A written retirement income strategy, built around your real expenses
Most people retire with a pile of accounts and no plan for which one to spend first. We turn your savings, Social Security, and pensions into a clear monthly income strategy you can follow with confidence.
Spending it down is harder than saving it up
You spent 30 or 40 years saving. Now you have to spend it without running out, overpaying in taxes, or losing sleep every time the market drops. The questions stack up fast:
- Which account do I pull from first — the IRA, the brokerage, or the Roth?
- When should I file for Social Security?
- How much can I actually spend each month without risking my future?
- What happens if the market drops 20% the year I retire?
- Will my spouse be okay if something happens to me?
If those questions haven’t been answered in writing, there may be meaningful gaps in your strategy worth reviewing.
The Big Bucket Framework
Match the right dollars to the right time horizon, so short-term spending isn’t exposed to long-term market risk. When markets wobble, the goal is to draw from Bank — not sell growth assets at the wrong time. No strategy guarantees this in all circumstances.
Bank
Cash you can sleep on
Cash and short-term reserves for the next 1 to 2 years of income and emergencies. This is the money you sleep on.
Income
The paycheck that keeps coming
Conservative holdings meant to replenish the Bank bucket over 3 to 10 years and support income through market volatility.
Growth
Built to outpace inflation
Growth-oriented investments meant to address the long-term impact of inflation, given time to work.
A written plan you can take home
A written income strategy
One document showing where every dollar of monthly income comes from, year by year.
A withdrawal sequence
Which account to draw from first, second, and last — with the tax reasoning behind each choice.
A Social Security analysis
Filing timing for you and your spouse, integrated with the rest of your income.
A stress test
What happens if the market drops, inflation runs hot, or you live to 95. Scenarios are hypothetical and illustrative only.
A spousal continuation plan
What changes for the surviving spouse — mapped out before it has to be.
We do our best work for households who are
- Age 55 to 75 — within 10 years of retirement or already retired
- Sitting on $500,000 to $3 million in investable assets
- Living in or relocating to Volusia County
- Looking for a planning-first approach before any product conversation
If that sounds like you, the next step is a 45-minute conversation. No charge, no pressure.
Three simple steps
Call or book
Call (386) 402-4626 or schedule online.
Discovery meeting
Free, about 45 minutes. We review your statements, current strategy, and what you want retirement to look like.
Plan delivery
If we’re a fit, you receive a written income plan you can take home. No pressure to buy on day one.
Income planning questions
Do I have to move my accounts to work with you?
The first meeting is a complimentary review of what you already have, with no obligation. Ongoing planning — where we build, monitor, and adjust your income strategy — is delivered through our advisory relationship, which means we manage the accounts that fund the plan. We walk you through exactly what that looks like before you decide anything.
How much do you charge?
The initial review is complimentary. Ongoing advisory fees are disclosed in writing before you sign anything and are based on assets under management. Insurance products, if used, are offered through NSBRS; compensation is paid by the carrier and disclosed before any recommendation.
What happens if the market drops the year I retire?
The Big Bucket Framework is designed to help by separating short, mid, and long-term money, with the goal of giving the Growth bucket time to recover before withdrawals are needed. Holding 1–2 years of income in stable assets and 3–10 years in conservative holdings gives your growth portfolio time before you have to touch it. No strategy can eliminate risk or guarantee results; outcomes vary.
What if I’m 5 years from retirement, not retired yet?
That’s actually the best time to plan. The 5 years before and after retirement — the “retirement red zone” — are when the biggest income and tax decisions get locked in.
Are you a fiduciary?
Investment advisory services are offered by Signal Advisors Wealth, LLC (“Signal Wealth”), a Registered Investment Adviser with the SEC. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
Do you work with people outside New Smyrna Beach?
Yes — Edgewater, Port Orange, Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, DeLand, Deltona, Palm Coast, Sanford, and the rest of Volusia County.
Get a written income plan you actually understand.
Schedule a free 45-minute review, or call our New Smyrna Beach office.
Office: 112 N. Orange Street, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168 · Mon–Fri, 9:00–5:00
Investment advisory services are offered by Signal Advisors Wealth, LLC (“Signal Wealth”), a Registered Investment Adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Steven L. Rich is an Investment Adviser Representative of Signal Wealth. Insurance products and services are offered through New Smyrna Beach Retirement Solutions (“NSBRS”), which is not affiliated with Signal Wealth. When NSBRS and/or its agents recommend or sell insurance products they are not acting on behalf of Signal Wealth or in a fiduciary capacity. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss. Stress-test scenarios and projections are hypothetical and for illustrative purposes only; actual income will vary based on market conditions, tax law, and individual circumstances. This is for informational purposes only and is not investment, tax, or legal advice; consult your qualified tax professional or attorney.