Transform Your Retirement With Our Swan Song System.

Retirement isn’t always something you plan for on your own terms. Sometimes, life forces an early transition, requiring tough financial decisions and careful planning.

That’s exactly what happened to Samir and Aditya, a married couple in their early 60s.

Samir had spent his career as a civil engineer, working on infrastructure projects that shaped communities. Aditya, a university professor, dedicated her life to education and mentoring students. They had diligently saved $700,000 for retirement, but their financial plans were suddenly disrupted when Samir’s health declined, forcing him to retire earlier than expected.

With concerns about covering expenses, managing healthcare costs, and ensuring Aditya’s financial security, they turned to Retire With Swan to help them build a structured, sustainable retirement plan—one that would provide stability today and flexibility for the future.

Step 1: Organizing the Financial Picture

The first step in our Swan Song System is to bring clarity to the financial situation. We gathered and consolidated all of Samir and Aditya’s accounts, ensuring we had a full picture of their resources and needs:

✔ Samir’s Early Retirement Package: A one-time lump sum severance of $80,000 and a reduced pension of $2,500/month due to early retirement.
✔ Aditya’s University Salary: She planned to work for three more years, earning $75,000 annually.
✔ Retirement Savings: $700,000 spread across a 401(k), 403(b), and a taxable brokerage account.
✔ Social Security Strategy: Since Samir retired early, we planned for Aditya to delay claiming Social Security until 67 to maximize her benefit.
✔ Healthcare Costs: Without employer coverage, Samir needed a Medicare supplement and additional funds for out-of-pocket expenses.

With these details, we could structure a long-term plan that balanced guaranteed income, reserves for medical expenses, and future financial growth.

Step 2: Solving Problems Using G.R.A.C.E.

A sudden early retirement brings unique financial concerns, so we applied our G.R.A.C.E. framework to ensure stability now and security for the future.

✔ G - Guaranteed Income:

• Since Samir’s pension alone wasn’t enough to cover essential expenses, we allocated $250,000 from their savings into a Fixed Index Annuity (FIA) with an income rider.

• This provided an additional $1,500/month in lifetime guaranteed income, ensuring that all core expenses were covered—without relying on the market.

✔ R - Reserves for Emergencies & Insurance:

• Given Samir’s declining health, we prioritized liquidity to handle medical costs.

• $100,000 was placed into a high-yield savings account as a dedicated medical reserve fund, ensuring they had quick access to cash if needed.

• We also helped Samir secure a Medicare supplement plan to minimize out-of-pocket healthcare expenses.

✔ A - Asset Growth:

• To protect against inflation and rising medical costs, we structured a growth portfolio using the remaining $350,000 in stocks and ETFs.

• A dynamic guardrail withdrawal strategy was implemented, allowing them to increase withdrawals in strong markets and reduce them during downturns.

✔ C - Comprehensive Tax Planning:

• Since Aditya was still working, we structured withdrawals from their taxable brokerage account first to avoid pushing them into a higher tax bracket.

• Roth conversions were planned over the next three years to move money into a tax-free growth environment before Aditya stopped working.

✔ E - Estate & Legacy Planning:

• Given Samir’s health concerns, estate planning became a top priority.

• We updated their living trust and wills to ensure assets would transfer smoothly.

• A survivor income plan was structured, using a small life insurance policy to replace lost pension income if Samir passed away first.

Step 3: Project Management to Execution

A good financial plan is only as strong as its execution. We worked closely with Samir and Aditya to ensure everything was implemented seamlessly and efficiently.

✔ Annuity income was set up to begin distributions within 12 months.
✔ Emergency reserves were structured to remain liquid for potential medical needs.
✔ Investment accounts were adjusted for tax efficiency and sustainable growth.
✔ Estate planning documents were finalized, ensuring Aditya’s future financial security.

By structuring these elements carefully, they had clarity and confidence that their financial future was on solid ground.

Step 4: Routine Updates and Monitoring

Because Samir’s health situation was evolving, we scheduled quarterly check-ins instead of annual reviews to provide:

✔ Regular portfolio adjustments to adapt to market conditions and withdrawal needs.
✔ Ongoing Social Security strategy evaluations, ensuring they maximized future benefits.
✔ Healthcare cost tracking, making sure reserves were sufficient for rising expenses.
✔ Estate planning updates as needed, ensuring Aditya would always have financial security.

With these ongoing adjustments, they knew that no matter what happened next, their plan would evolve with them.

Outcome: A Secure Retirement Despite Unexpected Challenges

Through the Swan Song System, Samir and Aditya successfully transitioned into early retirement with financial stability and peace of mind.

✔ All essential expenses were covered through guaranteed income.
✔ A dedicated medical reserve fund ensured they were prepared for healthcare costs.
✔ Their investment portfolio provided long-term growth and flexibility.
✔ Their estate plan was structured to protect Aditya’s future.

Now, instead of worrying about money, Samir can focus on his health, and Aditya can continue teaching with confidence, knowing their financial future is secure.

They aren’t just retired—they’re retired with clarity and control.