Retirement Financial Planner: What to Know Before You Hire One

Key Takeaways

• A retirement financial planner helps you turn decades of savings into reliable income, manage retirement taxes, and protect against risks like longevity and inflation—going far beyond basic investment advice.

• Most typical advisors focus primarily on investments and charge around 1% per year in fees, but often leave gaps in tax coordination, estate planning, and income strategy.

• Revolutionary Wealth integrates retirement taxes, estate planning, financial planning, and wealth management into a single coordinated approach—something most firms handle in disconnected silos.

• We use specific technology tools including eMoney, Wealth.com, Black Diamond, Nitrogen, and BizEquity to deliver a clear, visual, and continuously updated retirement experience.

• Revolutionary Wealth delivers this integrated service at up to about 46% lower cost than the typical advisor—schedule a callto see how this approach could work for your situation.

You’ve spent 30 or 40 years building retirement savings. Now comes the harder question: how do you actually turn those assets into income that lasts through your 80s and beyond?

This is where a retirement financial planner becomes essential—not just to manage investments, but to coordinate Social Security timing, RMD strategies, tax-efficient withdrawals, and estate planning into a cohesive strategy. The challenge is that most advisors don’t approach retirement this way. They focus on investments, charge their 1% fee, and leave the tax and estate pieces for someone else to figure out.

This guide will walk you through what a retirement planner actually does, how they typically charge, and what to evaluate before signing any agreement. Then we’ll show you how Revolutionary Wealth takes a fundamentally different approach—integrating every piece of the retirement puzzle under one lens and doing it at a fraction of typical industry costs.

What Is a Retirement Financial Planner?

A retirement financial planner is a specialized professional who focuses on helping people—typically between ages 55 and 75—transform accumulated assets into sustainable retirement income. Unlike a general investment advisor who might work with clients across all life stages, a retirement planner zeroes in on the specific challenges that arise when you stop earning a paycheck and start drawing down what you’ve saved.

This means coordinating decisions around Social Security claiming (should you start at 62, 65, or delay to 70?), pension elections, required minimum distributions after age 73, tax-efficient withdrawal sequencing, and estate planning—all centered around your target retirement date.

Accumulation vs. decumulation planning:In your 30s and 40s, the strategy is relatively straightforward—save as much as possible, invest for growth, and let time do the heavy lifting. Making regular contributions to retirement accounts can reduce your taxable income, offering valuable tax advantages and allowing your investments to grow tax-deferred until withdrawal. Decumulation in your 60s and 70s is entirely different. You’re managing:

• How to withdraw money without running out by age 95

• Which accounts to tap first (traditional IRA, Roth IRA, taxable brokerage)

• How to minimize taxes over a 30-year retirement

• How to protect against a market crash in your first few years of retirement

When considering IRAs and Roth IRAs, it’s important to note that individuals must be eligible to contribute to certain accounts or benefit from specific tax deductions, making eligibility a key factor in effective retirement planning.

You may encounter various titles in the industry: financial planner, retirement planner, wealth manager, fiduciary advisor. These roles often overlap, but in retirement, the priorities should shift toward income reliability, tax management, and risk control rather than pure asset growth.

For example, a retirement financial planner might design a strategy for a 63-year-old who wants to retire at 67—projecting year-by-year cash flows, determining when to claim Social Security, planning Roth conversions before RMDs begin, and ensuring the money lasts through age 95 or beyond.

Why Planning Retirement Is Different From Just Investing

The years from about age 59 to 67 are often called the “retirement red zone.” During this window, the decisions you make—or fail to make—can have a permanent impact on your finances for the next three decades.

This period matters more than almost any other because sequence-of-returns risk becomes real. A 20% market drop in your first three years of retirement, while you’re withdrawing 4-5% annually, can deplete your principal so severely that the portfolio never recovers—even if markets eventually bounce back. Retirees can expect market volatility, inflation, and income projections to play a significant role in shaping their financial outcomes, so it’s important to base your plans on reasonable forecasts and assumptions. Someone who retires into a bull market may end up with twice the legacy of someone who retires into a bear market, even with identical savings and spending.

