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Retirement Planning

Turning savings, Social Security, and pensions into a paycheck that lasts

"Am I going to be okay" is the real question behind most retirement planning, and it deserves a better answer than a single number. The answer is a plan for turning what you have saved into a paycheck that lasts, coordinated with Social Security, any pension, and the taxes that come with each source.

The retirement income guide is the place to start. Around it sit Anton's UPdates on retiring during volatile markets and on whether you can really retire, and the Roth conversion guide for the low bracket years between work and required distributions. Everything here is general education, written for people within about ten years of the decision on either side.

Featured guide

Retirement Planning

Retirement Income Planning: Coordinating Social Security, Pensions, and Portfolio Withdrawals

Your accounts are rarely the hard part of retirement, the sequencing is, and this guide walks through which dollar comes out first and why.

Retirement income planning coordinates Social Security, pensions, required minimum distributions (RMDs), and portfolio withdrawals into one plan, rather than deciding each in isolation.
The 4% withdrawal rule (Bengen, 1994) is a starting reference point, not a guarantee. Modern research suggests 3.5% to 4% may be a more conservative range for a 30-year retirement.

Nyle Bayer · Published August 24, 2026 · 10 min read

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More in Retirement Planning

Tax Planning

Roth IRA vs. Traditional IRA: A California Pre-Retiree's Guide

A plain-language comparison of traditional and Roth IRAs for California pre-retirees, covering deductions, income limits, the backdoor Roth, RMDs, and state tax treatment.

Nyle Bayer · September 8, 2026 · 11 min read

Tax Planning

Roth Conversion Strategy for Pre-Retirees: When, How Much, and Why Timing Is Everything

A pre-retiree's guide to Roth conversion strategy: timing, tax bracket management, the five-year rule, sequencing, and California tax rules.

Nyle Bayer · August 26, 2026 · 11 min read

Retirement Planning

Can You Really Retire?

Almost every day we have conversations with clients and friends about their concerns about having enough money to enjoy retirement. I mean truly enjoying all the years after retiring without watching budgets and constant

Anton Bayer · June 25, 2025 · 7 min read

Retirement Planning

Retirement During Volatile Markets

Many of our retired clients had successful careers and are now enjoying their retirement years. Stock market volatility is difficult to navigate for investors and even more challenging for those already retired. The diff

Anton Bayer · May 28, 2025 · 6 min read

Retirement Planning

The Disappearing 401K Plan

On September 2, 1974, President Ford signed into law the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). This was the beginning of establishing additional rights for employees as participants in company retireme

Anton Bayer · July 19, 2023 · 6 min read

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For general education only, not individualized tax or investment advice. Up Capital Management is a Registered Investment Adviser.