Investment Management
Where Performance Meets Purpose
Investing while you’re working is different than investing during retirement. When you say good-bye to your paycheck you’re plan’s focus must shift from pure growth to income PLUS growth. It’s time to re-align your investment plan with your income goals as you make the retirement transition.
Is Your Portfolio Built for Work — Or For Retirement?
Your Retirement Investment Plan Should Start with Income — and Build from There
People are living longer, healthier lives — and that’s a good thing.
But a longer retirement also means your money has to last longer. That’s why the foundation of our investment approach isn’t just about growth — it’s about income.
At Fullerton, we believe in starting with a reliable retirement income plan first — then building your investment strategy around that. Only after your core income needs are protected do we shift focus to more opportunistic investments designed to support long-term growth.
This sequence matters — especially as you approach or enter retirement.
A significant market loss just before or after retirement can dramatically reduce your long-term income potential.
Research shows that the earlier a loss happens in retirement, the greater the risk of running out of money — even if the market recovers later.
That’s why we help you build a coordinated, tax-aware strategy that brings together investment tools, retirement income planning, annuities, and insurance — all working toward the same goal:
Clarity, confidence, and a retirement plan that’s built to last.
Still Built for Growth — When You Need Income
Your portfolio may still be structured to build wealth, not distribute it. Many investment managers are great at building wealth — but are less experienced with proven rock solid retirement strategy to create income that lasts without unnecessary risk.
Your investments are likely optimized for growth during your working years — but retirement is a different game. You’re no longer “paying in” to the account — You’re expecting it to “pay you”.
Without a clear income plan, you’re forced to withdraw based on guesswork or past market performance. If the market drops early in retirement (known as sequence of returns risk), it can permanently damage your income with little chance of full recovery.
In retirement, you don’t just need assets that might grow — you need a strategy to turn your savings and assets into steady, reliable income — while still leaving room for growth to keep pace with inflation.
Important
77% of the final retirement outcome can be explained by the average return of the first 10 years of retirement. This is why it is important to position your portfolio correctly so you may retire in any economy.
Scattered Accounts, No Real Coordination
You might have retirement savings spread across old 401(k)s, IRAs, brokerage accounts, and bank CDs — each managed (or unmanaged) in isolation.
That means:
- No coordinated withdrawal plan
- No unified tax strategy
- No oversight on how these accounts interact
Without coordination, it’s easy to miss opportunities — or create problems like over-concentration, liquidity gaps, or unexpected tax hits.
Your money should work together — not pull in different directions.
No One’s Really Reviewing the Plan
Some portfolios haven’t been touched in years. Others are “monitored” by advisors who only react to market changes — not life changes. They may have been good at helping to build your portfolio — but retirement is just a different ball game altogether.
If your plan hasn’t been revisited recently (or ever), ask yourself:
- Has your income need changed?
- Has your risk tolerance shifted?
- Are you prepared for rising healthcare costs, inflation, or tax law changes?
Investment management isn’t “set it and forget it.”
It’s a living process — and if no one’s actively reviewing your plan, the market might not be the biggest risk you’re facing.
An Advisor Who Manages Investments — But Not the Retirement Plan
Some advisors are excellent at selecting funds or tracking benchmarks — but that’s not the same as building a financial plan built for Retirement. Not a far off future, but one that’s close (in the next 10 years or already happening).
You need someone who understands:
- How your investments coordinate with your income
- How your taxes impact withdrawal strategy
- How healthcare, long-term care, and legacy goals fit into the big picture
If your advisor is focused only on “performance,” but not how your portfolio supports your actual retirement, then you’re not being guided — you’re just being managed.
The Retirement Transition: Saying Good-Bye to Your Pay Check?
It might feel that way at first.
After decades of steady deposits, employer matches, and regular income — the idea of retirement can feel like stepping off a cliff. The paycheck stops… and suddenly, your financial future rests entirely on the plan you’ve built.
But here’s the good news:
If your strategy is structured correctly, retirement doesn’t mean the end of your paycheck — It just means it starts coming from a different place.
A properly built plan ensures your income continues — predictable, steady, and aligned with your lifestyle — even when work is no longer part of the picture.
You’re not just drawing from a portfolio… You’re replacing your paycheck with a system — one designed to support your spending, protect your savings, and evolve with your needs over time.
And that kind of clarity? That’s what lets you retire with confidence — knowing your income didn’t disappear… it just got smarter.
Invest With Purpose
Align your investment strategy with your retirement goals and build confidence in your financial future.
