Are You Truly Retirement Ready?
Retirement used to be about reaching a certain age. Today, it’s about reaching a certain level of clarity.
In my conversations with clients, I’ve found that retirement readiness is not just about hitting a savings target. It’s about understanding how all of the moving pieces — income, taxes, investments, healthcare, and lifestyle — work together in a coordinated strategy.
Many successful professionals and business owners I meet are doing well by traditional standards. But when I ask a simple question…
“If your paycheck stopped tomorrow, how confident would you feel?”
…the answer often isn’t as clear.
Below are a few areas I believe truly define retirement readiness:
Income Clarity
Retirement is about replacing earned income with reliable income.
That means knowing:
How much you actually need monthly
Where it will come from
How sustainable it is through market cycles
A balanced portfolio alone doesn’t create confidence, but a structured income strategy can help improve clarity and preparedness.
Longevity Planning
Retirement can last 25–30 years or more. That changes the math.
Your assets must not only provide income, but they also often need to continue growing to keep pace with inflation, taxes, and rising healthcare costs. Planning for longevity is less about “having enough” and more about structuring assets intentionally.
Tax Efficiency
One of the most overlooked aspects of retirement is taxation.
Withdrawals from retirement accounts, Social Security taxation, Medicare premium adjustments, and Required Minimum Distributions can quietly erode income.
In my experience, thoughtful withdrawal sequencing and multi-year tax planning can improve long-term outcomes for a wide range of investors. It’s not just about what you earn; it’s about what you keep.
Risk Alignment
As retirement approaches, the conversation shifts from accumulation to distribution.
That doesn’t mean fully eliminating risk, but it does mean understanding sequence-of-returns risk and ensuring your portfolio aligns with your income needs and time horizon.
A downturn early in retirement can have an outsized impact particularly if portfolio withdrawals coincide with market pullbacks.
Lifestyle & Purpose
The financial side is only part of the equation.
What does retirement actually look like for you?
Travel? Relocation? Continued work in a different capacity? Family support? Philanthropy?
The clearer the vision, the more precise the strategy can be.
A Simple Retirement Readiness Test
Ask yourself:
Do I know my projected retirement income number?
Have I stress-tested my plan against volatility?
Do I have a coordinated tax strategy?
Have I planned for healthcare and longevity?
Do I feel confident, not just hopeful, about retirement?
If any of those questions create uncertainty, it may be time for a deeper review.
At Miller Wealth Management, our focus is helping individuals and families move from accumulation to sustainable retirement income with clarity and confidence.
Retirement readiness isn’t about guessing, it’s about having a plan that works…on paper and in real life.
If this topic resonates with you, we are always open to having a thoughtful conversation.
Parker Morris, CFP®
Wealth Advisor
Miller Wealth Management
Miller Wealth Management is a team of EverSource Wealth Advisors, LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor.
Disclaimer: The commentary provided is for informational purposes only, is general in nature and does not take your personal circumstances into consideration. This commentary does not constitute an invitation, solicitation or offer that you purchase, sell, or hold any security or other investments or pursue any investment style or strategy. It is not intended to be a substitute for specific, individualized financial advice and investors should obtain tax and/or legal advice from a qualified tax and/or legal professional.