Your retirement deserves more than guesswork; it deserves a plan.
Retirement isn’t just about reaching a specific age; it’s about building a strategy that can evolve in line with your life, taxes, markets, and goals. And if you're planning to retire and you’re trying to make sense of it all, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is who helps guide that strategy.
I believe that working with a financial advisor should bring clarity, not complexity. But not all advisors are built the same. And the wrong fit? That can cost you far more than just fees.
So, how do you find the right financial advisor for your retirement?
Let’s walk through the essentials, because who you choose to guide your future matters.
The closer you get to retirement, the more the stakes rise. You’ve spent decades building your wealth. Now it’s time to turn that wealth into a reliable, tax-efficient income stream. That’s a big shift, from accumulation to distribution and it’s where things can get tricky.
Here’s the reality:
You only get one shot at retiring well.
Mistakes in withdrawal timing, Social Security, tax strategy, or risk exposure can compound over decades.
And generic advice (or one-size-fits-all portfolios) simply won’t cut it.
In my experience, retirement planning is less about reaching a particular net worth and more about structuring your assets in a way that supports your lifestyle, absorbs shocks, and adapts over time. That’s why choosing a retirement-focused, fiduciary advisor is critical.
Use this checklist to evaluate any advisor you're considering:
Look for an advisor who is legally obligated to act in your best interest at all times.
Many advisors are held to a “suitability” standard, meaning they only have to recommend what's suitable, not necessarily what’s best for you. At Martello, fiduciary responsibility isn’t optional; it’s foundational.
Ask Your Retirement Advisor This:
Are you a fiduciary at all times, or only under certain circumstances?
Are you legally obligated to act in my best interest?
How do you handle conflicts of interest in your recommendations?
You can ask your advisor directly, or you can download our Client Commitment to Fiduciary Care template. Asking an advisor to sign this document will help you understand exactly where he or she stands.
Retirement is a very different challenge than building wealth in your 30s or 40s. You need someone who understands the complexity of turning assets into income without triggering unnecessary taxes, penalties, or risks.
When I sit down with clients, I focus on how we can turn what they’ve saved into a dependable income strategy that protects them from outliving their money, unexpected expenses, and future tax surprises. Here are the key areas a good financial advisor will help you navigate as you plan your retirement:
A good advisor knows that pulling money out of your accounts isn’t just about cash flow, it’s about sequence of returns risk, tax bracket management, and longevity. A proper withdrawal strategy can help ensure you don’t outlive your money.
After age 73, you’re required to start withdrawing from your retirement accounts. The right retirement advisor helps clients reduce their tax impact and often plan Roth conversions in earlier retirement years to minimize future RMD pain.
This isn’t just about claiming as early or late as possible. For example, I model different scenarios to help you understand the ripple effects of your decision, not just on you, but on your spouse, taxes, and long-term security. Is your financial advisor doing something similar?
You worked hard to build your savings and the right financial advisor shows you how to spend it wisely. That means drawing down assets in the most tax-savvy way possible.
Healthcare costs are one of the biggest threats to retirement success. The right retirement advisor will incorporate projected premiums, inflation, and care needs into your overall retirement plan.
Ask Your Retirement Advisor This:
What percentage of your clients are within 10 years of retirement?
Can you explain how you help clients turn their savings into income?
How do you help clients prepare for things like Medicare, RMDs, and long-term care?
Do you include Social Security and healthcare in the retirement plan or treat them separately?
A surprising number of advisors avoid tax conversations altogether. But taxes can be one of the biggest expenses in retirement. Your advisor should be modeling:
Roth conversions
Tax bracket management
Withdrawal sequencing
Social Security taxation impacts
At Martello, tax strategy is core to your retirement plan. I believe taxes aren’t just a line item, they’re a lever. And if you’re not planning with taxes in mind, you’re likely leaving money on the table.
Ask Your Retirement Advisor This:
How do you approach tax planning for retirement?
Do you run tax projections or collaborate with CPAs?
Can you help me understand how different income sources are taxed in retirement?
How do you help minimize lifetime tax burden,not just this year’s bill?
Beware of advisors who jump to products (annuities, funds, etc.) without first understanding your goals, lifestyle needs, and full financial picture.
At Martello, I don’t believe in selling products, I believe in solving problems. Every plan I build starts with a conversation about your life and not a packaged solution.
Ask Your Retirement Advisor This:
How do you customize retirement strategies for your clients?
Do you recommend products before creating a full plan?
How will you incorporate my lifestyle goals, family situation, and legacy wishes into the plan?
You should know exactly how your advisor is compensated and what value you’re receiving in return. That means no vague percentages, hidden commissions, or fine print.
Ask Your Retirement Advisor This:
How are you compensated, fee-only, commission, or both?
Are there any hidden costs I should be aware of?
Can you show me a sample invoice or fee structure?
What value do I receive beyond investment advice?
If your advisor tells you something like “you don’t pay me, the company pays me,” run - don’t walk - to someone else.
Retirement isn’t static. The markets change. Tax laws change. Your life changes. You need an advisor who reviews your plan with you regularly and adapts when needed.
In my work with clients, we don’t just build a plan and hope it works. We revisit it often, adjust as needed, and stay ahead of changes that could impact your security.
Ask Your Retirement Advisor This:
How often will we meet to update my plan?
Do you offer proactive check-ins, or is it up to me to schedule reviews?
What happens if a major life change occurs, how will you help me adjust?
Do you help rebalance or reallocate my portfolio as needed?
A lot of financial advice out there still treats people like portfolios instead of people. At Martello, we do things differently.
We believe retirement planning should be:
Custom to your life (not a plug-and-play model)
Rooted in clarity and education
Designed for long-term sustainability, not short-term guesses
I am not here to sell you insurance. I am here to help you make decisions with confidence. And if your plan doesn’t account for taxes, inflation, healthcare, and legacy goals, it’s not a plan, it’s a risk.
A fiduciary advisor is legally required to act in your best financial interest, unlike brokers or product-driven agents. This matters most when making irreversible decisions, like claiming Social Security or drawing down retirement accounts.
Ideally, at least 5–10 years before retirement. This window allows for tax planning, portfolio adjustments, and income strategy design before RMDs or Medicare begin.
This varies, but transparent advisors typically charge:
A flat fee (e.g., $6,000–$20,000/year)
A percentage of assets under management (Can be about 1.5 % or less)
Or a hybrid model
Avoid advisors who earn commissions on products they recommend without clarity.
Absolutely. Many of my clients are building toward retirement with as little as $750k and want to ensure their strategy is sound. The earlier you start, the more planning can work in your favor.
At Martello, we don’t delegate your retirement plan to a call center or plug your life into a spreadsheet. I work directly with you and start with a personalized Retirement Strategy Consultation that focuses on your goals, your numbers, and your values.
Retirement planning isn’t just about numbers. It’s about making smart, confident decisions that protect your lifestyle, your family, and your legacy.
The right advisor will help you:
Minimize taxes
Manage market risks
Optimize your income streams
And give you the confidence to retire on your terms with the life you desire after retirment.
That’s what we do at Martello.
Ready to see how it all fits together?
Schedule your free, personalized Retirement Strategy Consultation with Charles Culver today.
Spaces are limited each month to ensure personalized planning.
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.