When Can I Retire?
The answer to the question “when can I retire” is different for every person, and starts by analyzing the cost of your desired retirement lifestyle. Will you stay at home and babysit the grandkids while your kids work, or do you intend to take the extended family on European vacations? Where will you live, will you go out to restaurants more often, and what is the cost of that? Remember that you may spend more at the beginning of retirement, less in the middle, and more on healthcare as you get older.
The answer to “when can I retire” is not about how much you have saved (like articles that mistakenly say you must save $1 million or more), it’s about how much you will need monthly in order to pay for your expenses, and how you will generate that money. Today’s retirees may spend anywhere from 20 to 40 years in retirement, and that’s why we believe you should have a retirement “paycheck” for yourself that is not tied to the stock market. That money plus the money you get from Social Security and/or pensions or other sources should total your monthly bills so that market ups and downs won’t affect your retirement lifestyle. You should also have other protections in place for expensive potential problems like the need for long-term care and other healthcare expenses not covered by Medicare.
What Is Sequence of Returns Risk?
Sequence of returns risk is the risk of running out of money prematurely in retirement due to stock market losses during the beginning (approximately five-year+ period) of retirement. A common retirement “rule” still used by many financial professionals is to withdraw 4% every year to live on in retirement. But no one has a crystal ball. Let’s say you quit working and have a large amount of money saved; all of it in a 401(k) plan or stocks/bonds portfolio subject to stock market risk. This is the biggest pool of money you will have, and if you withdraw 4% of it and the stock market happens to lose 8% that year, you are talking about a large amount gone. It’s all about math and luck and percentages.
We are not comfortable with you relying on stock market luck or retirement timing. As an independent retirement advisor, we have other options for you to create retirement income with principal protection from stock market risk. For instance, we will create a plan for you which may consider fixed indexed annuities to generate part of your income, or contracts for retirement income with guarantees provided by insurance companies.
Does Clear Income Strategies Group Charge Fees?
Clear Income Strategies Group is compensated by financial institutions (we work with dozens of them), not clients, when and if you choose a strategy or contract we recommend. We fully disclose this arrangement and exactly how much they pay us. The important thing is that we focus on strategies that fully disclose what you get too. Not a hope or a prayer for stock market future returns, with the chance you could lose money.
We want you to feel comfortable that everything is explained thoroughly before you make any decisions for yourself. You won’t hurt our feelings—ever. We are here to serve you. And we feel our decades of experience in this industry serving our wonderful clients proves it. Please reach out to us to find out more, we would love to show you how it all works.
Is Clear Income Strategies Group a Fiduciary?
Yes. We are committed to being a fiduciary which means we only will do what is in your best interest at all times. We have had clients for decades, and that’s because we treat them like friends and family members. They are our people, and we are there for them during their good times and they know they can call us during any stressful life event. It’s all part of our job to put protections in place for you, and to serve you throughout your life and family members’ lives.
How Long Has Clear Income Strategies Group Been In Business?
The founder of our firm, Dolph Janis, has been in the financial services industry focused on retirement since 2005, and he has built a strong network of satisfied clients in Charlotte, North Carolina, as well as multiple states around the country. He founded Clear Income Strategies Group in 2015 as an independent, fiduciary firm with access to hundreds of strategies from multiple reputable financial institutions, instead of being captive to just one, as many brokerages and insurance agencies are structured. We would love to hear from you. Call us at (704) 919-0149, text us at (704) 307-0202 or email info@cisforlife.com to learn more about how we might help you.
Request your complimentary copy of our book, “Cross the Bridge to Retirement,” in printed or digital format!
Request your complimentary copy of our book, “Cross the Bridge to Retirement,” in printed or digital format!
Emergency Scenario
— Jane & Joe
After Jane and Joe were involved in a car accident, they reached out to us from the side of the road — overwhelmed, shaken, and facing unexpected expenses. Because we knew their situation and long-term plan, we were able to respond immediately and guide them toward the most appropriate source of funds without disrupting their broader financial strategy.
Moments like these remind us that planning isn’t just about numbers. It’s about partnership, trust, and being there when our clients need steady guidance the most.
Loss & Family Support
— Ellen & Family
When Ellen called us after her husband passed away, she was grieving, overwhelmed, and trying to make sense of what came next for her family. She and the kids were aware of some of the accounts they held, but navigating the paperwork and next steps felt impossible in such a painful moment. Because we had walked alongside their family for years, we were able to step in immediately—bringing clarity to what needed to be done and guiding them through each form, each transition, and each decision at a pace that felt manageable. We miss Jim deeply. And just as we did when he was with us, we continue to support his family with the same care, patience, and steady guidance they’ve always trusted.
