The Situation

Sam and Dan have spent decades building careers and raising a family. Sam has been a dedicated federal employee at NIH for over 20 years. Dan has worked across multiple roles over the years, with a career path that looked a little different from Sam’s more linear trajectory.

Together, they raised two children, put them both through college, and kept life moving — but along the way, their own finances took a back seat. They were great savers and consistently put money away, but never really sat down to build a plan around it.

As retirement got closer, they started doing their homework — attending webinars, reading articles, asking questions. But the answers weren’t always consistent, and at times they felt like they were being sold products rather than given real guidance. Now, with retirement two years away, the questions got louder: Do I have enough to retire? When do I take Social Security? Should I pay off the mortgage first? Will we actually be okay? Can we still help the grandkids with college?

They wanted real answers — not another sales pitch.

The Approach

Sam and Dan knew they needed someone who had done this before — specifically for federal employees navigating retirement. They wanted an expert who understood FERS, TSP, and all the moving pieces that come with a government career.

Just as importantly, they wanted to actually understand the decisions being made for them. No jargon. No black box. They wanted clarity, confidence, and the peace of mind that someone was looking out for their best interests — not a commission check.

The Results

Sam and Dan were excited to work with someone who could do more than just manage their investments.

They received a comprehensive plan that incorporated:

• A personalized net worth map — bringing together everything they owned, from their home to an old 401(k) they’d nearly forgotten about, alongside their TSP, Roth IRA, brokerage account, and inherited mutual funds

• A retirement investment strategy tailored to their comfort level and risk tolerance, designed to meet their goals without unnecessary exposure

• Detailed cash flow planning that incorporated Sam’s FERS annuity, Social Security benefits and optimal claiming timing for both spouses, and a small pension Dan had from a previous employer

• Life insurance review of their existing group life coverage and a whole life policy purchased years ago — making sure they weren’t overpaying for protection they may not need

• Retirement income strategies to ensure they could retire comfortably, travel the world, and never have to worry about running out of money — plus college funding strategies for their four grandchildren

• Tax planning to project future RMDs, identify strategies to reduce lifetime taxes, and maximize what gets passed on to their children

• Estate planning guidance to make sure assets were titled correctly and would transfer efficiently — including help drafting foundational documents like a will, power of attorney, and medical directives

• Long-term care planning so they had a strategy in place before it became an urgent need

• Charitable giving strategies, including qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) down the road, to give back in a tax-smart way

Sam and Dan now have a clear picture of where they stand and exactly where they’re headed. Retirement in two years isn’t just a hope anymore — it’s a plan. They know when to claim Social Security, how to draw down their accounts, and how to fund their grandchildren’s education without sacrificing their own security.

Most importantly, they finally have the peace of mind they were looking for — knowing the decisions ahead of them are backed by a team that’s always in their corner.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​