Investment Strategy Designed to Support Your Retirement, Not Compete With It
More Than Just Investments — A True Retirement Plan
Investment management doesn’t exist in a vacuum.
It’s not just about how your portfolio performs — it’s about whether it’s positioned to support your income needs, your lifestyle goals, and the future you’re planning for.
Because no two retirements are the same, your investment strategy shouldn’t follow a generic model. The real question isn’t “what are you invested in?” — it’s “how does your investment plan support the life you want to live?”
If your portfolio isn’t coordinated with your income strategy, tax plan, and withdrawal structure, you could be taking unnecessary risks — or missing key opportunities to protect and grow your wealth.
When your investments are aligned with a complete plan — one built around income, risk management, and long-term clarity — they become a reliable engine for progress.
That’s what a true investment strategy delivers: Confidence, structure, and the freedom to focus on living — not just managing.
1.
Asset Allocation That Reflects Your Retirement Goals
We begin by understanding what retirement looks like for you — your lifestyle, your income needs, your risk tolerance, and your time horizon.
From there, we structure your allocation to match. Not the market buzz of the moment. Not outdated rules of thumb. A purposeful allocation built to support your plan, not gamble with it.
2.
Strategy Implementation Using Evidence-Based Tools
Once your allocation is clear, we construct your portfolio using a range of diversified investment tools — including ETFs, institutional funds, fixed income positions, and, when appropriate, individual stocks.
Everything selected is aligned to one purpose: supporting your retirement goals while managing risk responsibly.
3.
Stock & Investment Selection With a Disciplined Lens
For clients whose strategy calls for individual stocks, we apply a research-based process that emphasizes value, performance, and long-term strength — not headlines or hype.
Selection is driven by strategy, not speculation.
4.
Ongoing Investment Monitoring That Actually Matters
Markets shift. Needs change.
Portfolios don’t stay aligned on their own — and they shouldn’t be ignored until something goes wrong.
We monitor, rebalance, and review to ensure your investments stay in sync with your plan, not just your performance report.
5.
Coordination Across All Accounts and Tax Impacts
Your investments don’t live in a silo — and neither should your strategy.
We coordinate IRAs, Roths, trust accounts, brokerage holdings, and other assets in a tax-aware way that minimizes surprises and maximizes after-tax outcomes.
6.
Receive Clear Communication & Adjustments Over Time
You’ll never be left in the dark. We meet regularly, walk through performance, and make real-time adjustments when needed — not after the fact.
You’ll always know why your plan looks the way it does, and how it’s working to support your goals.
7.
Positioning for Retirement: Growth with Protection
We help you grow your assets — without gambling with your lifestyle.
That means making sure your income is secure, your investments are working with your withdrawal strategy, and you’re not forced to make tough choices later in life.
You should never have to go back to work in your 80s because the wrong investment plan didn’t take your needs seriously.
That’s why Fullerton starts with planning — and builds the portfolio to support it.
Begin the Conversation with a Free Retirement Review
This isn’t a sales call. It’s a focused, one-on-one conversation about where you stand and what’s possible from here.
What We’ll Cover in Your Retirement Review
Lifestyle Goals
What do you want retirement to actually look like? Travel, freedom, family, security — we start with the life you want, then build around it.
Current Assets
We’ll review what you’ve built — and help uncover smarter ways to use your 401(k), IRA, or savings more effectively for retirement income.
Income Planning
We’ll identify where your income will come from — and how to make sure it covers what you care about without relying too heavily on the market.
Risk & Tax Exposure
We’ll evaluate how your plan holds up to taxes, longevity, healthcare costs, and market shifts — so your income stays steady, even when life doesn’t.
Long-Term Strategy
We’ll help you turn what you’ve saved into income that lasts — without sacrificing the lifestyle you worked so hard to build.
The Next Steps
By the end of the meeting, you’ll have clarity on what’s working, what’s missing, and what to do next.
What You Get With Fullerton
- A retirement income plan built around your lifestyle goals — not a generic formula
- A coordinated investment and withdrawal strategy that supports income for life
- Social Security timing guidance to help you get the most from your benefits
- A reliable income floor — often supported by high-quality annuities with GLWBs, when appropriate
- Tax-smart withdrawal strategies designed to adapt to changing laws and future needs
- Personalized guidance on Medicare and long-term care planning
- A clear roadmap for RMDs, Roth conversions, and income sequencing
- Legacy and beneficiary planning that protects your spouse and supports your values
- Ongoing reviews and proactive adjustments to keep your plan aligned as life evolves
- Direct access to your advisor — no call centers, no hand-offs
- A secure client portal with full access to your plan and documents
Invitations to Fullerton’s exclusive client events and appreciation gatherings - A local, retirement-minded community with shared goals and values
- Financial confidence for your spouse and family — with clarity, not complexity
- Experienced, time-tested guidance from a leading independent Arizona-based planning firm focused on your future
Income
Planning
A strategy to turn your savings into reliable, steady income — so your lifestyle stays on track in retirement.
