
Secure Your Retirement with a Plan
Retirement isn’t something you should leave to chance. Taking control now means enjoying financial stability later. The Retirement Checklist Challenge helps ensure you’re on the right track, giving you peace of mind as you approach retirement.
If you’d like more information on this topic, check out the article “Retirement Planning: The Key Steps to Retiring Comfortably”.
