Ready to slow down, not stop.
At 58 he was earning $780k a year and operating four days a week. He wanted to stop surgery at 60 and keep a clinic day, but did not know if the numbers allowed it.
- $780kannual income before stepping back
- 5years from full-time to retired
- 3income sources to coordinate
His practice would buy out his partnership share over five years, his clinic income would fall each year, and his wife planned to keep working until 62. Spending had grown with his income, and he worried about drawing on savings too early.
He wanted to know what each year would look like before telling his partners.
Five years, one glide path.
The lead advisor modeled every year of the transition with the couple and their practice accountant, and set the investment policy with our portfolio team.
- 01
Map the income steps
We laid out each year's clinic pay, buy-out payments and his wife's salary, and set a household spending level that holds through all five years.
- 02
Use the lower-income years
Falling income opened room for Roth conversions and for maximizing his last years of retirement plan contributions.
- 03
Delay the drawdown
The portfolio is not touched until year four; until then it stays invested for growth, with two years of spending moved to short-term bonds before he fully retires.