Age: 53 and 49

Occupations: Home exterior sales and nurse

Primary goal: Gain an understanding of how far away retirement is and what it looks like to retire comfortably.

The situation: John and Sarah are part of the “sandwich generation.” As they entered their peak earning years, they were financially supporting children while also helping care for aging parents. They had successfully paid off student debt and were proactive about saving for retirement. Their goals included funding their children’s education, leaving behind a legacy, and ultimately, gaining clarity on how close they were to retiring with confidence.

The approach: We began by listening—taking time to understand their current financial picture, how much they had saved, and where those savings were held. While John and Sarah had been diligent savers, we discovered most of their assets were tied up in pre-tax retirement accounts. That strategy alone would create significant tax challenges when they began withdrawing funds in retirement.

We walked them through an analysis showing the long-term impact of their current approach. The solution wasn’t to save less, but to save differently—shifting contributions to create more flexibility and accessibility for future needs.

The results: John and Sarah adjusted their strategy by reducing contributions to pre-tax 401(k)s and beginning Roth contributions. They’re saving the same amount, but now across a mix of tax-advantaged accounts. This shift gives them greater flexibility in retirement income planning and reduces their projected lifetime tax bill. With these changes, John and Sarah are positioned to approach retirement with more confidence and control over their financial future.

Age: 76

Occupation: Retired teacher

Primary goal: Feel confident knowing what her monthly budget and where her income is coming from so she can manage her expenses and live comfortably while protecting her legacy.

The situation: Jan and her husband Dave were married for 45 years with three children and seven grandchildren. Throughout their marriage, Dave handled the family finances. Shortly after celebrating Jan’s 70th birthday, Dave passed away unexpectedly leaving Jan with a financial puzzle to piece together. Jan wasn’t sure how Dave invested their savings or how it would impact their children after his death. Jan’s main concern making a decision that would negatively affect what Dave had worked so hard over the years to establish. 

The approach: We sat beside Jan with empathy and compassion, guiding her through her retirement portfolio and helping her understand the long-term impacts of her current investment strategy. It was important that she had the space to absorb the information at her own pace. From there, we helped her get organized, gain clarity on her financial snapshot, and regain a sense of control during a time when she felt uncertain.

Together, we reviewed her holdings and thoughtfully repositioned her portfolio to align with her risk tolerance and the realities of market volatility—while aiming for optimal tax efficiency.

The results: Jan gained clarity and confidence in her retirement strategy. She now has a better grasp of her investments and how they align with her personal goals. We continue to earn her trust through regular annual reviews and check-ins, making thoughtful adjustments whenever opportunities arise.

Business: Tom, Electrical contractor

Number of employees: 20

Primary goal: Attract and retain quality employees, minimize taxes for the owners, build the value of the company for eventual his retirement.

The situation: Tom owned a successful electrical company for over forty years and had a goal to liquidate his business within 5 years to support his retirement. He had a dedicated staff of 20 employees, but in a highly competitive trade and was concerned about employee retention. He wanted to offer retirement savings opportunities for being valued employees.

The approach: When we first met Tom, he was juggling a lot—he wanted to lower his tax burden, build value in a business he planned to sell someday, and keep his employees happy

Through our planning process, we got to know his goals and challenges, then helped him set up a 401(k) plan for his employees and offered guidance to advance his company benefits package. We brought in a benefits expert to walk his team through health insurance options, and we teamed up with an accountant to make sure his S-Corp was set up the right way.

The results: Tom felt a deep sense of pride when he introduced the new employee benefit. As part of our small business services, inFORM onboarded each employee and set up their retirement plans—from naming beneficiaries to offering guidance on contributions. To keep everyone informed and engaged, we also provide annual education sessions to reinforce the value of their benefits and answer any questions that come up.