The key risks in retirement include:

Consider this scenario: a retiree with $1.5 million in traditional IRAs is required to take RMDs starting at age 73. If they haven’t done any Roth conversions in their 60s, those forced withdrawals could push them into the 24% or even 32% federal tax bracket—and trigger higher Medicare IRMAA premiums on top of it. Unplanned RMDs can easily cost $50,000 or more in unnecessary taxes over a decade.

The contrast with working years is stark. While employed, you might contribute a fixed percentage to a 401(k), choose a target-date fund, and largely ignore it. In retirement, the withdrawal strategy is as important as the investment mix itself—maybe more so. Drawing 5% from the wrong account in the wrong year can create tax consequences that compound for the rest of your life.

Core Services a Retirement Financial Planner Typically Provides

Most reputable retirement planners offer a bundle of services covering retirement income planning, investment management, tax coordination, and estate guidance. However, the depth and integration of these services vary dramatically from one firm to the next.

Retirement income planninginvolves building a year-by-year cash-flow projection from roughly age 60 to 95 or beyond. This includes coordinating Social Security claiming decisions (which can differ by tens of thousands of dollars in lifetime benefits depending on timing), pension options, annuity income, and the sequence of withdrawals from various accounts.

Investment managementmeans designing a portfolio across your IRA, Roth IRA, 401(k), and taxable accounts. Most planners use diversified mutual funds or ETFs tailored to your risk tolerance and time horizon, often shifting toward more conservative allocations as you move deeper into retirement.

Tax strategy (typical advisor version)is where many planners fall short. They might address basic issues—like holding bonds in IRAs and stocks in taxable accounts—but often stop there. Multi-year tax projections showing cumulative tax liability through age 90? Detailed Roth conversion ladders? These are frequently missing from standard advice.

Estate and legacy basicstypically include prompting you to update your will, powers of attorney, and beneficiary designations. But without deep integration to your financial and tax plan, the estate strategy often exists in a separate silo.

For business owners, many advisors offer basic guidance on employer sponsored plan options like SEP IRAs or SIMPLE/401(k) plans. It's important to include employees in these retirement solutions and investment services, ensuring that the benefits of employer-sponsored plans extend to the entire workforce. But complex exit planning—timing a business sale to minimize tax implications while coordinating with personal retirement—is rarely part of the package.

How Retirement Financial Planners Charge Fees

Understanding how retirement planners charge is crucial before hiring anyone. Most operate under one of four models: assets under management (AUM), flat planning fees, hourly rates, or a combination.

AUM feesare the most common. The typical structure is around 1% per year on the first $1,000,000—meaning if you have $1 million invested with an advisor, you’ll pay approximately $10,000 annually. On a $1.5 million portfolio, that’s $15,000 per year. Over a 20-year retirement, at 1% annually, you may lose roughly 28% of your final wealth to fees—even if the advisory fee looks modest on paper.

Commission and product-based compensationis how some advisors—particularly those at insurance companies or as a registered broker dealer—get paid. They earn money by selling mutual funds, annuities, or insurance products. This creates potential conflicts of interest, which is why you should ask any prospective advisor: “Are you a fiduciary at all times, across all services and accounts?”

Flat and hourly feesoffer an alternative. Some fiduciary planners charge $2,000-$6,000 for a one-time retirement plan or $250-$500 per hour. This can be cost-effective for investors who want guidance but prefer to manage investments themselves.

Hidden costs to watch for:

• Trading costs within your accounts

• Internal fund expenses (expense ratios)

• Annuity surrender charges (which can lock up your money for years)

• Other fees buried in product disclosures

Before signing anything, ask a prospective planner directly: “What will you earn from my accounts and products in the first year, and each year after that, assuming I have $X with you?” A trustworthy advisor will answer this clearly and in writing.

Key Areas to Review Before Hiring a Retirement Financial Planner

Before signing an agreement with any retirement financial planner, evaluate at least five critical areas: credentials, fiduciary status, retirement specialization, planning process, and communication style.

