Marchand Financial

A lot of people think retirement income is as simple as taking 4%.

Unfortunately, once you start asking how that actually turns into income you can live on, things get a little less straightforward. Taxes come into play, markets move, and different accounts get treated differently. And suddenly, that simple idea leaves a lot of unanswered questions.

Have you ever looked at what your income would actually look like month to month? A real plan goes beyond a rule. It’s about how everything fits together, so there aren’t any surprises down the road.

How much of your money is just sitting in cash right now?

Having cash on hand matters. But over time, large amounts sitting idle can quietly work against you, especially during years when that money could be growing. It often happens without realizing it. A bonus sits or a rollover stays parked. A decision gets delayed.

Sometimes it just helps to take a second look and decide what’s there on purpose and what’s there by default.

Did Millennials or Boomers Have It Harder? We Went Searching for the Answer Millennials like to say their generation got the short end of the economic stick. Baby boomers disagree. Who's right? This data from the Wall Street Journal sheds some light on the debate.

When people leave a job, they often leave something else behind: a 401(k).

It stays where it was…untouched, unreviewed, and uncoordinated. Over time, these "orphaned" accounts create a fragmented financial life. As you approach retirement, having your assets disconnected from your broader goals can lead to unnecessary uncertainty.

In my practice, I believe that a good plan is an art that must resonate on a human level. If you have old accounts gathered over the years, let's bring them back into the fold.