🔍 Snapshot of Their Financial Picture

• Jason (60) has $400,000 in his 401(k)
• He’s still contributing the max + receiving an $8,000 match
• Ashton (60) owns a business and has built up a $700,000 SEP IRA
• She’s contributing $70,000 per year
• They have $250,000 in cash (not earmarked for retirement)
• They expect a $200,000 inheritance they plan to use for long-term care
• At age 65, they’re eligible for a combined $4,200/month in Social Security

Their goal: $9,000/month in secure, market-proof income starting at 65.

✅ Step 1: Repositioning the SEP IRA for Guaranteed Income

To remove the stress of market volatility from their retirement income, we looked at repositioning Ashton’s SEP IRA into a market-proof income strategy.

Here’s what we did:

• Moved $650,000 into a different SEP IRA allocated to an income annuity
• This contract came with a $130,000 immediate income credit
• The income base will grow at a guaranteed 8% per year until age 65

At retirement, this strategy guarantees:

➡️ $5,414/month in lifetime income
➡️ Fully shielded from any market downturns
➡️ Zero reliance on stock performance

Combined with their Social Security, they now have:

🔒 $9,614/month of stable, predictable income
 📉 And 80% of their total retirement income is insulated from market risk

📈 Step 2: Investing for Long-Term Growth

Since their essential expenses are now covered with guaranteed income, we can invest the remaining 401(k) and SEP IRA assets more strategically:

• Assuming 4–8% annual returns, their remaining investments should grow to $758,000 — $890,000 by age 65
• This can generate an additional $2,500–$4,500/month in retirement income
• Best part? These assets are now positioned for growth, not just preservation.

📊 The Outcome: Financial Confidence + Flexibility

By combining guaranteed income with growth-oriented investments, Jason and Ashton are on track for:

• $12,000–$14,000/month in total retirement income
• Flexibility to adapt, spend, or leave a legacy
• Confidence knowing that market volatility won’t derail their lifestyle

And most importantly — their plan reflects how they want to live in retirement… not just what they can afford to live on.

Final Thoughts

Retirement isn’t about maximizing every dollar — it’s about creating security, freedom, and peace of mind.

If you’re unsure how to balance market risk with lifetime income, or whether your portfolio can truly support your ideal retirement…

Let’s chat. 💬