Credentials to look for:

• CFP (Certified Financial Planner):Requires 4,000-6,000 hours of experience and rigorous exams covering retirement, taxes, estate, and insurance

• CPA (Certified Public Accountant):Indicates deep tax knowledge

• RICP (Retirement Income Certified Professional):Specialized focus on income sustainability

Fiduciary standard:A fiduciary is legally required to act in your best interest at all times. However, some advisors are fiduciaries only under certain accounts or services—not across everything they do. Ask explicitly: “Are you a fiduciary 100% of the time, for every recommendation you make?”

Retirement specialization:Ask how many clients the advisor currently serves between ages 60 and 75 who are already drawing retirement income. What percentage of their practice focuses on decumulation rather than accumulation?

Planning process and tools:Request specifics about how often the plan is updated, what software powers their projections, and whether you’ll receive written, year-by-year retirement projections you can actually understand.

Communication rhythm:Clarify meeting frequency upfront. Will you meet 2-4 times per year? How quickly does the team respond to emails or calls? Do they help coordinate with your CPA and estate attorney?

Questions to bring to your first meeting:

• What certifications do you hold specific to retirement planning?

• Are you a fiduciary for all services and all accounts?

• What percentage of your clients are between 60 and 75?

• How often will we update my retirement plan?

• What technology do you use for projections and what-if scenarios?

• How do you coordinate with my CPA and attorney?

• What exactly will I pay in fees—in dollars, not just percentages?

Retirement Years and Lifestyle: Envisioning Your Future

Retirement planning is about more than just building up your retirement savings—it’s about creating a vision for your future and making sure your money supports the lifestyle you want in your retirement years. Before you finalize your retirement plan, take time to imagine what a secure retirement looks like for you. Do you dream of traveling the world, spending more time with family, or finally pursuing hobbies you’ve put off for years? Your retirement goals should guide every decision you make.

Once you have a sense of your ideal retirement, estimate your expected expenses. Consider both essential costs—like housing, healthcare, and daily living—as well as discretionary spending for travel, entertainment, or gifts. Next, review your income sources. This might include Social Security benefits, pensions from a current or former employer, and withdrawals fromretirement accountssuch as individual retirement accounts (IRAs) or employer-sponsored plans like a 401(k).

A well-structured retirement plan brings all these elements together, helping you balance your income and expenses so you can enjoy your retirement years with confidence. For many, working with a financial advisor provides the personalized advice needed to align your retirement accounts, Social Security strategy, and pension options with your unique goals. The right plan ensures your money lasts as long as you do—and supports the retirement lifestyle you’ve worked so hard to achieve.

Managing Retirement Risk: Protecting Your Nest Egg

Protecting your nest egg is one of the most important aspects of retirement planning. Even with substantial retirement savings, investment risks—like market downturns or unexpected expenses—can threaten your financial security. That’s why it’s essential to have a strategy for managing risk as you transition from saving to spending.

Start by reviewing your retirement accounts, including IRAs and employer-sponsored plans, to ensure your investments are diversified across different asset classes such as stocks, bonds, and annuities. Diversification can help reduce the impact of market volatility and protect your principal. Be mindful of contribution limits and the tax implications of your investment choices, as these can affect both your current savings and your future retirement income.

It’s also important to understand that all investments carry some level of risk, including the possible loss of principal. Securities offered through registered broker-dealers are subject to market fluctuations, and even the most carefully chosen assets can experience downturns. That’s why many retirees benefit frompersonalized advice—an experienced retirement planner can help youassess your risk tolerance, adjust your investment mix, and create a plan that prioritizes a secure retirement.

By proactively managing investment risks and regularly reviewing your retirement plan, you can help ensure your savings continue to support your lifestyle throughout your retirement years.

What Makes Revolutionary Wealth Different From a Typical Retirement Financial Planner

Here’s where we need to draw a sharp contrast with the typical approach.

