DW FINANCIAL GROUP

The six hidden risks in retirement planning

Most retirement plans are built around one number: the account balance. But a balance says very little about how long that money can fund a life. These six risks are the ones that most often go unexamined — and they tend to show up years after the plan was written.

1

Tax risk

Money in a traditional IRA or 401(k) has not yet been taxed. Required Minimum Distributions, IRMAA surcharges on Medicare premiums, and the change in filing status after a spouse passes away can each raise the tax bill in retirement, often in combination.
2

Market downside risk

During working years, a down market is something to wait out. Once withdrawals begin, shares sold during a decline are no longer there to participate in the recovery. The market may come back before the portfolio does.
3

Sequence of returns risk

Two people can retire with the same balance, take the same withdrawals, and earn the same average return over time — and end up in very different places. The order in which the good and bad years arrive can matter more than the average itself.
4

Inflation risk

At roughly 3% annual inflation, a dollar's purchasing power is meaningfully reduced over a twenty- to thirty-year retirement. Income that felt comfortable at 67 may not stretch the same way at 85. Healthcare costs have historically risen faster than general inflation.
5

Interest rate and renewal risk

CDs, treasuries, and money market accounts protect principal, but they renew at whatever rate prevails on the day they mature. Principal can stay fully intact while the income it produces drops substantially.
6

Longevity risk

Longevity is the risk that multiplies the other five. A longer retirement means more market cycles, more inflation, more rate resets, and more years of taxes. A plan built to last twenty years may still be needed at year twenty-seven.

None of these are reasons for alarm. They are simply questions worth asking before circumstances ask them for you. The full booklet walks through each one with a case study and the questions to bring to any advisor. Tell me where to send it and it will be in your inbox in a few minutes.

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Dora Wysocki

Safe Money & Retirement Income Specialist · DW Financial Group

I work with pre-retirees and retirees on retirement income planning, tax-aware distribution strategies, and protected income options. My focus is education first: helping people understand how their plan may behave under different market, tax, and longevity scenarios, so any decision they make is an informed one.

Whether or not we ever work together, I would rather you leave a conversation with more clarity than you came in with.

This page is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. Examples and figures shown are hypothetical and illustrative, are not based on any specific client, and are not a projection or a promise of future results. Individual results will vary based on your own circumstances.

Insurance and annuity products are offered through DW Financial Group. Product guarantees are subject to the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. Products are not FDIC insured, are not deposits, and are not guaranteed by any bank or government agency. Any product recommendation depends on suitability for your individual goals, time horizon, and financial situation. Please consult your own qualified tax professional regarding your specific tax circumstances.

DW Financial Group is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration, Medicare, or any government agency.

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Dora Wysocki meets with clients virtually in all states. Insurance and annuity products are offered only in states where she is currently licensed and appointed. Product availability, features, and rates vary by state. Licensing information is available upon request.