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Retire Smarter & Safer — With a Plan You Can Trust

Safety-First Retirement Income Planning • Proactive Tax Strategies • Legacy That Lasts

Independent, faith-driven, and focused on helping you retire with clarity, confidence, and peace of mind.

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A calm mountain lake reflecting a dense evergreen forest and distant snow-capped peaks under a clear blue sky, conveying peaceful, secure retirement and safety-first planning.
Matthew Harris

Guided by Faith. Built on Integrity.

What Makes Me Different

As an independent planner, I’m not tied to one institution or one-size-fits-all products. I shop the entire market for the solutions best suited to you. Guided by faith and a Safety-First philosophy, I help you focus on what truly matters: confidence, clarity, and freedom in retirement.

It’s not about chasing the highest return — it’s about creating a plan that helps you sleep at night, knowing your income and future are secure.

Clarity at Every Stage

The 3 Phases of Retirement Planning

Phase 1: Accumulation — Building Wealth for the Future

Your working years are for saving, growing, and preparing with purpose.

  • Maximize 401(k), IRA, and pension contributions

  • Balance growth with risk management

  • Leverage deductions and Roth contributions

  • Position assets for tax flexibility later

Phase 2: Transition & Income Planning — The Critical Window

The years just before and after retirement are the most important — and most vulnerable.

  • Introduce Safety-First Income Planning

  • Create tax-efficient withdrawal strategies

  • Manage RMDs, bracket creep, and IRMAA surcharges

  • Protect against market downturns while staying invested

Phase 3: Retirement Management — Protecting Lifestyle & Legacy

These are your freedom years — focused on sustaining income and preserving wealth.

  • Ongoing tax planning and Roth conversions

  • Guardrail strategies for income and growth

  • Medicare, IRMAA, and long-term care planning

  • Estate and gifting strategies for heirs

Your Blueprint for a Safer Retirement

Core Strategies & Services

I build comprehensive retirement plans designed to protect, grow, and simplify your wealth using strategies that balance safety with opportunity.

Safety-First Income Planning

Portfolio Guardrail Strategies

Proactive Tax Planning

Legacy & Estate Planning

Long-Term Care Planning

Pension Optimization

Annuities & Insurance Solutions

The Foundation of Safety-First Planning

The 2-Bucket Strategy

Retirement isn’t one-size-fits-all. My 2-Bucket Strategy creates balance — one bucket for stability, one for growth — so your income feels reliable, not risky.

Bucket 1: Security & Peace of Mind
Protect wealth, maximize pensions, and create guaranteed income.

Bucket 2: Growth & Efficiency
Invest for growth, reduce fees, manage risk, and build legacy.

Older couple sitting on a log in a forest clearing, holding metal mugs and leaning together with bicycles, helmets, and a backpack nearby, conveying relaxed retirement, outdoor freedom, and safety-first planning.

Recent Blog Posts

Join over 69,000+ people who follow my weekly retirement insights, tax strategies, and case studies.

“Matthew Harris is one of a kind. He has been instrumental in gently walking us through complex financial planning scenarios, and helping us build a solid plan for the future. We first approached Matthew after watching one of his videos. We really enjoyed his approach to unwinding planning issues and laying out potential solutions. Matthew is trustworthy, responsive, knowledgeable, and has become a friend.”

Joe & Rosie G.

Florida

“My husband and I reached out to Matt for help and guidance with our 401(k) and retirement accounts. He identified some unnecessary fees that we were paying, and helped us re-allocate our investments into a much better alternative. He also recognized a key tax advantage known as a NUA (net unrealized appreciation) that allowed us to pull company stock out of our 401k only paying taxes on the original stock price (which was much lower). This alone will save us tons of money in taxes throughout retirement. 

Matt took the time to discuss and review our options, including Charles Schwab accounts and life insurance. He made the entire process smooth, easy to understand, and really educated us on our 401k’s, life insurance policies, and even Social Security benefits. He showed us a clear path on how to best use our retirement money to reach our goals for a better life in retirement.

Matt was always so patient and knowledgeable (and never pushy). He clearly worked for us and I would definitely recommend Matt to anyone looking for someone who is honest, understanding, and dedicated.

He helped us every step of the way, and if you’re thinking about retirement or want more information on financial planning, please give him a call or send him an email. I highly recommend Matt, and I can’t say enough about how pleased we were to work with him.”

Don & Vick K.

