Retirement planning often focuses on a date or a dollar amount. But retirement itself is a major life transition. The most successful retirements aren’t just well funded. They’re well thought out.

It’s difficult to overstate how important Social Security benefits are to retirees in the United States. Consider the following: Social Security benefits typically replace about 40% of pre-retirement income for average earners. The system provides inflation-adjusted benefits to over 70 million Americans. 50% of the senior population rely on Social Security for at least half of their income.

This series of blog posts is a candid look at how I view end-of-life planning as a financial advisor. There is a meaningful difference between learning something in theory and understanding it firsthand. End-of-life planning is often discussed in abstract terms. It looks orderly on paper. In practice, it rarely is.

When you’re planning your retirement or already retired, your advisor can add a lot of value in your quest to turn retirement assets into income.

It’s important not to let your short-term goal of winning the race cloud your judgment, when your real objective is winning the regatta.

I’ve heard retirement planning described as a web. There are many decisions to make, each one affecting the outcome of others. For example, your withdrawal strategy affects your tax situation. Your decision to keep your home or downsize affects your long-term care planning and taxes. The decisions you make in retirement are harder to reverse because your time horizon is shorter, and thus more impactful.