Osher Van de Voorde Bridge Evaluation
Planning for retirement and to achieve one’s “life goals” can be an intimidating experience for many people. This is especially true in a world where interest rates remain persistently low, defined benefit and pension plans are scarce and the sustainability of Social Security is suspect, even as our life expectancy continues to grow. The average life expectancy for Americans is age 85.5 and centenarians are the fastest growing segment of our population. The fact is that we are living longer lives and relying more heavily on our investment nest egg for income than ever before. Expertise in income distribution strategies is paramount and a whole new skill set for building and allocating investment portfolios is required. As financial advisors, we must at once grow portfolio assets for the long-term and also sustain consistent growth of income to meet our client’s demanding lifestyle goals and preserve their buying power throughout retirement.
In addition to income and investments, we must also consider other important planning components such as life goal prioritization, IRA estate planning, order of asset distribution, long-term care and life insurance, generational wealth transfer, proper living trust administration, taxes, gifting strategies, charitable intentions and education planning for grandchildren. Preparing for a new lifestyle in retirement requires lots of work.
Unfortunately, once an individual has finally decided to seek professional help, life and retirement planning may fall down a slippery slope if the process falls in the hands of an advisor whose pay is tied to commissioned products. This is perhaps the greatest pitfall for investors, especially retirees. We have evaluated countless investment portfolios where a client’s nest egg was diminished by exorbitant fees or early withdrawal penalties. In the wrong hands, the product becomes the plan and the investor-retiree a victim.
As intimidating for retirees and as challenging for advisors this new world of life and retirement planning may be, we at Osher Van de Voorde Investment Management have developed a planning process that demystifies life goal attainment and retirement for our clients and offers clear choices driven by desired lifestyle, not commissions. As independent, fee-only financial advisors, we have only the incentive to help our clients accomplish their goals, not sell products.
The evaluation process for retirement planning is designed to help our clients get from where they are today to where they wish to be long-term with the least amount of risk possible. In essence, we are building a well-constructed bridge upon which clients feel safe to navigate their retirement lifestyle. This Bridge Evaluation process is included for all Osher Van de Voorde clients at no additional fee.
Life and retirement planning requires comprehensive solutions that deliver ongoing expert advice and a planning process (not a product). The Osher Van de Voorde Bridge Evaluation covers the following issues:
- net worth evaluation
- distribution strategies and income optimization
- real returns net of fees, taxes and inflation
- absolute, client-specific rates of return
- strategic asset allocation
- risk management such as long-term-care, life, disability and liability insurance
- estate planning and generational wealth transfer
- liabilities and debt management
- charitable and education planning
- family support and advice to include resources for aging parents, guidance for children to become financially independent and education funding for grandchildren
Osher Van de Voorde Investment Management offers an investment platform and the planning expertise designed to meet our client’s life and retirement goals. Our solutions-based service covers all the aforementioned issues and, more importantly, provides our clients with tremendous peace of mind. We welcome your referrals or personal inquiries to learn more about how we can be of help.