Most advisory firms—including many large national competitors—treat investments, taxes, estate planning, and retirement income as separate conversations. You get an investment report from one person, tax advice from another (or none at all), and a vague suggestion to “talk to an estate attorney” without any integration. This fragmented approach often leaves money on the table through inefficient withdrawals, unnecessary taxes, and missed planning opportunities.

Revolutionary Wealth operates differently. We focus on integrating retirement taxes, estate planning, comprehensive financial planning, and wealth management into a single, coordinated strategy. Every recommendation we make gets evaluated through a unified retirement lens.

As an independent B2C wealth management firm, we manage over $100 million directly and provide personalized advice on more than $500 million annually. Our primary focus is on pre-retirees and retirees—especially those between ages 59 and 67—along with business owners who need both personal and business planning handled together.

Who we intentionally serve:

• Single, divorced, or widowed women who want confidence and clarity around their finances

• Business owners earning over $500,000 annually who need integrated exit and retirement planning

• Pre-retirees or retirees who sense that their current advisor is missing the tax and estate piece

What this looks like in practice:

A 62-year-old business owner wants to exit by age 65. We don’t just run an investment report—we coordinate the business valuation, model the tax implications of different sale structures, design Roth conversions in the gap years before RMDs, and ensure the estate plan reflects the new liquid wealth. All of this connects to a single retirement income projection showing whether the plan works through age 95.

A recently widowed 64-year-old with $1.2 million in her late husband’s IRA needs clarity—not sales pitches. We build a year-by-year cash flow model, optimize Social Security survivor benefits, recommend a Roth conversion strategy before RMD age, and ensure beneficiary designations align with her estate wishes.

This integrated approach isn’t just more convenient. Studies indicate skilled advisors who integrate tax strategies, investment management, and planning can boost effective annual returns by approximately 3%—which compounds to 1.8 times more wealth over 20 years. That’s the difference between leaving a meaningful legacy and running short.

Our Integrated Retirement Planning Approach at Revolutionary Wealth

We structure our work around a coordinated, four-part approach: retirement tax strategy, retirement income planning, estate and legacy design, and ongoing wealth management—all reviewed together each year.

Retirement tax strategystarts with multi-year projections spanning from roughly age 60 to 90+. We model Roth conversions, RMD timing after age 73, Social Security taxation thresholds, and Medicare IRMAA brackets. The goal is to minimize cumulative lifetime taxes—not just this year’s bill.

Retirement income planninginvolves modeling year-by-year cash flows across every account type: traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, 401(k)s, taxable accounts, fixed indexed annuities, pensions, and Social Security. We design a withdrawal sequence that creates stable income while controlling taxes and managing investment risks.

Estate and legacy planningmeans helping you design and organize wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives—often implemented through Wealth.com. We ensure beneficiary designations align with both the tax strategy and income plan, so your heirs don’t face unnecessary complications or possible loss of value.

Wealth managementincludes disciplined investment management aligned with your risk tolerance and time horizon. We use Nitrogen to quantify risk profiles and Black Diamond for institutional-grade reporting, monitoring your portfolio to keep the plan on track as markets and circumstances change.

For business owners specifically:We incorporate business exit planning, defined benefit and cash balance plans, and valuation tools using BizEquity. If you’re planning to sell or transition a business, we coordinate that event with your personal retirement timing so you don’t get hit with an unexpected tax bill that derails your retirement goals.

Every client receives a written, living plan—updated regularly—and all advice flows from that plan rather than one-off product sales.

Technology We Use to Power Your Retirement Plan

Revolutionary Wealth leverages a full technology stack to give you clear, visual, and up-to-date insights into your entire financial life—not just a quarterly statement that arrives three weeks late.

eMoneypowers our interactive retirement projections and cash-flow modeling. This platform runs Monte Carlo simulations testing your portfolio survival rate across thousands of market scenarios. Want to see what happens if you retire at 65 instead of 67? Or do $50,000 per year in Roth conversions from 2026-2030? We model it in real time, so you can see the trade-offs before you decide.

