For over three decades, I have been helping families and small businesses prepare for retirement. For the first eight years of my career, I worked as a retirement specialist for The Equitable/AXA Life Insurance Company, and later for the Northern Life Insurance Company. During that time, I obtained my life, health, and annuity licenses and then my Series 6 and 65 securities licenses. As a registered fiduciary, I am dedicated to providing financial advice and service that is always in the best interests and financial well-being of my clients and their families.
Over the many years of working with families approaching or already in retirement, I have found that my clients want a retirement plan that gives them confidence and allows them to maintain the lifestyle they enjoyed before retirement. As we all know, market volatility continuously threatens retirement savings that were previously thought to be less risky. So, when I develop a retirement strategy for my clients, I focus on preservation of capital first, guaranteed income to cover both single and joint lifetimes second, and then health and long-term care risk mitigation.
Some financial studies suggest that withdrawing 4% out of your investments each year will provide enough income to last throughout retirement. However, when I analyze most of my clients’ retirement savings and consider stock market declines of 20%, 30%, 38% and even 50% during 2007–2009, the 4% rule often falls short. So, when additional income is needed to maintain a lifestyle in retirement, I often turn to annuities as a reliable solution.
Truthfully, to live a comfortable life in retirement, a well-designed income plan is essential. One of the biggest challenges in retirement planning is replacing your pre-retirement paycheck—and annuities can provide guaranteed lifetime income to help fill that gap.
My dad, a former FBI agent and constitutional attorney, taught me the importance of carefully observing the facts, keeping emotions out of decisions, developing a well-thought-out plan, and then executing it. My mom, who was a true ‘Southern Belle’, taught her children the importance of Southern charm, social grace, and treating each person that crosses your path with dignity and respect. As a retirement planning professional and financial advisor, I strive daily to apply these values to every planning session.
Throughout my three decades in the financial industry, I have learned that everyone can pursue true wealth. I believe that ‘true wealth’ resides in us all. It is reflected in the love we show our families, the communities we live in, the care we have for each other, the respect we have for those less fortunate, and the attention we give to the world around us.
I look forward to meeting with you and sharing your concerns and life experiences. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions regarding retirement planning.
Sincerely,
Randy Dillard