Colorado

“Matthew Harris provided excellent guidance in helping me secure an annuity for my retirement. He presented several options and took the time to walk through each plan in detail, making sure I understood all the specifics. What impressed me most was his ability to explain complex financial concepts in a way that was clear and easy to follow. He was thorough in addressing all my questions and proved to be reliable and trustworthy throughout the process. I would definitely recommend Matthew to anyone looking for knowledgeable and patient retirement planning assistance.”

Tricia P.

Florida

“Working with Matthew to get me a more stable retirement was delightful. He was always available and very easy to deal with. For me, the best part was, I felt I could trust him to recommend what was in my best interest.”

Bill K.

New Mexico

“Matthew Harris caught my attention on Instagram with his thoughtful retirement advice. My wife Beth and I were closing in on that magic time of retirement, and we felt like more advice from a professional was required. We set up time to talk with Matt, and it was really a different conversation than we expected. He wanted to know what we loved to do, asked about our two boys, cars we drive, fishing and hunting…those things most advisors don’t care about but Matt does! We were taken with his knowledge and sound advice. We took our 401ks and started investing with Matt and in year one we gained 93K (WOW). He is our advisor who is always there for us, and now our friend!! I highly recommend Matt to anyone who needs a financial plan!!”

Joe & Beth L.

South Carolina

“I recently worked with Matthew Harris on mapping out my retirement savings. He reassured me that I was on the right path and recommended several ways to approach it. I went with an annuity for a portion of my savings. I can't recommend Matt enough. He's smart, patient, and has a real gift for explaining complex financial options in a way that’s easy to understand. There is no jargon, no pressure, just clear guidance. He is always available to answer any questions. He genuinely wants what’s best for you and brings a grounded, level-headed approach to every conversation. I now consider him a friend and I’ve already recommended him to a family member and wouldn’t hesitate to do so again!”

Julia H.

Texas

I had been following Matthew on Instagram for about six months and loved all the information he regularly shared. When I was faced with a unique situation, I reached out to him directly with some questions—and I’m so glad I did. He took the time to look closely at our situation and provided multiple scenarios to consider. I consider myself ‘annuity challenged,’ and Matthew was incredibly patient, walking me through everything in a way that made sense. Retiring turned out to be more stressful than I expected, but he made the process so much easier. I can’t recommend him highly enough for anyone navigating retirement decisions.

Kimberly & Steve H.

Idaho

“As I approach retirement, I’ve been diligently researching my financial options online. Fortunately, I discovered one of Matt’s social media videos, where he thoroughly explores various “scenarios” for couples or individuals to consider in their financial portfolio strategies. His clear and detailed explanations prompted me to schedule an appointment with him. I’ve been extremely impressed by his patience, expertise, and thoughtful guidance in crafting my retirement plan. If you’re seeking trustworthy advice from a highly knowledgeable professional, I wholeheartedly recommend reaching out to Matt—we couldn’t be happier with our decision!”

Danny & Ashley G.

Florida

“Matt is one of the few people that truly holds his client's well being above his own. It is nice to find someone that prioritizes my needs and caters a plan towards my goals and not his own greatest profit. Matt has always been a great friend and I have always looked up to his character and integrity. These admirable traits are represented in every aspect of his professional and personal life.”

Tyler R.

Colorado

“Matt Harris is the first person who explained retirement planning to me in a way that actually makes sense. He created an in-depth financial plan for me which outlined my personalized financial goals, current successes, and opportunities & areas of future conversation. What I found most helpful was that he put my current investments into different visual charts showing me how my retirement will pan out over time, and provided several recommendations based on my goals. I can't thank Matt enough.”

Laura S.

Nevada

“Matthew has been a pleasure to work with, and I would recommend his services to anyone looking for sound, honest, and tailored financial planning assistance. It's nice to work with someone who does not apply too much pressure to move forward in a specific direction as Matthew has always been structured and deliberate in his advice but never overbearing. I'm confident that Matthew can provide help to anyone looking for future financial security.”

Peter H.

Colorado

Plan Ahead. Save More.

Why Tax Planning Can Save You More Than You Think

For many retirees, taxes are the single biggest expense — often larger than healthcare or housing. While most CPAs look backward, I help you look ahead. Together, we’ll reduce lifetime taxes, avoid costly surcharges, and create a lasting, tax-efficient legacy.

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Manage RMDs on your terms

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Fill lower tax brackets intentionally

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Use Roth conversions for lifelong tax-free growth

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Time Social Security and capital gains strategically

Life Isn’t About Money

Money is just a tool — a resource that creates freedom. Freedom to spend time with the people you love, pursue passions, and live retirement on your terms.

My calling is to help you step into retirement with clarity, confidence, and peace of mind.

Because retirement isn’t about money — it’s about freedom, faith, and living the life you were called to live.