Tag: Retirement Income Planning

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From Portfolio Performance to Purposeful Retirement Planning (Ep. 208)

From Portfolio Performance to Purposeful Retirement Planning (Ep. 208)

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Are you approaching retirement and wondering whether your investments, spending, taxes, estate plan, and future goals are all working together?

A retirement plan should do more than track portfolio performance. It should help you understand how your money can support the lifestyle you want, while accounting for income needs, taxes, market risk, family priorities, and changing circumstances.

In this episode, Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, explains how to build a retirement plan around the life you want rather than letting investment returns drive your decisions. He shares how cash flow, time horizons, risk tolerance, tax planning, estate planning, and investment decisions can work together to support both near-term needs and long-term priorities.

Larry discusses:

  • Why retirement planning should begin with your goals, priorities, and vision for the years ahead
  • How different time horizons can influence the way short-term and long-term assets are invested
  • How creating a regular retirement paycheck can make the transition away from employment income feel more familiar
  • Why taxes, Roth conversions, beneficiary designations, insurance, and estate planning need to be coordinated
  • How retirement progress can be measured by lifestyle, financial flexibility, family priorities, and long-term goals
  • And more!

Connect with Larry Heller: 

Heller Wealth Management is now part of Savant Wealth Management. Savant is a Registered Investment Advisor. This content is provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment advice.

Effective March 31, 2026, Heller Wealth Management joined Savant Wealth Management (“Savant”). A copy of Savant’s current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees is available at www.savantwealth.com/disclosure-brochures/
Planning to Sell Your Trade Business? What to Do Before Retirement (Ep. 207)

Planning to Sell Your Trade Business? What to Do Before Retirement (Ep. 207)

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How do you sell a trade business and turn decades of work into retirement income? If you’re a contractor, electrician, plumber, landscaper, HVAC professional, or another skilled-trade owner thinking about retirement, the decisions you make before the sale may affect what your business is worth, how much you keep after taxes, and how the proceeds support your retirement. 

In this episode, Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, explains what business owners should consider before selling a trade business. He covers how buyers may determine a company’s value, why clean financial records and documented processes can support a sale, and how reducing owner dependence may make the company easier to transfer. Larry also examines how the sale structure, capital gains taxes, installment payments, retained equity, retirement income planning, and estate considerations work together. Beyond the financial questions, he explores how owners can prepare for their identity, purpose, and daily life after leaving the company.

Larry discusses:

  •  How far in advance you should begin planning to sell a trade business
  • What buyers may review when determining how much a business is worth
  • Why clean financial records and documented processes can support a future sale
  • How owner dependence may affect business value and the transition to a new owner
  • And more!

Connect with Larry Heller: 

Heller Wealth Management is now part of Savant Wealth Management. Savant is a Registered Investment Advisor. This content is provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment advice.

Effective March 31, 2026, Heller Wealth Management joined Savant Wealth Management (“Savant”). A copy of Savant’s current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees is available at www.savantwealth.com/disclosure-brochures/

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Why Saving for Retirement Is Easier Than Spending in Retirement (Ep. 202)

Why Saving for Retirement Is Easier Than Spending in Retirement (Ep. 202)

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Many retirees wonder whether they can safely spend more money in retirement without jeopardizing their future. Questions about retirement income, withdrawal rates, market volatility, healthcare expenses, and the fear of running out of money often prevent retirees from enjoying the wealth they’ve accumulated. 

In this episode, Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, discusses the often-overlooked challenge of transitioning from a saver mindset to a spender mindset in retirement and why many financially secure retirees struggle to enjoy the assets they’ve accumulated.

Larry discusses:

  • Why many retirees experience anxiety around spending, even when their financial plan supports it
  • The psychological shift required when moving from accumulation to distribution
  • Common fears about running out of money and how those concerns impact retirement decisions
  • How retirement income planning can help create confidence around spending
  • And more!

Connect with Larry Heller: 

Heller Wealth Management is now part of Savant Wealth Management. Savant is a Registered Investment Advisor. This content is provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment advice.

Effective March 31, 2026, Heller Wealth Management joined Savant Wealth Management (“Savant”). A copy of Savant’s current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees is available at www.savantwealth.com/disclosure-brochures/
From Net Worth to Cash Flow, Rethinking Retirement Strategy (Ep. 197)

From Net Worth to Cash Flow, Rethinking Retirement Strategy (Ep. 197)

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Retirement can look solid on paper, but confidence doesn’t come from a number; it comes from how your money actually works for you.

In this episode, Larry Heller, CFP® breaks down why cash flow, not net worth, is the true driver of financial confidence in retirement. He explains how multiple income sources, tax considerations, and withdrawal strategies must be coordinated to create a sustainable plan. Larry also highlights the risks of relying on outdated strategies like “living off income” and why a more dynamic approach is needed. Through real-life examples and practical insights, he shows how structuring cash flow properly can reduce stress and support long-term lifestyle goals.

Larry discusses:

  • Why net worth alone doesn’t determine retirement confidence
  • How income sources, taxes, and withdrawals must work together
  • The impact of required minimum distributions and future tax brackets
  • Why “living off income” isn’t always a sustainable strategy
  • How to structure cash flow to support lifestyle and long-term goals
  • The role of liquidity and short-term cash reserves in reducing stress
  • Real-life examples of retirees with strong assets but no clear plan
  • And more!

Connect with Larry Heller: 

Heller Wealth Management is now part of Savant Wealth Management. Savant is a Registered Investment Advisor. This content is provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment advice.

Effective March 31, 2026, Heller Wealth Management joined Savant Wealth Management (“Savant”). A copy of Savant’s current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees is available at www.savantwealth.com/disclosure-brochures
What Should You Do with Your 401(k) When You Retire? (Ep. 181)

What Should You Do with Your 401(k) When You Retire? (Ep. 181)

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Your 401(k) could be your largest retirement asset, but are you making the most of it?

In this episode of Retirement Unlocked, Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, shares the essential steps to take with your 401(k) as you approach retirement. From rollover decisions and Roth conversions to income generation and estate planning, Larry covers the strategies that can help you avoid costly mistakes and keep more of what you’ve earned.

Key Topics Include:

  • When to consider rolling over your 401(k) to an IRA
  • How Roth conversions can reduce your lifetime tax bil
  • What to know about fees, investment choices, and employer stock
  • How to build a tax-efficient withdrawal strategy
  • The importance of naming the right beneficiaries
  • And more!

Whether you’re retiring soon or planning ahead, this episode is your guide to making smart 401(k) decisions so you can step into retirement with confidence.

Resources: 

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How Much Cash Should You Have in Retirement? (Ep. 179)

How Much Cash Should You Have in Retirement? (Ep. 179)

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Are you holding too much, or too little cash in retirement? 

Finding the right amount of cash to keep on hand is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when creating a retirement income strategy. The wrong decision could lead to stress, missed growth opportunities, or even long-term financial instability.

In this episode of Retirement Unlocked, Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, breaks down how much cash retirees should have in their portfolio, and why it matters more than you might think. He introduces his “retirement cash reserve strategy,” designed to help you generate steady income while protecting against market volatility.

What to expect in this episode:

  • A breakdown of bear vs. bull markets since 1945 and what they teach us about cash reserves
  • How to calculate 24–36 months of protected cash for downturns
  • The role of risk tolerance and income modeling in reserve planning
  • How to build a personal “cash reservoir” that keeps retirement stress low
  • And more!

Resources: 

Connect with Larry Heller: