Your Retirement Toolkit: Essential Financial Checklists for Peace of Mind

Simplifying Your Annual Financial Review

One of the core promises of Becker Retirement is to simplify the complexities of your financial life. We believe a secure retirement comes from disciplined, easy-to-follow actions, not overwhelming analysis. Use this toolkit to ensure you cover all critical areas of your plan each year.

Checklist 1: Investment Management Review

This checklist ensures your portfolio is still aligned with your long-term stability and income goals, not just chasing market trends.

• Review: Do my asset allocations still match my agreed-upon risk tolerance?
• Action: Have I rebalanced my portfolio (selling high, buying low) to maintain my target allocation?
• Check: Are my fees and expense ratios competitive across all accounts (401(k), IRA, brokerage)?
• Verify: Have I contributed the maximum amount to all tax-advantaged accounts (e.g., Roth or Traditional IRA/401(k))?

"Confidence in retirement comes not from predicting the future, but from having a reliable system in place to manage the present."

Checklist 2: Income Planning & Cash Flow

Once in retirement, managing where your income comes from is crucial for maximizing longevity and tax efficiency.

• Confirm: Do I have enough liquid cash (Bucket 1) to cover my next 1–3 years of expenses, shielding me from market drops?
• Evaluate: Have I finalized my Social Security claiming strategy, or is it time to re-evaluate the optimal start date?
• Budget: Have I reviewed my essential vs. discretionary spending to ensure my withdrawal rate is sustainable?
• Tax Efficiency: Am I utilizing tax-efficient withdrawal strategies (e.g., drawing from taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free accounts in the right order)?

Checklist 3: Estate & Risk Mitigation

These items ensure your plan is legally sound and fully protected against unexpected events.

• Legal Documents: Are my Will, Living Trust, and Powers of Attorney (Financial and Health) current and stored securely?
• Beneficiaries: Have I checked the beneficiary designations on all my life insurance, IRAs, and 401(k)s? (These supersede your Will!)
• Insurance: Have I reviewed my liability coverage and determined if I need long-term care insurance?
• Debt: Am I minimizing or eliminating any high-interest debt that could strain my retirement cash flow?

The Value of One-on-One Guidance

While these checklists are a powerful start, they can't replace the expertise of a professional. At Becker Retirement, we walk through these steps with you, providing the one-on-one education you need to understand why you're making each decision, ultimately building your confidence in your financial future.