Retirement planning for people in and near retirement
The years right before and after you retire are the ones that matter most. We help you turn a lifetime of saving into steady, tax-smart income, with fee-only, fiduciary advice from real people.
The goal is confidence that your money will last.
Most people arrive at retirement with savings in a handful of accounts and no clear plan for turning it into income. That gap is where the stress lives. We build the paycheck: what to draw, from which account, in what order, and how to keep taxes low along the way, so you can actually enjoy what you saved.
Everyone has a story. Ours is making sure the financial side of yours is never the part that holds you back.
Nick George, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, IWA™ · Founder
Retirement is less about one big number and more about a set of decisions that all connect: when to claim Social Security, how to turn 401(k)s and IRAs into a paycheck, how to keep taxes and Medicare premiums in check, and how to spend without the fear of running out. We help people in the years around retirement, roughly age 55 and up, build a plan that answers the real question underneath all of it, which is whether you are going to be okay. We are based in Columbus and work with families across Ohio and nationwide.
Turning savings into a paycheck
A steady salary stops, and now you have to create your own. We build a withdrawal plan that decides how much to take and from which accounts, taxable, tax-deferred, and Roth, so your money lasts and your tax bill stays measured. The point is a reliable monthly income you can count on, through good markets and bad.
Social Security and the timing question
Claiming early, at full retirement age, or at 70 can change your lifetime benefit by a large amount, and the right answer depends on your health, your spouse, and your other income. We run your specific numbers, coordinate the decision with the rest of your plan, and help you claim at the moment that fits your life.
Taxes, Roth conversions, and Medicare
The years between retiring and starting required withdrawals are often the best tax-planning window you will ever have. We look at Roth conversions, capital gains, and how income affects your Medicare premiums, and we build a multi-year plan that lowers the taxes you pay across your whole retirement.
Making sure you do not run out
The deepest fear in retirement is outliving your money. We stress-test your plan against a long life, market downturns, inflation, and health costs, and we adjust it as life changes, so you can spend on the things that matter without second-guessing every choice.
What this can look like
Illustrative examples, not actual clients, and not a promise of results.
The retirement paycheck
A couple retiring at 63 has savings spread across two 401(k)s, an IRA, and a brokerage account. We build a withdrawal order and a monthly income plan, so they know exactly what lands in their account each month and why.
The Roth conversion window
A 64-year-old retires before required withdrawals begin and has a few low-income years ahead. We map a series of partial Roth conversions to fill up the lower tax brackets, lowering the taxes they will owe for decades.
The Social Security decision
One spouse wants to claim at 62, the other at 70. We model both lifetimes together and find the claiming strategy that protects the surviving spouse and adds the most over their lives.
Why fee-only and fiduciary matters
Fee-only means we are paid by you, never through commissions or product sales, so the advice stays about you. Fiduciary means we are legally bound to act in your best interest, at all times. We work with clients in Columbus, across Ohio, and nationwide, and everything can be done virtually.
Common questions
Do you help people who are about to retire, and people already retired?
Yes, and the years just before you retire are often the most valuable time to plan. We work with people roughly 55 and up, in Columbus, across Ohio, and nationwide, to get the income, tax, and Social Security decisions right before they are locked in.
When should I claim Social Security?
It depends on your health, your spouse, and your other income, and the difference between claiming at 62 and 70 can be large. We model your specific situation and coordinate the timing with your withdrawals and taxes, so it fits the whole plan.
How do I turn my 401(k) and IRA into income?
We build a withdrawal plan that decides how much to take and from which accounts, in an order that keeps taxes low and your money lasting. You get a clear, reliable monthly paycheck you can plan around.
What is a Roth conversion and should I do one?
A Roth conversion moves money from a pre-tax account to a Roth and pays the tax now so it grows tax-free later. In lower-income years, often right after retiring, it can save a lot over time. We run the numbers to see whether and how much makes sense for you.
Do I have enough to retire?
That is the question we answer first. We look at your spending, your savings, Social Security, and how long your money needs to last, and we stress-test it against down markets and a long life, so you get a real answer you can rely on.
Do you only work with people in Ohio?
No. We are in Columbus and work with retirees and pre-retirees nationwide, virtually. Fee-only and fiduciary means the advice is the same wherever you are.
Let's build the plan for your retirement.
This page is general information for people exploring our services and is not investment, tax, or legal advice or a recommendation for any specific person or situation. The examples are illustrative, are not based on actual clients, and are not a promise of results. Strategies such as S-corp elections, backdoor and mega-backdoor Roth contributions, equity-comp decisions, and deferred compensation depend on your specific situation and current law, so confirm the details with a qualified professional before acting. ClearMind Capital LLC is a registered investment adviser; registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
