This course offers an in-depth look at retirement needs models, their flaws, and ways to overcome associated drawbacks. You'll explore holistic retirement planning while reviewing threats to a successful retirement. You'll also hear about recent retirement planning changes, including the elimination of the "Stretch IRA" by the SECURE Act and the new SECURE Act 2.0 changes. We'll address key questions to plan a comfortable retirement and discuss strategies to draw down retirement assets over an extended period. Last updated 2026.
Learning Objectives
• Determine how to make retirement planning an area of expertise in your practice
• Identify traditional retirement planning assumptions, methods, and techniques
• Identify how recent legislative changes and research findings are changing the pre- and post-retirement advice offered to clients
• Recognize withdrawal techniques that can help extend the distribution period
• Determine how to integrate a retirement plan distribution strategy with a Social Security claiming strategy
Major Topics
• The downside of traditional retirement asset accumulation strategies
• Threats to a successful retirement
• Holistic retirement planning: how personal goals integrate with tax, estate, risk, and investment management principles
• Matching investment assets with the appropriate retirement plan and distribution strategy
• Review recent legislation, including the changes for seniors in the One Big Beautiful Bill and the provisions of the SECURE Acts, and how they will impact retirement planning
