You have retirement accounts in a few different places, and so does your spouse. Now that you're retired or thinking about retiring, you're closer to using the money. But the allocation and risk levels in those accounts haven't been updated, and you haven't met with a financial advisor to align your accounts with your retirement goals.
Switching from Growth to Income
Along with great careers, you've built up substantial 401(k) balances. It took a while, but you got the hang of investing in equities—never fully comfortable with the ups and downs, but focused on long-term growth.
Now you need income, not growth. You've owned bonds with mixed success, and unlike your foray into equities, you can't afford on-the-job training this time. You need the income now, and there's less time to recover from mistakes—especially if you start withdrawals when the market is expensive.
Typical Retirement Income Transition
- Pre-Retirement (1–5 years out): Portfolio positioning, Social Security filing window, Roth conversion windows.
- Transition Year: Income strategy implementation, account consolidation, tax withholding setup.
- Early Retirement (Years 1–5): Sequence-risk controls, flexible withdrawals, tax-aware drawdowns.
- Ongoing Retirement: RMD planning, portfolio rebalancing, healthcare and long-term-care contingencies.
Key Challenges When You Pivot to Income
- Interest rates, bonds, annuities, dividend stocks, and other retirement income products can be challenging to navigate.
- The first step is often the hardest—don't leave sound financial advice until it's too late.
- Working with a licensed, knowledgeable resource helps you make the best choices for your situation.
Massachusetts-Specific Notes
- Massachusetts does not tax public employee pensions, including those for teachers, police, firefighters, and other state or municipal workers.
- Most traditional IRA and 401(k) withdrawals are taxable in Massachusetts unless the contributions were previously taxed in the state.
- Retirement planning in Massachusetts should take into account local differences in property taxes and housing costs.
Why Work With Me
- Keen understanding of interest rates and the bond market.
- Specialized knowledge retirement income planning requires.
- Access to products that help you transition from growth to income.
- Objective research on whether to keep your 401(k)/403(b) or roll to an IRA.
There are no do-overs in retirement. Contact me today for a second opinion.
How I'll Help You Transition Into Retirement
- Measure how well your investments match your risk tolerance, goals, and income needs.
- Design a strategy to minimize your tax burden.
- Recommend investments based on an explicit balance of growth versus security.
- Decide whether to keep a 401(k)/403(b) with a previous employer or roll it into an IRA, where I build your new portfolio.
- Build a portfolio around your risk tolerance to produce sufficient retirement income without outliving your money.
- Review pension options and address Social Security and Medicare questions.
- Examine any group life policies you may want to convert to an individual policy.
About My Fees
Simple, Transparent Fee Model
- Ongoing advisory fee: typically 0.75%–1.00% based on assets and complexity.
- Hourly planning: $200/hour.
- When commissions may apply: one-time brokerage transactions when appropriate (no ongoing advisory fee).
Based in Boston and Dartmouth, MA, I serve clients across Massachusetts. We can meet at your home, workplace, or favorite coffee shop—or virtually statewide.
Patient and Plain-English Guidance
"Tim Hayes has been my Financial Advisor for a number of years. He has always been patient with my questions and explains everything in understandable terms. It is a pleasure to have him as my Financial Advisor, and I look forward to many productive years ahead."
— Penny Demers, Client
Testimonial Disclosure: Testimonials are based on individual client experiences and may not represent the experiences of all clients. The results shared are not a guarantee of future performance. Each financial situation is unique, and the advice provided is tailored to individual needs and goals. No compensation has been provided for these testimonials.
Retirement Advisor Near Me
I'm an Investment Adviser Representative with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc. (RIA) and a Registered Representative with Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. (broker-dealer). My practice is independent and locally operated—so you work directly with me—while I'm supported by a national compliance, technology, and service platform.
Serving Boston & surrounding: North Shore, South Shore, Merrimack Valley, MetroWest, Cape & Islands, and the South Coast.
View Towns (A–W)
- Abington
- Acton
- Amesbury
- Andover
- Arlington
- Ashland
- Attleboro
- Avon
- Bedford
- Bellingham
- Belmont
- Beverly — I grew up in Beverly
- Billerica
- Boston — I live in the South End
- Boxford
- Braintree
- Brookline
- Cambridge
- Canton
- Carlisle
- Carver
- Chelmsford
- Cohasset
- Concord — My sister-in-law lives in Concord
- Danvers
- Dartmouth — Office in Dartmouth
- Dedham
- Dover
- Duxbury
- Edgartown — Served from Dartmouth via New Bedford Ferry
- Fall River
- Fairhaven — Family in Fairhaven
- Foxborough
- Framingham
- Franklin
- Freetown
- Georgetown
- Gloucester — Good Harbor Beach favorite
- Groton
- Hamilton
- Hanover
- Harvard
- Haverhill — Lived there five years
- Hingham
- Holliston
- Hopkinton
- Hudson
- Ipswich
- Lexington
- Lincoln
- Lowell
- Lynnfield
- Malden
- Manchester-by-the-Sea
- Mansfield
- Marblehead — Worked at Corinthian YC in college
- Marion
- Martha's Vineyard — Served via Ferry or Cape Air
- Marshfield
- Mattapoisett — Served from Dartmouth
- Maynard
- Medfield
- Melrose
- Merrimac
- Methuen
- Middleborough
- Middleton
- Milton
- Nantucket — Served via Ferry or Cape Air
- Natick
- Needham
- New Bedford
- Newburyport
- Newton
- North Andover
- North Attleborough
- Northborough
- North Reading
- Norton
- Norwell
- Norwood
- Peabody
- Plymouth
- Provincetown
- Randolph
- Reading
- Revere
- Rockland
- Rockport
- Salem — Lived there after college
- Sandwich
- Saugus
- Scituate
- Sharon
- Sherborn
- Somerville
- Southborough
- Stoneham
- Stoughton
- Sudbury
- Swampscott
- Tewksbury
- Topsfield
- Tyngsboro
- Wakefield
- Walpole
- Waltham
- Wareham
- Watertown
- Wayland
- Wellesley
- Wenham
- Westford — My brother used to live in Westford
- Weston
- Westport — Served from Dartmouth
- Westwood
- Weymouth
- Wilmington
- Winchester — My first boss was from Winchester
- Woburn
Wherever you are in Massachusetts, I provide ongoing support—not just a one-time meeting.
Retirement FAQ — Massachusetts
When do I have to start Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)?
Does Massachusetts tax Social Security or my retirement distributions?
What is "sequence-of-returns risk," and why does it matter now?
Should I roll my 401(k)/403(b) to an IRA or keep it where it is?
Book a Financial Planning Consultation — $200/hr
I am an independent financial advisor with over 30 years of experience helping Massachusetts residents plan for a secure retirement. I offer fee-only, hourly, or commission options, so you can choose what works best for you.
"My goal is to ensure your retirement plan is built on your best interests, not a product sale."
Book your $200/hr consultation by phone (508-277-5847) or through the contact form.