Hi, I’m Elisabeth Dawson—and if you’re nearing retirement, I have one important question for you: Are you income-ready?


Not savings-ready. Not investment-ready. I’m talking about income. Because the reality is that retirement isn’t about how much you’ve saved—it’s about how well you’ve planned to spend it.

You may have done everything “right”—contributed to your 401(k), lived below your means, and built up a solid portfolio—but if you haven’t answered the following four questions, your retirement income could be uncertain, inefficient, or worse… unsustainable.

Let’s walk through the four questions I ask every near-retiree—and what your answers reveal about how ready you really are.

Question #1: Where Will the Money Come From First?

It’s shocking how many people haven’t thought through the sequence of their income.
Do you plan to tap into Social Security early? Will you withdraw from your 401(k) right away? Or maybe rely on a pension or rental income?

Without a clearly mapped-out order of withdrawals, you risk overpaying in taxes, depleting accounts too quickly, or missing out on long-term growth.

What to Do:

Create a Retirement Income for Life Blueprint that outlines exactly which accounts you’ll draw from—and when—based on taxes, age milestones, investment growth, and income needs.

Question #2: How Much Can You Safely Withdraw Each Month?

Many retirees fall into one of two traps:

  1. They overspend early and fear running out of money.
  2. They underspend out of fear and miss out on enjoying life.

Either way, it’s usually because they don’t have a clear, sustainable withdrawal strategy.

What to Do:

Rather than using a generic “4% rule,” your income plan should be based on:

We help you build a sustainable income stream tailored to your personal goals—not just numbers on a spreadsheet.

How Will Taxes Impact What You Keep?

Question #3: How Will Taxes Impact What You Keep?

Most people underestimate how big a bite the IRS will take from their retirement income.

Let’s say you plan to withdraw $80,000 a year. Without proper planning, you could lose $15,000–$25,000 of that to taxes—every single year.

That’s hundreds of thousands of dollars lost over time.

What to Do:

Incorporate tax-smart withdrawal strategies into your plan. Consider:

Remember, what you keep matters more than what you earn.

Question #4: How Long Will Your Money Last?

This is the big one. The one that keeps people up at night.

And yet… the vast majority of pre-retirees have never run a projection to see if their income will last 20–30+ years. They’re relying on hope—not math—and that’s a recipe for disaster.

What to Do:

Work with a fiduciary in San Diego who can model out your income, expenses, inflation, healthcare costs, and contingencies for market downturns or surprises.

Your blueprint should include:

This isn’t just about financial survival—it’s about retiring with peace of mind.

Are You Income-Ready

FAQs

1. What’s the best age to start income planning for retirement?
The sooner the better, but ideally, no later than 5–10 years before retirement. Still, even if you’re past that point, say a few months away—or already retired—it’s not too late to create a strategy.

2. Can I really reduce taxes on my retirement income?
Yes! With smart tax planning, you can minimize taxes using Roth conversions, withdrawal sequencing, tax-free income tools, and coordinated account management.

3. How do I know if I’m withdrawing too much?
We use custom software to model your withdrawals against your life expectancy, inflation, market risk, and healthcare needs to ensure sustainability.

4. What happens if the market crashes after I retire?
A good income plan includes protected income sources and buffers against market risk so you don’t have to panic-sell or change your lifestyle.

5. What’s included in a Complimentary Income Strategy Session?
First, we get to know each other so we can understand your situation and your needs, and you can understand what we do. We’ll review your current savings, assess your income readiness, project long-term needs, and outline a clear plan to help your money last a lifetime.

So, Are You Income-Ready?

If you couldn’t answer all four questions with confidence, clarity, and strategy—you’re not alone. But now is the time to change that.

You deserve a retirement that feels secure, empowering, and abundant.

👉 Let’s build your Retirement Income for Life Blueprint—schedule your Complimentary Income Strategy Session today.

Retirement isn’t a date on the calendar—it’s a transition to a new lifestyle. And just like any big transition, the key to success lies in preparation.

The four questions we covered may seem simple on the surface, but they touch every critical element of retirement planning: income sequencing, sustainability, taxes, and longevity.

Answer them now—before you retire—and you’ll step into this next chapter with confidence.

Schedule your free consultation today by calling (619) 640-2622 or by clicking here.