Do You Have Enough to Retire? It’s More Than a Number.
As heard on Today’s Business Radio, which airs on Twin Cities radio stations KFAN and KTLK.
TBR host, Tom Lyons is joined by Sharon Calhoun, Managing Director and a Senior Wealth Advisor at Vector Wealth Management for a discussion focused on framing the question, “do I have enough to retire.”
Retirement isn’t a date or a number—it’s a journey.
Retirement planning often begins with a deceptively simple question: Do I have enough to retire? But the truth is, retirement readiness isn’t about hitting a single dollar figure. It’s a dynamic process that requires a holistic view of your financial life, personal goals, and long-term strategy.
At Vector Wealth Management, we believe that preparing for retirement means more than accumulating assets—it means creating a personalized framework that allows you to live the life you envision. Here’s how we help our clients answer that pivotal question.
Retirement Readiness: A Three-Factor Framework
Rather than aiming for a magic number, our planning process considers three critical components:
Spending Needs – How much do you need, and when do you need it? Understanding your lifestyle goals and mapping them to spending expectations is the cornerstone of any retirement plan.
Income Sources – Will you have Social Security, a pension, part-time work, or other sources of income? Knowing where your income will come from and how stable it is, helps ensure long-term sustainability.
Investment Strategy – How is your portfolio structured to support your goals? Investment strategy should align with your timeline, risk tolerance, and future spending needs.
These elements work in concert to provide a realistic and resilient roadmap to retirement.
Navigating Market Volatility and Uncertainty
Even with a solid plan, market fluctuations and unexpected life events can challenge your sense of security. That’s why we model a variety of scenarios to understand the potential risks and identifying levers you can control.
These levers might include:
Adjusting Spending and Savings Rates
Updating your Risk Tolerance
Positioning Investments for Tax Efficiency
With these tools, you’re not just hoping for the best—you’re preparing for a range of outcomes.
A Personalized, Bucket-Based Approach
At Vector, we use a bucket-based planning model, which segments your assets based on when you’ll need to access them. This approach provides clarity, reduces emotional decision-making during market downturns, and allows for more confident long-term investment.
Each bucket is tailored to a specific time horizon—from short-term cash needs to long-term growth—and supports a more stable, purposeful retirement income strategy.
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Example Case Study: Planning for Clarity and Confidence
Client Profile: Linda, a 63-year-old marketing executive, was unsure if she could retire early. She had saved diligently in her 401(k), but worried about the unknowns: market volatility, healthcare costs, and how long her money would last.
The Process:
We calculated her spending needs, mapped out expected Social Security income, and evaluated her investments.
Using our bucket-based strategy, we allocated her portfolio across time and asset type.
We modeled scenarios, including market downturns, to test the durability and flexibility of her plan.
The Outcome:
Understanding what was required from her investments, Linda felt empowered to make financial decisions.
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Take the First Step
Retirement isn’t a date or a number—it’s a journey. If you’re ready to see how close you are to the life you want in retirement, consider partnering with a planning-first firm like Vector Wealth Management. Our personalized, bucket-based strategies are designed to give you clarity, flexibility, and confidence for the years ahead.
Ready to learn more? Schedule a consultation today.
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