Wealth.comsupports modern, attorney-reviewed estate planning documents, secure document storage, and digital organization of wills, trusts, and beneficiaries. This eliminates the scattered folders and outdated paperwork that create chaos for families—and often reduces legal fees by streamlining the documentation process.

Black Diamondprovides consolidated account views and performance reporting. You can see all your accounts—individual retirement account holdings, 401(k)s, Roth IRAs, taxable portfolios—in one place with intuitive dashboards. No more logging into five different websites to understand your full picture.

Nitrogenquantifies your risk tolerance with a clear “risk score” so you know whether your current mix is too aggressive heading into retirement. It helps align your portfolio emotionally—not just mathematically—so you can sleep at night when markets get volatile.

BizEquityhelps business owners estimate the value of their company and test different exit scenarios. Those valuations tie directly back to your personal retirement readiness, so you’re not guessing whether a sale at 63 versus 68 makes sense.

The result is a client experience where you can actually see your retirement plan, run scenarios yourself, and understand exactly what’s happening with your money.

How Our Fees Compare: Up to About 46% Less Than Typical Advisors

Many traditional advisors charge around 1% per year on assets under management. For a $1,500,000 portfolio, that’s $15,000 annually—$150,000 over a decade, and potentially $300,000 or more over a 30-year retirement.

Revolutionary Wealth’s pricing structure is designed to be both transparent and significantly lower on an all-in basis. When compared to common national-firm pricing and bundled planning costs, we often come in at up to about 46% less for a similar—or higher—level of integrated service.

A simple comparison:

The savings aren’t just about keeping more money in your account. They reflect our efficiency gains from technology, our focus on retirement-specific planning (rather than trying to be everything to everyone), and our commitment to delivering integrated services without forcing you to hire separate professionals for taxes, estate, and investments.

We’re transparent about all fees in advance, in writing, and we encourage prospective clients to compare costs and services line by line with competing proposals. If another firm offers more value for less cost, you should go with them. We’re confident that won’t happen often.

How Revolutionary Wealth Works With You Step by Step

Working withour teamfollows a clear process designed specifically around retirement decisions.

About Us

Step 1: Discovery

We start with an initial call and meeting to learn about your situation. When do you want to retire—or have you already? What lifestyle do you envision? Do you own a business that needs to be part of the plan? We review your current savings, account statements, recent tax returns, and any existing estate documents.

Step 2: Design

Using eMoney, we build a draft retirement plan that models multiple scenarios: different retirement ages, various Social Security start dates, Roth conversion strategies, and legacy goals. Then we present the results in plain English—not jargon-filled reports you need a finance degree to interpret.

Step 3: Implementation

Once we agree on a strategy, we help open or transfer accounts, coordinate with your CPA and attorney, set up defined benefit or cash balance plans if appropriate, and implement investment or annuity solutions when they serve your plan. Securities offered through proper channels, and insurance products recommended only when they genuinely fit.

Step 4: Ongoing Review

Retirement planning isn’t a one-time event. You’ll meet with us regularly—at least annually, often more frequently in the first few years of retirement—to review progress, discuss market changes, address tax law updates, and adjust for any new goals or circumstances. We reach out proactively before key milestones: hitting RMD age, approaching Medicare enrollment, or preparing for a business sale.

The result is personalized support that evolves as your life evolves.

Call to Action: Speak With a Retirement Financial Planner at Revolutionary Wealth

If you’re between 59 and 67, approaching retirement or recently retired, and feeling uncertain about taxes, income, or timing—clarity is one conversation away.

We invite you to schedule a no-obligation introductory call with Revolutionary Wealth. This isn’t a sales pitch. It’s a chance to review your current retirement picture, examine your existing accounts and assets, and stress-test whether your current plan actually works through age 90 and beyond.

