Trish & Michael's Retirement Balance
How a couple wiht a forecasted $5M estate was able to enjoy more in their early retirement years while ensuring a meaningful legacy for their children.
Overview
Trish and Michael were in a strong financial position as they approached retirement. However, when they ran a traditional financial plan, they realized something surprising—they would have too much money left over at the end of their lives. Their analysis projected that they would have $5 million remaining, far more than they intended to leave behind. While they wanted to ensure financial security for their children, they also wanted to maximize their retirement experience—spending more in their early years while they were active and traveling. Instead of manually adjusting projections and making guesswork changes, they needed a clear strategy that allowed them to spend confidently while ensuring their estate goal was met.
Financial Profile
Trish
Current Age: 60
•
Retiring at 65
Annual Income
$87,000
Retirement Income
$32,000/yr PensionTFSA
$78,000
RRSP
$206,980
Non-Registered
$142,000
Total Assets
$426,980
Michael
Current Age: 61
•
Retiring at 66
Annual Income
$68,000
TFSA
$100,000
RRSP
$178,000
Non-Registered
$206,890
Total Assets
$484,890
The Challenge
Traditional planning required constant manual tweaks to spending projections, making the process overwhelming and complex.
Balancing Spending & Legacy: They are currently spending $65,000 after tax and they want to know how much more they can spend while ensuring they leave behind $2 million for their children
Lifestyle-Based Spending: They planned to spend more between 65-75 while they traveled, then gradually reduce expenses in later years
Avoiding Complexity: Traditional planning required constant manual tweaks to spending projections, making the process overwhelming
The Solution: Optimized Estate & Retirement Planning
Using Optiml's Set Value Strategy, Trish and Michael were able to:
Estate Goal Setting
Set their estate goal at $2 million, ensuring they wouldn't leave behind too much or too little
Spending Optimization
Determine their optimal spending levels throughout retirement, adjusting for their higher spending years from 65-75
Dynamic Planning
Eliminate the guesswork, with a dynamic plan that adjusted withdrawals tax-efficiently across their accounts
The Results
Estate Goal
$2M
Optimized
Spending Years
65-75
Maximized
Increased Lifetime Spending
$1,004,206
37%
Increased Annual Spending: Confidently spend more in retirement without fear of running out
Reduced Taxes: Withdrawal strategy optimized to minimize lifetime taxes
Estate Goal Achieved: Clear estate target of $2 million for their children
Stress-Free Planning: Dynamic, adaptable plan that adjusted to their needs
Key Takeaways
Living Fully in Retirement
Retirement Planning isn't just about security—it's about living fully. Optimizing withdrawals allows for more freedom to enjoy your wealth while still meeting estate goals.
Personalized Strategy
Instead of a rigid one-size-fits-all approach, a dynamic plan adapts to changing needs and priorities.
Confidence in Decisions
With a structured plan, there's no second-guessing—just clarity on how to make the most of retirement while securing a meaningful legacy.
Instead of worrying about whether they were overspending or underspending, Trish and Michael now have clarity and confidence that their plan will support both their ideal lifestyle and their legacy goals.
Learn More About
Set Value Strategy
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