Case Study: Retired

Tom, 67, and Margaret, 66, have recently retired.

• They have an investment portfolio of $2,000,000.
• They need $60,000 per year to supplement social security to cover living expenses.
• They're seeking an investment strategy that can help them live off of their portfolio.

Working with a professional, they can utilize a Three Bucket Approach to more effectively manage cash flow in retirement.

The Three Bucket Approach is a powerful strategy that sets aside 3-5 years of spending needs (i.e. $60,000 x 5 = $300,000) in a conservative, short-term account comprised of bonds. Each year, $60,000 is transferred to the retiree's checking account to cover living expenses. The rest of the portfolio ($1,700,000) is invested in a more aggressive, long-term account comprised primarily of stocks.

If the stock market faces a significant decline or encounters volatility as it does from time-to-time, Tom and Margaret, who will need liquid cash, are not forced to sell their stock positions at low prices. They have 3-5 years of funds in the short-term account to draw from. This buys time, and when the market eventually recovers, the short-term account is replenished from the long-term account.

The psychological benefits to a strategy like this cannot be overstated. It can help retirees keep their cool knowing that short-term market declines should not affect their day-to-day lives.

This is a hypothetical example and is not representative of any specific situation. Your results will vary. This does not reflect the deduction of fees and charges inherent to investing.

Investing involves risk including loss of principal. No strategy assures success or protects against loss.