Is your retirement plan built to last?
Every pilot knows a successful flight plan doesn't leave anything to chance—the stakes are too high. Retirement planning works the same way.
Yet many investors believe the investment strategy they started with years ago will continue to work indefinitely, without adjusting for their changing needs and goals. That's a costly mistake, and one that's increasingly common as retirement timelines grow longer and financial landscapes grow more complex.
Your retirement could last longer than your wealth
Longevity is reshaping retirement planning in ways many investors haven't fully reckoned with. A 30-year retirement isn't a hypothetical anymore—it's increasingly the norm. Your financial plan needs to generate reliable, inflation-adjusted income over decades, not just years.
Inflation is a silent threat many investors underestimate. At its historical average of roughly 3 percent per year, a retiree who needs $50,000 annually today will need approximately $120,000 in 30 years just to maintain the same purchasing power.* A plan that doesn't account for that erosion isn't really a retirement plan—it's a countdown.
Many retirees gravitate toward bonds and fixed-income allocations, believing they offer safety in volatile markets. But over long time horizons, equity-heavy portfolios have historically delivered higher returns and lower volatility than bond-heavy ones.** A portfolio that's too conservative may feel safe in the short term—while quietly failing to keep pace with inflation.
Withdrawal discipline also matters enormously. Taking more than 5 percent from your portfolio annually significantly increases the risk of depleting your assets, particularly during market downturns.
A fiduciary partner makes all the difference
Working with a fiduciary adviser means every recommendation is made in your interest and isn’t driven by commissions or product sales. We take this approach when tailoring strategies for our clients, including:
- Retirement income planning: Structuring withdrawals to be sustainable, tax-efficient and aligned with your lifestyle goals.
- Inflation-adjusted portfolio management: Maintaining growth-oriented allocations that help protect your purchasing power over decades.
- Estate and legacy planning: Ensuring your wealth transfers to the people and causes you care about with minimal tax friction.
- Tax-efficient withdrawal strategies: Sequencing distributions in the order that minimizes your lifetime tax burden.
Fisher Investments is pleased to offer AOPA members two complimentary financial guides to help you reach your financial goals. If you have $1 million or more in investable assets, we'd also like to offer you a no-obligation financial consultation. Click below to claim this exclusive offer.
*Source: Finaeon, Inc. as of 2/7/2025. United States Consumer Price Index from 12/31/1925 to 12/31/2024, average annualized inflation was 2.94%.
**Source: Finaeon, Inc., as of 2/12/2025. Average rate of return from 12/31/1925 through 12/31/2024. Equity return based on Finaeon, Inc.’s World Return Index, Fixed Interest return is based on Finaeon, Inc.’s Global USD Total Return Government Bond Index.
