Building wealth for retirement is one challenge. Drawing from it wisely is another.

At Stonebrook Private, we work closely with clients not just to grow their wealth, but to help them use it with clarity and confidence. A thoughtful withdrawal strategy can extend the life of a portfolio, reduce tax exposure, and provide greater predictability in retirement income—all while supporting the lifestyle you’ve worked hard to achieve.

Without a plan, retirement withdrawals can become reactive—driven by unexpected expenses, market swings, or tax surprises. A well-structured strategy, on the other hand, helps answer critical questions:

How much can I safely withdraw each year?
Which accounts should I draw from first?
How do I minimize taxes across my retirement years?

At this stage, your portfolio becomes your paycheck. And with that comes the need for both structure and flexibility—two qualities that define effective income planning.

While every client’s situation is unique, there are several key principles that inform how we design withdrawal strategies at Stonebrook:

Sequence matters.

Drawing from the wrong accounts in the wrong order can increase tax drag and reduce long-term growth potential. Thoughtful sequencing—especially across taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free accounts—can improve both efficiency and sustainability.

Tax awareness is essential.

Withdrawals from pre-tax accounts like IRAs and 401(k)s count as ordinary income. Managing the timing and size of these distributions—particularly alongside Social Security, part-time earnings, or pension income—can help keep you in a favorable tax bracket and avoid unnecessary Medicare surcharges.

Flexibility beats rules of thumb.

While some advisors rely on a fixed percentage withdrawal (like the “4% rule”), we believe your strategy should reflect your personal goals, current market conditions, and income needs—not a historical average.

Consider Roth conversions.

In some cases, converting a portion of your IRA to a Roth account during lower-income years can reduce future tax burdens and give you greater flexibility in how you fund retirement expenses.

At Stonebrook Private, we help clients build retirement income plans that are not only sustainable—but strategic. Our approach often includes:

The goal is simple: to help you make the most of what you’ve built, while giving you the confidence to spend with purpose.

A good retirement plan isn’t just about saving enough—it’s about spending wisely. If you’re nearing retirement or already there, now is the time to ensure your income strategy is built to support your goals over the long run.

Let’s start a conversation about how to bring greater clarity and control to your retirement income plan.