How to Build a Common Sense Retirement Plan

by Ethan S. Braid, CFA | Mar 4, 2025 | Blog, Retirement Planning

Most retirement planning is done with complicated software. Unless the user is highly trained both on the software and with math and investments, mistakes frequently occur and go unnoticed. Making a mistake when building a software-based financial plan is extremely...

Never Buy an Annuity! No Stepped Up Basis. 100% Ordinary Income Tax.

by Ethan S. Braid, CFA | Feb 16, 2025 | Blog, Estate Planning, Tax Planning for Retirement

There are many reasons you should never buy an annuity; high fees, limited investment options, and surrender charges to name a few. But the number one reason to never buy annuities with after-tax funds is the tax structure. When you purchase standard investments like...

I am 60 with $2 Million Dollars. What Does my Retirement Income Look Like?

by Ethan S. Braid, CFA | Feb 12, 2025 | Blog, Retirement Planning

Over the last 25 years one of the most common questions I have received from clients is, “how much can I spend and not run out of money?” In my experience, many investors don’t know what a sustainable spending strategy looks like. Today’s article will be focused on...

Is $2 Million Enough to Retire?

by Ethan S. Braid, CFA | Jan 12, 2025 | Blog, Retirement Planning

Today I’m going to show you a simple way to quickly determine if $2 million is enough for your retirement. I’ve been a financial advisor for over 25 years and I have built hundreds of retirement plans. What I am about to show you is based upon that...

How Long Does $1 Million Last in Retirement?

by Ethan S. Braid, CFA | Jun 5, 2024 | Blog, Retirement Planning

The number of years a $1 million dollar portfolio will last a person in retirement will depend on the following four factors: Asset Allocation Spending Rate Percentage Investment Selection & Performance Behavior ASSET ALLOCATION Asset allocation is a critical...