Do you have enough to retire?
It's a harder question than it sounds. The answer depends on what you have, what you'll spend, how long you'll live, and what the markets do. I help people get a clear picture—and a plan that adapts as things change.
Get started Learn more ↓How I approach it
Retirement planning comes down to comparing what you have against what you'll need—and then stress-testing that picture against the things that could go wrong: poor market timing, living longer than expected, healthcare costs, the unexpected.
I use a metric called a fundedness ratio to frame this. It's the ratio of your resources (savings, Social Security, pensions, other income) to your projected needs over a 30+ year horizon. Above 100% means your current resources are projected to cover your needs. Below 100% means there's a gap worth understanding.
But the ratio is just a starting point. What matters more is understanding the assumptions behind it, knowing which levers you can pull, and having a plan that adapts as your life changes.
Questions about retirement income planning?
Get in touch →Then adapting over time
Retirement isn't static, and your plan shouldn't be either. Markets will move in ways we can't predict. Your spending will likely decline in real terms over time—research shows most retirees spend less as they age, not more. And life will throw curveballs: health changes, family needs, opportunities you didn't anticipate.
For ongoing clients, I recalculate your fundedness ratio at least annually—and more often when something significant changes. We adjust the plan based on what's actually happening, not what we assumed years ago.
This isn't about chasing market movements or making dramatic changes. It's about staying calibrated: knowing where you stand, understanding what's changed, and making thoughtful adjustments when they're warranted.
How it works
You share your numbers
An intake form covering what you have, what you spend, and when you'd like to retire. Takes about 10-15 minutes.
I run the initial analysis
I build your projection model, stress-test it against different scenarios, and calculate your fundedness ratio. Usually ready in a day or two.
We talk through it together
A 30-45 minute call to walk through what the numbers show, discuss the assumptions and their limitations, and answer your questions.
You decide what's next
If ongoing planning makes sense and we're a good fit, we continue working together. If not, you keep the analysis.
What it costs
I'm a fee-only advisor—no commissions, no product sales. Here's the fee structure.
For a $1M portfolio, that's $8,500 per year—planning and investment management included. No separate planning fee, no product commissions.
Why this exists
Retirement planning often comes down to a one-time projection and a hope that things work out. I wanted to build something different: a practice focused on giving people clarity about where they stand and helping them adapt as circumstances change. The fundedness ratio is how I establish the baseline. The ongoing relationship is how we keep it useful.
— Justin Arnold, CFP®
Find out where you stand
If you're approaching retirement or already there and want a clearer picture of your situation, I'm happy to run the numbers.
Email me to get startedor reach out directly