Let’s face it, retirement planning isn’t easy. And frankly, most of what you’ll find online offers one-size-fits-all advice that falls short of real life.

At Martello Retirement, we don’t believe in generic rules of thumb. Instead, we help you understand your number and, more importantly, what it represents. Because asking “How much should I be saving for retirement?” is just the starting point. The better question is: Are you on track for the retirement you actually want?

The Retirement Puzzle Has More Than One Solution

Most people approach retirement planning as if there’s one big finish line, a “magic number” to reach. But here’s what we know: your retirement isn’t a math problem to solve; it’s a puzzle to design. The pieces look different for everyone, and your final picture will depend on how you want to live.

Here are a few of the most important and often overlooked pieces of the retirement puzzle:

Your Retirement Lifestyle

Do you plan to travel the world, move closer to family, or pick up part-time work doing something you love? These aren’t just dreams; they directly impact how much you need. Generic retirement calculators don’t ask these questions. We do.

Longevity

The uncomfortable truth: You might live longer than you think, and that’s a good thing if you’re financially prepared. A 25 to 30-year retirement isn’t uncommon. Your money needs to last, and we build plans that reflect that reality. 

The $60 you spend on groceries today might be $100 in 10 years. Ignoring inflation is a fast track to outliving your money. We factor it in from day one.

Healthcare Costs

Medicare doesn’t cover everything, and unexpected medical expenses can derail even a solid retirement plan. We help you anticipate those costs instead of reacting to them.

Market Volatility

Let’s be blunt: markets go down. If your entire strategy is built on market returns, it’s built on sand. We help you create a plan that doesn’t fall apart when the markets dip.

Don’t Worry If You Don’t Have All the Answers (Most People Don’t)

You don’t need to walk into our office with a perfectly filled-out spreadsheet. In fact, we expect you not to. Part of our process is helping you discover the pieces of your puzzle; sometimes, the questions matter more than the answers at first. We meet you where you are. And we build from there.

Understanding Your Financial Toolkit

There are a few core retirement tools that nearly everyone will need to understand, and we help demystify them for you:

• 401(k)s and IRAs: These tax-advantaged accounts are often your retirement foundation. But which mix is right for you?

• Roth Accounts: Future tax-free withdrawals sound great, but should you contribute now or later? We weigh the tradeoffs based on your unique income and goals.

• Social Security Benefits: It’s a cornerstone, not a complete plan. We help you time your benefits for maximum impact. Claiming Social Security too early can reduce your lifetime payout. We’ll help you decide when to start.

• Medicare Coverage: Vital, but not all-encompassing. We show you how to budget for the “gaps.”

When working with Martello Retirement and Wealth, you’ll realize that we don’t just list your retirement plan options; we help you optimize them.

Taxes in Retirement: The Most Overlooked Threat to Your Nest Egg

Here’s the part most advisors gloss over: taxes don’t retire just because you do. We treat tax planning as a central strategy to your retirement finances, not an afterthought.

Every Dollar Isn’t Equal

A dollar from your Roth IRA is worth more than a dollar from a Traditional IRA, because of how it’s taxed. How and when you withdraw matters. A lot.

Sequence of Withdrawals

Taking money in the wrong order can unnecessarily increase your tax bill and reduce your Social Security benefits. That’s why we map out your withdrawal strategy in advance.

Tax Bracket Awareness

The difference between staying in a 12% bracket versus bumping into the 22% can come down to timing. We help you navigate that line.

Flexibility > Perfection

Plans are built with today's best information, but life doesn’t follow a spreadsheet.

• The market drops? We pivot.

• Your medical needs changed? We adapt.

• Congress rewrites tax laws? We respond.

A good retirement plan doesn’t just aim for the bullseye. It knows how to recalibrate when the target moves. That’s why we review your plan together regularly, we do not just set it and forget it.

Are You On Track? Here's What That Really Means

It’s not about whether you’re hitting an arbitrary savings goal. It’s whether your current plan is aligned with your desired future, and whether it can hold up when life throws curveballs.

At Martello, we focus on five critical checkpoints:

• Are you saving with a purpose or just saving “because you should”?

• Do you understand how your accounts work and how they’re taxed?

• Are you building in buffers for inflation, healthcare, and market drops?

• Do you have a withdrawal strategy and not just an accumulation strategy?

• Does your plan evolve as your life changes?

If you’re unsure about any of these, it’s time to reassess.

Final Thoughts: Your Future Deserves More Than a Guess

Retirement planning doesn’t start with chasing a number, it starts with understanding your life and designing a strategy around it. It requires clarity, adaptability, and smart tax planning.

At Martello Retirement and Wealth, we specialize in solving this puzzle with you, not for you. Our job is to guide, educate, and help you move forward with confidence. And if we’re doing it right, you’ll not only feel more secure, you’ll feel seen.

Ready to Know If You're on Track?

Let’s make your retirement goals more than wishful thinking. Schedule a free retirement strategy consultation with Martello Retirement and get clear on your next best step.

Not Ready to Meet Just Yet? That’s okay. Start by getting clarity though one of our self-guided quizzes:

• Your Retirement Risk Readiness Quiz: Discover where you may have exposure in your retirement plan. This quick assessment highlights the areas that could have the greatest impact on your future—and helps you decide what to focus on next.

• Your Estate Planning Readiness Review: Evaluate how prepared you are when it comes to protecting your legacy. This quiz identifies potential gaps in your estate planning so you can take steps to ensure your wishes are clearly documented and legally supported.

These aren’t tests, they’re tools to help you think more clearly about what matters most. Try one or both today, then schedule a free retirement strategy consultation when you're ready to plan with purpose.

Disclaimers:

Martello Retirement and Wealth, LLC is a Registered Investment Adviser. For more information about our firm, including our services, fees, and conflicts of interest, please refer to our Form ADV Part 2A, available on our website at https://www.martelloretirement.com/l/adv.

This content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to provide specific tax, legal, or investment advice. Tax laws are complex and subject to change. Always consult with a qualified tax professional or attorney regarding your specific situation before making any tax-related or estate-planning-related decisions.

Past performance or hypothetical scenarios are not indicative of future results.

There are no guarantees that any tax or estate planning strategies discussed will achieve specific outcomes or avoid future tax liabilities.

The information provided is general in nature and does not consider your individual circumstances, financial goals, or needs. Personalized financial or tax advice can only be provided after a comprehensive understanding of your personal situation.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, any tax advice contained in this communication is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code.