During the call, we’ll discuss:

• Your target retirement timing and lifestyle expectations

• Social Security claiming strategies and optimal timing

• RMD projections and potential Roth conversion opportunities

• Your current investment strategy and whether it matches your actual risk tolerance

• Tax-saving opportunities over the next 5-10 years

To make the conversation as productive as possible, gather:

• Recent investment and retirement account statements

• Last year’s tax return (or last two years)

• Social Security statements

• Any pension or annuity information

• Existing wills, trusts, or powers of attorney

For resources and guidance on financial planning and managing your lifestyle, visitLifestyle | Revolutionary Wealth Inc.

You’ve spent decades building your retirement savings. Now it’s time to ensure that money actually supports the retirement years you’ve earned—without unnecessary taxes, avoidable risks, or fragmented advice from multiple professionals who don’t talk to each other.

Book your call with Revolutionary Wealth todayand discover what integrated retirement, tax, and legacy planning can mean for your secure retirement—at a cost often up to about 46% less than typical advisors.

Frequently Asked Questions About Retirement Financial Planners

When should I start working with a retirement financial planner?

The ideal time is typically 5-10 years before retirement, usually around ages 55-62. This window provides enough time to optimize how much you save, adjust investment risk appropriately, and implement tax strategies like Roth conversions that can save significant money over your lifetime.

That said, people already in retirement can still benefit enormously—especially when facing RMDs at age 73, unexpected Social Security tax surprises, or questions about legacy planning. If you’re within this range and unsure whether your numbers actually work, even an initial consultation can reveal whether you’re on track or need to adjust course.

Do I really need a retirement planner if I’ve already saved a lot?

Having a large balance—say $1,000,000 or more across your 401(k)s and IRAs—solves the savings problem but creates new challenges around distribution, taxes, and estate planning. Higher balances typically mean bigger RMDs, higher Medicare IRMAA brackets, and potentially larger estate complications if planning isn’t coordinated.

A retirement planner adds value by determining the optimal sequence for withdrawals, managing taxes over decades rather than just one year, and ensuring your money supports both your lifestyle and your legacy goals. The larger your assets, the more the details matter.

How often should I meet with my retirement financial planner?

Most retirees benefit from at least one in-depth annual review, plus additional check-ins during major life events, tax season, or after significant market moves. For those in the first 2-3 years of retirement or immediately following a business sale, more frequent touchpoints—perhaps twice yearly—help you adjust to new income patterns and tax realities.

At Revolutionary Wealth, our process includes scheduled reviews and proactive outreach before key ages and deadlines. We don’t wait for you to call us when something seems off.

What documents should I have ready before my first planning meeting?

The most helpful items include recent investment and retirement account statements, your last 1-2 years of tax returns, Social Security statements, any pension or annuity information, and existing wills, trusts, or powers of attorney. Having these allows the planner to build an accurate initial picture and identify quick wins—like obvious tax inefficiencies or risk mismatches—in the very first conversation.

We provide a simple pre-meeting checklist so the process feels organized rather than overwhelming.

How is Revolutionary Wealth different from my current broker or insurance agent?

Many brokers and insurance agents focus primarily on selling investments or insurance products. They may provide legal or tax advice only in limited contexts, and their compensation often depends on which products you purchase—creating potential conflicts. A consultant in this model may not consider how your investments, taxes, and estate plan connect.

Revolutionary Wealth operates as an independent advisory firm focused specifically on pre-retirees and retirees. We coordinate retirement income, tax strategy, estate planning, and wealth management using advanced planning tools like eMoney, Wealth.com, Black Diamond, Nitrogen, and BizEquity. If you already work with someone, consider seeking a second opinion that compares not just investment performance and fees, but the depth of retirement tax planning, RMD strategy, and legacy planning you’re actually receiving. The claims paying ability of any insurance products and the guarantees they offer should be evaluated alongside your complete financial picture—not sold in isolation. Securities products are not insured or guaranteed by any federal government agency, such as the NCUA, and may involve risk of loss, so it is important to understand these risks when planning for retirement.

