John and Karen retired about five years ago and had felt reasonably confident in their financial plan—at least at first. Their investments had done well, they had a trusted advisor, and they weren't extravagant spenders.

But as time passed, the cracks started to show.

They were beginning to ask deeper questions:

• When should we start Social Security?
  
• Are we doing enough to prepare for RMDs?
  
• How do we avoid an unnecessary tax burden—now and for our kids?
  

Their current advisor was responsive—but reactive. Conversations felt surface-level, and decisions were made without a long-term strategy. John, who handled most of the financial conversations, began to worry: If something happened to me, would Karen have someone she could truly count on?

They weren’t looking for a sales pitch. They were looking for a partner.

The Challenge

John and Karen weren’t in crisis—but they were increasingly aware that they only get one shot at this stage of life. Their questions weren’t being fully addressed, and they wanted:

• A proactive plan for when and how to take Social Security
  
• Guidance on how to navigate RMDs and future tax brackets
  
• Confidence that their investments were built to last through volatility and inflation
  
• A smooth, tax-efficient legacy plan—whether that meant charitable giving, passing assets to kids, or both
  
• And most importantly, continuity—a trusted relationship they both felt connected to, not just the more financially savvy spouse
  

Our Approach

We began by listening—to both of them.

John and Karen were used to having their questions answered, but not always explored. We took the time to understand not just their numbers, but their values and concerns.

From there, we:

• Built a retirement income map showing how all their resources would be coordinated, including future RMDs and Social Security timing
  
• Identified tax planning opportunities like partial Roth conversions and charitable giving strategies that could reduce lifetime taxes and future burdens on their heirs
  
• Reviewed and updated their investment allocation to ensure it supported both long-term growth and reliable income, without unnecessary risk
  
• Conducted a beneficiary and estate audit to ensure their accounts and estate plan reflected their wishes—and avoided probate wherever possible
  
• Provided a joint retirement dashboard so Karen could feel just as informed and empowered as John
  
• Established a proactive meeting schedule, not just when the market moves, but at every key phase of their plan
  

And since Demars Financial also handles tax prep in-house, we were able to seamlessly integrate year-round tax strategy with their investment and retirement plan.

The Results

Today, John and Karen feel more than fine—they feel aligned.

They now have a retirement strategy that is deeply personal, tax-efficient, and built to adapt—not react—to market changes, new laws, or family needs.

They’re still enjoying retirement on their terms—but now with the peace of mind that their plan doesn’t rely on guesswork or one spouse carrying the mental load.

They have a trusted team to guide them forward—one that knows their story, speaks their language, and will be here when they need us most.

Note: This case study is hypothetical and does not involve an actual Demars Financial client. No portion of this content should be interpreted as a guarantee of specific outcomes.