Tax
Planning
Smart planning to reduce future taxes and keep more of your money working for you.
Health Care
Planning
Protection against rising healthcare costs, including long-term care, built into your plan.
Risk
Management
A clear approach to guarding your wealth from market swings, inflation, and the unexpected.
Real Estate
And Legacy
Planning
A plan for your assets and property that preserves your legacy and supports your loved ones.
Planning With Fullerton
Relationship Building
You’re not just another account. At Fullerton, every relationship begins with real conversation — taking time to understand your values, priorities, and goals. That connection becomes the foundation for a plan that’s built around you, not a formula.
Personalized Experience
No two retirements are the same. Your strategy will reflect your unique goals, lifestyle, and financial position. Everything is tailor-made: your income structured, your tax plan, and the preservation of legacy. The difference in the details — because it is built around you.
Holistic Approach
A good plan looks beyond the numbers. Your lifestyle, your family, your values — it’s all connected. That’s why our planning process considers every part of your life, not just your portfolio — leaving no stone unturned.
See What Fullerton Can Do For You
Going from "I hope this works" to "I know I'm covered".
Experience You Can Trust
Retirement is too important to trust to a generalist. That’s why for over 20 years, Fullerton Financial Planning has focused exclusively on helping people transition from work to retirement — and thrive throughout it. We’re not trying to be everything to everyone. We’re built to help you do one thing incredibly well: Turn your life savings into reliable income and lasting financial confidence.
Why Families Across Arizona Trust Fullerton
- Over 20 years helping Arizona retirees create income that lasts
- Trusted by more than 2,000 Arizona households — and growing
- Independent, fiduciary-based advice — no quotas, no product push
- Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) professionals on staff
- Regularly featured on ABC15, MoneyRadio, and financial education outlets
- Local, in-person service — no national call centers or rotating advisor teams
- Planning approach integrates investments, income, tax, Medicare, and legacy goals
- Collaborative relationships with CPAs, estate attorneys, and insurance professionals
- Focused on education-first guidance, not sales pitches or one-size-fits-all plans
- Supported by a dedicated client service team with a reputation for proactive care
“I was nervous about retiring — but they helped me see the whole picture and gave me confidence to move forward.”
— Mary J., Scottsdale
“They made a complicated plan feel simple. I wish we’d come here five years earlier.”
— Brian & Sandra T., Mesa
“They treated me like a person, not a portfolio. I never felt pressured — just supported.”
— Teresa D., Chandler
“Our old advisor never talked about income or taxes — this team gave us a plan we could actually live on.”
— Kevin M., Sun City
The Fullerton Family
Standing Strong For Clients.
Stepping Up For the Community.
Leverage Our Experience
Retirement is our focus. See what over 20 years helping retiring clients can do for your future.
Still Wondering If This Is Right for You?
Here are some of the questions we hear most often — with straight answers to help you move forward confidently.
Q: How do I make sure I have enough to retire?
Q: How do I make sure I don’t run out of money later in retirement?
Q: What’s the best way to retire and not have to give up my lifestyle or be afraid of my budget?
Q: Why do I need more guaranteed income than just Social Security?
Q: How do I protect myself from future market downturns or crashes?
Q: When is the right time to retire?
The right time to retire is when you have a plan that works no matter what the economy is doing — one that protects your income, reduces your tax exposure, and supports your lifestyle with confidence.
We help you build that plan — so retirement becomes a decision based on your goals, not guesswork.
Q: How do I avoid being forced to go back to work or worse?
Q: How can annuities fit into my income plan?
Q: My current financial advisor still has me in risky investments. It feels wrong to me now that I’m older — but am I just worrying too much?
Q: I plan to retire in the next 10 years. Is it too early to begin planning?
Q: I want to retire sooner than 10 years… Am I too late to plan?
Q: How do I make sure my spouse is taken care of if I pass first?
Q: What changes to my investment strategy should I expect when transitioning to retirement?
Q: What does the Retirement Review cost?
Begin the Conversation
We’re here to listen, understand, and help you take control of your financial future.