Allocate around your goals
Asset allocation that reflects your retirement objectives, not a generic risk score or last year's winners.
Fullerton 360 · Investment Management
Investment Management
Where performance meets purpose: an income-first strategy for the years when your money pays you.
Investing while you're working is different than investing in retirement. When the paycheck stops, the plan has to shift from pure growth to income plus growth.
Why the early years matter most
Near retirement, when the loss happens matters as much as how big it is.
- The first decade
your returns in the first decade of retirement weigh heavily on your final outcome. Researchers call it sequence-of-returns risk
- 10 yrs
the window around retirement where a big loss does the most lasting damage
- 4 types
of scattered accounts most retirees juggle — 401(k)s, IRAs, brokerage, CDs
- 1st
step is a reliable income plan — the investment strategy is built around it
- 7 parts
to our investment process, from allocation to growth-with-protection
Foundation first
The foundation isn't just growth. It's income.
Near and in retirement, sequence matters. We start with a reliable retirement income plan first, then build the investment strategy around it. Only after your core income needs are protected do you shift to more opportunistic growth.
- Income before growth — a dependable income plan comes first, so the investments have a job to do.
- Sequence-of-returns risk — a big loss just before or after retirement can quietly shrink your income for life.
- Protect, then opportunistically grow — once the core is secure, you can take smart risk for what comes later.
Timing is everything
A market loss at the wrong moment can follow you for decades.
A big loss just before or right after retirement can dramatically reduce your long-term income potential. And the earlier it happens, the greater the risk of running out, even if the market recovers later.
- The earlier the loss, the deeper the dent — withdrawing while you're down locks in damage a recovery can't fully undo.
- The first decade carries the weight — your average return in those first years weighs heavily on your final outcome.
- That's why we lead with protection — growth still matters, but not at the cost of the income you depend on.
What we see most
Most portfolios near retirement are built for the wrong job.
They were designed to accumulate, not to distribute. And the gaps tend to show up in the same places:
01
Built to accumulate, not distribute — the portfolio that grew your wealth was never designed to pay you an income.
02
Scattered accounts — old 401(k)s, IRAs, brokerage, and CDs with no coordinated plan for which to draw from first.
03
No unified tax strategy — withdrawals that aren't sequenced trigger taxes you could have avoided.
04
No real oversight — a plan no one reviews drifts further from your goals every year.
05
An advisor who only watches the markets — managing the investments, but not the retirement plan around them.
How we manage your investments
A disciplined process built around your retirement, not the headlines.
It doesn't start with a hot stock. It starts with your goals. Then we build, coordinate, and adjust the strategy around the income you'll actually live on.
Implement with evidence-based tools
Diversified, low-cost building blocks: ETFs, institutional funds, fixed income, and select individual stocks chosen for value and long-term strength, not hype.
Coordinate across every account
IRAs, Roths, trust, and brokerage managed as one tax-aware plan, so withdrawals and tax impacts are sequenced, not scattered.
Monitor, rebalance, communicate
Ongoing oversight with clear communication and adjustments over time: a plan that's actually reviewed.
Position for retirement
Growth with protection, so your investments can keep paying you for as long as you need them to.
FAQ
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.
How do I make sure I have enough to retire?
It comes down to two things: what you need, and how your income is structured. We build your Retirement Income Plan around your lifestyle, your assets, and your goals, then help you create steady income that supports it.
How do I make sure I don’t run out of money later in retirement?
We design your income plan to cover today and 20–30 years from now. That includes guaranteed income for stability, and a long-term strategy for growth that doesn’t rely on timing the market. We help you avoid the common missteps that drain retirement accounts too soon.
What’s the best way to retire and not have to give up my lifestyle or be afraid of my budget?
It starts with knowing how much your desired lifestyle costs and ends with creating more than enough income to maintain it. We help you define your spending levels, identify guaranteed income sources, and map out a tax-smart withdrawal strategy that lets you live the life you’ve worked for, not tiptoe around it.
Why do I need more guaranteed income than just Social Security?
Social Security rarely covers everything, and it's not built to. If you want freedom and flexibility in retirement, additional income sources (especially guaranteed ones) help you maintain your lifestyle without leaning too hard on market-risk assets. We help you identify the right way for you to fill the gap.
How do I protect myself from future market downturns or crashes?
The key is not being forced to sell investments during a downturn. We create a plan that separates protected income from growth assets, so your lifestyle isn’t dictated by what the market did this month. We help you stay calm, not reactive.
When is the right time to retire?
There’s no perfect age or market condition, and waiting for the “right moment” often leads to missed opportunities. 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.
How do I avoid being forced to go back to work or worse?
By creating a plan that isn’t built on hope or guesswork. We help you build reliable income, minimize tax surprises, and protect yourself from risks like sequence of returns and rising costs, so work stays optional.
How can annuities fit into my income plan?
Some annuities are designed to create high, guaranteed income, which can be a great fit when there’s an income gap. We only use them when they add clear value, and only the types that offer flexibility, control, and competitive payouts. We help you understand when they’re appropriate, and when they’re not.
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?
You’re not. What worked when you were growing your money isn’t always what protects it during retirement. Our work focuses on transitioning portfolios to support income, stability, and risk reduction, not just growth for growth’s sake. We help you make the shift, without starting over.
I plan to retire in the next 10 years. Is it too early to begin planning?
Not at all. In fact, this is the ideal time. Planning early gives you more options, more flexibility, and better long-term outcomes. We help you make smarter decisions today that pay off later.
I want to retire sooner than 10 years… Am I too late to plan?
The sooner you start planning, the better. But even if retirement is around the corner (or already started) you can still make wise choices to protect your future. It’s worth a conversation to see how your current income plan will hold up to the test of time.
How do I make sure my spouse is taken care of if I pass first?
We build spousal continuity into every plan. That includes income continuation, beneficiary planning, and making sure your spouse has clarity, not confusion, during a difficult time. We help you protect what matters most.
What changes to my investment strategy should I expect when transitioning to retirement?
Most portfolios need to be adjusted, but not overhauled. We’ll help you rebalance for risk, reposition assets for tax efficiency, and integrate income strategies that reduce reliance on market performance. We help you make your money work for retirement, not just growth.
What does the Retirement Review cost?
It’s 100% complimentary. No pressure, no sales tactics. Just a helpful, honest conversation to help you see where you stand, and how we may be able to help you move forward.
Is your portfolio built to pay you, or just to grow?
Start with a free, no-obligation retirement review. We'll show you exactly how your investments fit the income you'll live on.
Get Your Free Investment Reviewor call us at 623-974-0300