Your Retirement Plan in 6 Easy Steps
A Logical and Sequential Process to Planning Your Retirement
Your Retirement Plan in 6 Easy Steps
A Logical and Sequential Process to Planning Your Retirement
Explore the 6 Steps
6 STEPS RETIREMENT
An exclusive retirement planning process developed by ProIncome. It is designed to assist our clients to systematically organize, evaluate, and leverage all financial resources into a retirement income that is predictable, sufficient, and sustainable.
Step 1 ... Envision Your Retirement
The 1st step is to develop a vision for your retirement years. Make a list of all the things you’ve dreamed about doing and having during your life, but were too busy with work and family to have the time and/or money to make happen. You have spent a lifetime saving for retirement; now decide how you want to spend it.
Retirement planning isn't just about the money, it's also about your bucket list!...
Step 2 ... Organize Finances
We will take an inventory of all your assets & income resources -- Social Security, pensions, retirement savings, investments, bank accounts, bonds, annuities, life insurance, real estate, etc. We will assemble your Balance Sheet so you will know your Net Worth and be able to track it over time.
This step is about knowing what you have..., where it is..., & how much it's all worth...
Step 3 ... Analyze Investments
The next step is to analyze your investments to assess performance against relevant benchmarks; know what fees you are paying and what value you are receiving in return; determine how your investments will be taxed at distribution & as part of your estate; know what your current asset allocation means relative to stock market risk. This information is critical as you identify and consider financial options and opportunities.
Step 4 ... Manage Cash Flow
Step 4 is about planning how much income you will need to cover retirement expenses – housing costs, basic living expenses, transportation, and healthcare. In addition to covering these essential retirement costs, you will want to establish a spending plan to cover discretionary expenses related to those things you want to do in retirement – your bucket list!
Step 5 ... Mitigate Retirement Risks
We will identify and review the risks that can disrupt or devastate your retirement plans & lifestyle
- Stock market losses
- Rising healthcare costs
- Inflation
- Long term care
- Tax rate hikes
- Unexpected events
We pinpoint strategies to mitigate these risks to protect your retirement plans & lifestyle.
Step 6 ... Plan Your Estate
The 6th and last step is about making certain that things happen the way you want and intend.
You must establish a plan so your money goes to your heirs and not to taxes or nursing homes.
You must also create Advanced Directives so your healthcare and end of life wishes are carried out as you desire.
Request a complimentary copy of our book -- "6 Steps to Retirement"
Testimonials
Ruth Z., Needham, MA
It’s my pleasure to write a few words about Michael Graff. I’ve been working with Michael for about nine years. Like many people, I knew very little about retirement planning at that time, but, after a few discussions with Michael, I felt informed and confident about my financial future.
Of the many positive words I could use to describe Michael - accessible, knowledgeable, dependable - the most important would be trustworthy. I can honestly say that I’ve never had to worry about how my investments have been handled, and I’ve been very pleased with the results. Working with Michael has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Ellen & Bob H., Natick, MA
Our relationship with Michael began in 2017 when we attended a seminar that he presented on “How to maximize your Social Security”. Since then, Michael has supported our transition to retirement. Michael has continually prepared detailed opportunities on how to secure our financial future. Michael’s recommendations have always had our best interest in mind, providing knowledgeable and thorough options that allow us to reflect on what fits our comfort level. We both have trust in Michael’s sincerity when providing us clear and thoughtful financial pathways.
John & Steve, West Roxbury, MA
Michael has assisted us with retirement and financial planning for the past 8 years. We have always trusted him to provide beneficial advice and his recommendations have never been heavy-handed. Our only regret has been meeting Michael only two years before our retirement. We wish it had been sooner.
C. L., Medway, MA
I met Mike Graff back in 2018 when he gave a seminar at a local library one evening about social security. I liked how he presented the information, and I learned several new things that evening so I decided to sign up for a free consultation with his firm ProIncome.
Before I met Mike, I had all my money managed by a large Boston-based brokerage firm and had met with my financial advisor annually to update my retirement plan. However, the process seemed very impersonal, and I never felt that the advisor really knew me from the other clients.
Over the years, I have moved my entire portfolio over to be managed by Mike. He is a professional retirement planner, and a fiduciary, so I am confident he always acted with my best interests in mind, and not necessarily what will net the greatest fees or commissions. We have spent many hours talking about my retirement plans, the risks involved with different portfolio strategies, large expenditures, etc. and not just once a year but many times a year. My marital status and parents’ health also changed unexpectedly, and because of the time I spent planning with Mike, I felt comfortable retiring earlier than expected.
I know I can call or text Mike during the day, or even after hours, and he’ll promptly get back to me. Even throughout Covid we would continue to talk through Zoom instead of meeting in person. He is a true professional and has been a pleasure to work with over the years.
Michelle N., Riverside, RI
Mike Graff has three qualities that make him invaluable to me as my financial advisor: he knows his stuff, he’s gracious and accommodating, and he’s got my back!
Michael Graff, ChFC® CTA® NSSA®
Mike is a veteran of more than 38 years in the financial services industry, beginning his career as a business broker and home mortgage professional. In 1986 he earned his life, accident, and health insurance license. He is an Investment Advisor Representative, holding a Series 65 Securities License, is a Chartered Financial Consultant, Chartered Tax Advisor, and National Social Security Advisor. In addition, Mike is a Certified Value Builder with training and expertise in working with owners of businesses and professional practices.
During his many years helping people with various mortgage, financial, business, and insurance services, Mike has witnessed changing and often turbulent economic times – from the high-interest rates of the early 1980s to the 2008 financial crisis, right up to helping people financially navigate through the COVID crisis. Mike has real world experience as a business owner, starting Equity One Mortgage, Inc in 1987 and growing it to a 20+ employee company with offices in MA and RI, later selling it to a NJ based lender in 1995. More recently, he founded ProIncome in 2015, now in its 8th year. He has also been active as a real estate investor. His experiences working with people over these many years and varying financial disciplines, makes him uniquely qualified to help his clients navigate today’s uncertain economic environment. Taking into account his diversity of personal and professional experiences, his approach to financial services is simple – “Financial success and security is built on a foundation of planning that starts with understanding and protecting what you have today, so you can build for what you want tomorrow.”
Operating as an independent advisor and fiduciary, Mike is free to act solely in the best interests of his clients. He dedicates much time to understanding his clients’ financial goals and concerns, and has developed an organized and sequential planning process called “6 Steps Retirement” that is designed to both manage and preserve their assets, as well as leverage these assets to help them achieve a retirement
cash flow that is predictable, sufficient, and sustainable.
Mike earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 1984 from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, graduating with Cum Laude honors, and has been married 37 years to his wife, Lisa. They reside in Easton, MA where they raised their 3 children.
He is the author of the book “6 Steps to Retirement” and has been active in his community of Easton, MA, including serving as Chair of the Easton Recycling Committee, board member of Foundation for Excellence in Education in Easton, a youth baseball and basketball coach, and founder and past president of the Sunday Morning Softball League.
“We work throughout our lives to attain a certain lifestyle. Some of what we earn along the way goes to establish that lifestyle. The rest we save to maintain that lifestyle throughout our retirement years. As a retirement and business income specialist, I work to help my clients protect and maintain the lifestyle they have spent a lifetime building.”
