The Better Path less Taken
Everyone has faced moments in life where a choice had to be made — one path or another.
When it comes to retirement planning, wealth building, wealth protection, and creating generational wealth, most people take the path most traveled — the one chosen by the many rather than the few.
But here’s the truth: when life happens and they truly need their funds, many realize that the path they chose years ago wasn’t the one that would get them where they wanted to go. (If you've ever taken a big financial hit, you understand this completely.)
Whether you’re just beginning your journey, midway through, or nearing your destination, we want to help you ensure that the choices you make now lead to your most desired future — in the smartest way possible, with minimal tax implications and maximum peace of mind.
Many people feel confident about their financial future — but would it surprise you to know that even those working with professional advisors often miss key strategies that could completely change their outcomes?
We’d like to offer you an opportunity to see what that different path might look like for you personally — or even help you change course midstream for smoother sailing ahead. Let's build "Your Won Life" together.
Food for thought...What are the risks in your current portfolio?
Most people—while planning for their financial futures with their trusted advisors—focus on accumulation, which is absolutely essential. That’s the part where you’re building your mountain of wealth.
But here’s the part that often gets missed: one day, you’ll want to use that wealth—turning your hard work into the life you’ve imagined. How much can you pull out each year to live your best life without destroying your mountain? And what will remain for your legacy?
Many advisors rely on the “4% rule” as a general guideline for retirement income. But what if your mountain isn’t large enough for 4% to support the lifestyle you truly want?
What if you could pull money from your mountain while it continued to grow?
Imagine being able to live confidently today and watch your wealth continue to work for you tomorrow. We can show you how.
If you’re counting on your 401(k), 403(b), or similar accounts to sustain you through retirement, the last thing you want is to reach that point and realize the traditional approach just won’t get you where you hoped to be.
Let’s take a look at some risks that could be quietly working against you:
• Market Risk:
Your 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and IRAs likely have little to no built-in downside protection. What happens if you’re ready to retire and another 2008-style market drop hits (when the S&P 500 fell around 38.5%)? Could your mountain withstand that—and more importantly, should it have to? The same holds true for unmanaged stock positions that leave you exposed when markets shift.
• Taxes:
– Income Tax: Most people’s money sits in tax-deferred accounts. “Deferred” doesn't mean avoided, it means delayed—you’ll pay taxes later potentially on both contributions and growth. Do you have a strategy for when that day comes?
– Capital Gains Taxes: If your investments trigger capital gains, have you planned for the impact they’ll have on your net return?
– Estate Taxes: You’ve worked a lifetime to grow your mountain—don’t let taxes take more than their fair share from your loved ones.
– Penalty Taxes: Access your funds too early (before 59½), or wait too long (past age 73), and Uncle Sam will take another bite. Are you set up to avoid that?
– Zero Taxes: That's definitely not a risk, but it might be an option if you qualify, let's find out if you do!!
• Interest Rate Risk:
Bonds are often positioned as the “safe” side of a portfolio, but rising interest rates can turn that “safety net” into a source of loss. Do you know how exposed your so-called “safe” assets really are?
These are just a few of the hidden risks that can erode your wealth over time—slowly, quietly, and without warning.
If you’d like a fresh, professional look at your current strategy—or simply want to see how you can pull from your mountain while it keeps growing—we’d love to help.
The longer you wait, the more risk compounds. Markets shift. Tax laws change. Opportunities disappear.
Protect what you’ve built, while you still have time to make a difference.
Schedule your portfolio risk review today—before the next financial storm tests your mountain.
(Because your future security isn’t something to leave to chance.)