Retirement Planning That Puts Taxes at the Center
Helping Pre-Retirees and Retirees Coordinate Tax Planning, Retirement Income, Investments, Estate Planning, and Risk
Based in Westchester, Illinois, serving clients throughout the Western Chicago suburbs and beyond.
Our Five-Pillar Retirement Planning Process
Retirement isn't one decision. It's a series of interconnected decisions about taxes, income, investments, risk, and your legacy. Our process brings them together into one coordinated plan.
1
Retirement Tax Planning
Taxes are one part of the retirement equation—but they can affect many other decisions.
We consider tax planning as part of the broader retirement strategy, including questions involving Roth conversions, required minimum distributions, Social Security taxation, retirement withdrawals, and coordination with your tax professional.
2
Retirement Income Planning
Retirement changes the question from “How much have I saved?” to “How will I use it?”
We evaluate retirement income sources, withdrawal strategies, Social Security, and the relationship between your spending needs and available assets.
The objective is to develop a retirement income strategy that reflects your circumstances, priorities, and financial plan.
3
Retirement Risk Planning
A retirement plan has to account for more than investment markets.
We review potential risks that could affect your financial plan, including property and casualty insurance and umbrella coverage, along with other areas of risk that may be relevant to your circumstances.
4
Retirement Investment Planning
Your investment strategy doesn't exist separately from your retirement plan.
We consider your investment strategy in the context of your retirement timeline, income needs, financial circumstances, and tolerance for investment risk.
That includes considering how your portfolio may fit into the broader plan before and during retirement.
5
Estate Planning Review
Retirement planning also raises a different question: what happens to your assets after you're gone? What if you get sick?
We review your estate planning arrangements and consider how they fit with your broader financial plan. When appropriate, we coordinate with your attorney and other professional advisers.
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Why Harbor Wealth?
Tax-Focused
We put tax planning at the center of your retirement strategy.
Taxes can affect how you invest, when you withdraw money, when you claim Social Security, and how your estate is ultimately transferred. We coordinate tax considerations with the rest of your financial plan rather than treating taxes as an afterthought.
Independent
Our planning starts with your goals and circumstances.We take a comprehensive approach to financial planning, coordinating your retirement income, investments, tax considerations, estate planning, and risk management.
Multigenerational
Planning for your retirement—and what comes next.
Our approach is designed to help clients navigate the transition into retirement while creating a financial plan that can adapt as life changes and family needs evolve.
Are any of these keeping you up at night?
1
How can I reduce my lifetime tax bill?
- Should I be doing a Roth conversion?
- Will my Social Security Benefit be taxed more than I expect?
2
Is my portfolio invested properly for retirement?
- How do I turn my savings in monthly income?
- What happens to my income if the market drops?
3
Can I afford to retire?
You don't have to have it all figured out-
That's what we're here for
Retirement Planning for Clients in the Western Chicago Suburbs and Beyond
Harbor Wealth is based in Westchester, Illinois, and works with pre-retirees and retirees throughout the western Chicago suburbs and beyond.
We serve clients throughout Westchester, Downers Grove, Burr Ridge, Bolingbrook, and surrounding western Chicago communities, as well as clients outside the immediate area.
We're Probably Not What you Expect
We're not here to sell products or try to beat the market.
What Most Advsiors Do
Most advisors start with your investments.
They review your portfolio.
Talk about market performance.
Recommend funds.
And spend most of the meeting discussing returns.
The conversation usually centers around:
- Investment performance
- Asset allocation
- Market forecasts
- Product recommendations
While taxes often become an afterthought.
What We Do Differently
We Start With Taxes.
In retirement, it's not just what you earn. It's what you keep.
Before we discuss investments, we want to understand:
- Are you paying more in taxes than necessary?
- Should Roth conversions be part of your plan?
- How will future RMDs affect your retirement?
- Can we reduce the taxation of Social Security?
- How can we create retirement income more tax-efficiently?
- What opportunities exist today that may disappear tomorrow?
Only after we build the tax strategy do we design the investment strategy.
