The Back 9 Blueprint for Skilled Trades

You've spent years building, lifting, fixing, and solving. After decades of hard work, it's time for a retirement plan built around the benefits you've earned and the life you want to live.

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The Philosophy Behind the Process

After years of physical work and long hours, you've earned solid benefits: pension, annuity or supplement, 401(k), and Social Security. The Back 9 Blueprint helps you understand how these pieces work together so you can enjoy the good years while you're still healthy enough to do it.

The Back 9 Blueprint Philosophy:

Clarity Creates Confidence

Understanding how your pension, annuity, and Social Security work together gives you the confidence to make decisions about when and how to retire.

Income is the Foundation

Your retirement income doesn't come from one place. It comes from multiple sources. We help you see exactly how much you'll have to spend and when it's available.

Discipline Wins in the Long Run

You showed up for work every day for decades. That same steady approach to retirement planning ensures the plan holds up when markets shift or life changes.

Legacy in Motion

You worked hard to provide for your family. We help make sure your spouse is protected and your wishes are carried out, no matter what happens.

How the Blueprint Process Works

The Back 9 Blueprint unfolds in three phases: Discovery, Strategy & Implementation, and Ongoing Partnership. Each step is designed to help you understand your benefits and build a realistic plan for retirement.

Phase 1: Discovery

Understanding what you want, what it costs, and what you've earned

1

Your Retirement Vision

Most people in the trades want the same thing: enjoy some good years while they still feel good. We talk about what that looks like for you, whether it's travel, time with family, hobbies, or just not having to show up at 6 AM anymore.

2

The Cost of Your Retirement Vision

We build a realistic budget based on what you actually spend and what you want to do in retirement. This gives us a clear target for how much income you'll need and helps determine if retiring earlier is possible.

3

Inventory of Your Benefits & Resources

We take stock of everything you've earned: your pension options, annuity or supplement plan, 401(k) or savings, Social Security, and any other income sources. This is where we see exactly what you're working with.

Phase 2: Strategy & Implementation

Optimizing your benefits and building a plan that lasts

4

Income & Investment Optimization

We help you understand all your income sources and how they work together. This includes your pension claiming options (single life vs. joint survivor, lump sum vs. monthly payments), your annuity or supplement plan strategy, Social Security timing decisions, and how to manage your 401(k) or other investments. These choices affect your income for life, so we make sure each piece fits into a cohesive plan.

5

Tax Optimization Strategy

We develop a multi-year tax plan to minimize what you pay over your lifetime. This includes managing withdrawals from your 401(k), understanding how your pension and Social Security are taxed, timing Roth conversions, and planning for Required Minimum Distributions. For most retirees, smart tax planning can save tens of thousands of dollars.

6

Healthcare & Protection Planning

We review your retiree health coverage, plan for the gap before Medicare if you retire early, and evaluate your most important insurance coverage to make sure you and your family have the right protection in place.

7

Spouse Protection & Legacy Planning

If you're married, we make sure your spouse is covered with survivor benefits from your pension, Social Security options, and beneficiary designations. We also review your estate plan to ensure your wishes are documented and your family is taken care of.

Phase 3: Ongoing Partnership

Staying on track as life and markets change

This Is Not a One-Time Plan

Markets shift. Health changes. Tax laws evolve. Your plan needs to adapt with you. We meet regularly to review your situation, adjust the strategy, and make sure you're still on track to live retirement on your terms.

You built a life through hard work. Now it's time to enjoy it through smart planning.

Schedule Your Introductory Call