The Enigma of Retirement Planning Past 85

What if your financial security in retirement wasn’t just about making it to a certain age, but about ensuring that no matter what happens, you’re covered? Imagine reaching your late 80s or 90s and realizing your plan wasn’t built to last. What’s the backup plan then—going back to work? Living on less? No one wants a retirement strategy that’s based on hope.

The truth is, you only get one shot at making the right decisions for your retirement. And the best plans don’t just hope you have enough—they assimilate unlikely and unexpected threats, creating cushions for success.

The Short-Sighted vs. The Big Picture Approach

When we create retirement projections, we model plans that extend well past age 85 and even past age 95—because you never know how long retirement will last. Nobody wants to find themselves twenty years into retirement needing to go back to work for minimum wage.

But surprisingly, not everyone sees the value in planning beyond a comfortable retirement for the short term!

We recently met with someone who had spent decades diligently saving, building a strong financial foundation for retirement.  We were excited to share our detailed analysis and projections of the potential for his portfolio.  Our plan was surpassing all of his goals to protect and maintain his desired lifestyle – way past the age of 85! We were excited to share that there was even a very strong probability for significant assets to be left over for heirs!

And we were shocked at his very open reaction.  He was NOT excited as expected—because he was convinced he wouldn’t live past 85 and wasn’t particularly concerned with passing on any of his wealth.

His truthfulness was such an eye-opener for us.  We wondered how many times in our most thorough planning we failed to explain the most basic part of our retirement plans - about how we were committed to being overachievers in protecting our clients.  More importantly, why it was so important for his financial security that we looked so far past his expected life-span!

The reality? Planning beyond 85 didn’t “cost” him anything. His desired lifestyle was fully accounted for, and if he did live longer than expected, he wouldn’t have to worry about outliving his money. More importantly, the strategy included built-in tax efficiencies that naturally positioned him remaining assets to benefit his family, rather than the IRS. He dismissed the value of looking at the bigger picture because we failed to recognize we needed to only focus on how the plan met his emotional concerns about the present and near future!

The Power of a Sound Financial Strategy

Many of us laugh and nod when we hear the phrase, “I’m going to spend every last cent I have in this life and my last check will bounce on the day of my funeral!”  Funny, but the truth is we don’t know when that day will arrive.  So we plan for the unknown.

Retirement planning isn’t just about making your money last to a certain age—it’s about ensuring long-term financial security. A well-structured strategy provides resilience, adapting to uncertainties while maintaining a comfortable lifestyle. But achieving that security takes more than just savings—it requires intentional planning that accounts for longevity, taxes, and market fluctuations. Our approach includes:

1. Ensuring Sustainable Income – Structuring withdrawals strategically to maintain financial stability for decades.
2. Minimizing Tax Burdens – Thoughtful tax planning can mean the difference between preserving wealth or seeing unnecessary losses to taxation.
3. Accounting for Longevity Risks – Retirement isn’t a fixed number of years. A solid plan ensures security no matter how long you live.
4. A Strong Investment Strategy – A well-balanced investment approach is essential to maintaining and growing wealth. It must account for necessary growth, outpace inflation, and withstand market fluctuations over time, ensuring long-term financial security.
5. Leaving Room for What Matters – When planning is done right, most clients end up with more flexibility, security, and options—whether that means extra travel, charitable giving, or leaving a meaningful legacy.

You Are What Matters Most

Make no mistake, our clients and protecting their lifestyle in retirement is our primary goal.  So often in our planning process we’ve heard that the children are fine and established financially, so they needn’t be taken into consideration.  We agree, there’s no reason to live meagerly in retirement just so the kids can drive a Bentley to your funeral!  Our priorities first and foremost are for our clients to live their life to the fullest in their retirement!

One Shot to Get It Right: The Case for a Solid Retirement Plan

Would you rather have a financial plan that is solid enough that there's a good chance you have assets left when you pass, or would you rather just focus on a retirement that hopefully gets you to old age and HOPE there’s something left if you live longer than expected? Our plans never involve a Plan B option—going back to work for minimum wage in your 80s. We believe you have one shot to get this right, and we want a path built to stand the rocky course of time.

The best plans prepare for any scenario, whether that means living to 85 or well past 95.  Our goal is to build a strategy with enough flexibility and foresight to support financial security through a variety of life’s uncertainties.

And if a well-structured plan also means your loved ones benefit rather than the IRS? Even better.

The key takeaway? You don’t have to choose between living well in retirement and being prepared for the long haul. A great plan gives you both.

McBeath Financial Group's CEO, Krista McBeath, is an Investment Advisor, Chartered Financial Consultant, a Licensed Insurance Advisor, a Fiduciary, and an experienced tax advisor who specializes in financial planning, investments, and insurance. Krista's Amazon best-selling book, The Generational Wealth System outlines a holistic approach to preserving lifestyle, wealth and legacy.

The McBeath Financial Group team utilizes advanced tools for in-depth calculations that analyze tax and retirement scenarios to help their clients avoid a future tax time-bomb. Whether this means enjoying more of your hard-earned money in retirement or passing along assets to loved ones with less tax burden, planning makes the difference.

Learn more about the McBeath Financial Group Team.

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