Disclosures:

This blog contains general information that may not be suitable for everyone. The information contained herein should not be construed as personalized investment advice. There is no guarantee that the views and opinions expressed in this blog will come to pass. Investing in the stock market involves gains and losses and may not be suitable for all investors. Information presented herein is subject to change without notice and should not be considered as a solicitation to buy or sell any security. Revolutionary Wealth LLC does not offer legal or tax advice. Please consult the appropriate professional regarding your individual circumstance.Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Mutual Funds are sold by prospectus. Please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing in Mutual Funds. The prospectus, which contains this and other information about the investment company, can be obtained directly from the Fund Company or your financial professional. Be sure to read the prospectus carefully before deciding whether to invest. An investment in the Fund involves risk, including possible loss of principal.

Rebalancing/Reallocating can entail transaction costs and tax consequences that should be considered when determining a rebalancing/reallocation strategy.

A REIT is a security that sells like a stock on the major exchanges and invests in real estate directly, either through properties or mortgages. REITs receive special tax considerations and typically offer investors high yields, as well as a highly liquid method of investing in real estate. There are risks associated with these types of investments and include but are not limited to the following: Typically no secondary market exists for the security listed above. Potential difficulty discerning between routine interest payments and principal repayment. Redemption price of a REIT may be worth more or less than the original price paid. Value of the shares in the trust will fluctuate with the portfolio of underlying real estate. Involves risks such as refinancing in the real estate industry, interest rates, availability of mortgage funds, operating expenses, cost of insurance, lease terminations, potential economic and regulatory changes. This is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation or an offer to buy the securities described herein. The offering is made only by the Prospectus. 

Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protect against a loss in a declining market. It is a method used to help manage investment risk.

Converting an employer plan account or Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA is a taxable event. Increased taxable income from the Roth IRA conversion may have several consequences including but not limited to, a need for additional tax withholding or estimated tax payments, the loss of certain tax deductions and credits, and higher taxes on Social Security benefits and higher Medicare premiums. Be sure to consult with a qualified tax advisor before making any decisions regarding your IRA.

Indexed annuities are insurance contracts that, depending on the contract, may offer a guaranteed annual interest rate and some participation growth, if any, of a stock market index. Such contracts have substantial variation in terms, costs of guarantees and features and may cap participation or returns in significant ways. Any guarantees offered are backed by the financial strength of the insurance company. Surrender charges apply if not held to the end of the term. Withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income and, if taken prior to 59 ½, a 10% federal tax penalty. Investors are cautioned to carefully review an indexed annuity for its features, costs, risks, and how the variables are calculated.

Not associated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration, Medicare or any other government agency. Maximizing your Social Security Benefits assumes foreknowledge of your date of death. If as an example you wait to claim a higher monthly benefit amount but predecease your average life expectancy, it would have been better to claim your benefits at an earlier age with reduced benefits.

Please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing in Variable Annuities. The prospectus, which contains this and other information about the variable annuity contract and the underlying investment options, can be obtained from the insurance company or your financial professional. Be sure to read the prospectus carefully before deciding whether to invest.

The investment return and principal value of the variable annuity investment options are not guaranteed. Variable annuity sub-accounts fluctuate with changes in market conditions. The principal may be worth more or less than the original amount invested when the annuity is surrendered.

QLACs cannot be purchased with Roth or Inherited IRA dollars; value of such IRAs cannot be included in determining 25% premium limit. If Funding Source is Traditional IRA, 25% limit is calculated by combining the total value of all Traditional IRAs as of December 31st of the previous year. If Funding source is Employer sponsored qualified plan (401k, 403b and governmental 457b), 25% limit is calculated on an individual plan basis based on the plan’s account value on the previous day’s market close. If you previously purchased a QLAC, the calculation of your 25% limit is more complicated. Please contact an attorney or tax professional for additional details. Any guarantees of the annuity are backed by the financial strength of the underlying insurance company.

The projections or other information generated by Monte Carlo analysis tools regarding the likelihood of various investment outcomes are hypothetical in nature, are based on assumptions that you provide which could prove to be inaccurate over time, do not reflect actual investment results, and are not guarantees of future results. Results may vary with each use and over time.