When It Comes to Retirement Planning, Be More Spock Than Scotty: It's Logical, Captain

If you're worried your retirement ship's gonna blow, take a step back. Address your concerns in a logical sequence, talk honestly with the crew and prepare to go boldly into the future.

By Robert Szigeti

published 22 February 2026

in Features

Stressed senior man sitting on sofa and holding his hands to his head

It's no secret that many new retirees feel anxious about the future. Perhaps you're one of them.

After decades of earning a steady paycheck, you're preparing to step out of the workforce and venture into the unknown. You think you have everything in order, but you're not sure.

Even savvy folks can become overwhelmed by retirement decisions. Some of the most common worries I hear include:

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When should I take Social Security? Should you claim at 62, wait until full retirement age, or delay until 70 for a bigger benefit? That choice alone can be worth six figures over your lifetime.

How will I generate income from my savings? With pensions becoming rare, you have to turn your 401(k)s and IRAs into a steady paycheck that might need to last 20 or 30 years. Figuring out how to do that without running out of money is a challenge.

What about health insurance and Medicare? Retiring before 65 means covering health costs until Medicare kicks in. And once you're 65, there's a maze of Medicare parts and supplement options — choices that can greatly affect your out-of-pocket costs.

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No wonder people worry.

These decisions are complex and interconnected. A choice in one area, such as claiming Social Security early, can ripple into another, like how much to withdraw from savings or what health care coverage you'll need.

Many folks tell me they feel as though they're "walking the journey alone" and are afraid of overlooking something important.

A guided journey to retirement

I often explain retirement income using the "three-legged stool" analogy. Social Security is one leg of the stool, but it's only designed to replace about 40% of your paycheck. The other two legs — employer pensions or 401(k)s plus personal savings — must provide the remaining 60%.

Figuring out how to generate that remaining income is crucial. For example, if you determine you need $80,000 a year to live comfortably but Social Security will only provide $30,000, you have a $50,000 gap to fill.

Which accounts should you draw from first? How do you turn your nest egg into a steady monthly retirement paycheck without depleting your savings?

These are complex decisions, and making the wrong moves can increase the risk of running out of money — the number one fear I hear from retirees.

Everything starts with a plan

What holds retirees back from having a clear plan? In my experience, about 60% of the challenge stems from a lack of knowledge. The other 40% is that they're overwhelmed and don't know where to start.

This is where a structured approach can be so helpful. I walk every client through the same disciplined process to build their retirement plan. At my firm, we call this our R.I.S.E. Retirement Roadmap, and it's designed to make sure nothing falls through the cracks. R.I.S.E. stands for Research, Investigate, Strategize, Execute.

In simple terms, we research and review a client's current financial picture, investigate risks or gaps (such as taxes, health care costs or longevity risks), strategize solutions tailored to them and then execute the plan, adjusting as needed. The goal is to help their retirement income "rise" above uncertainty.

Everyone's situation is unique, but by following a systematic roadmap, you ensure that you address Social Security timing, investment allocation, income distribution, Medicare and health care planning, and estate considerations in a logical sequence.

Ongoing partnership

That said, most retirement challenges cannot be solved with a single plan. They require ongoing partnership and honest conversation. Retirement is a journey with many turns, and having a guide who understands the terrain can make a real difference. So make sure you pick the right one.

Work with someone who understands why each decision matters, how claiming Social Security early affects income later, and how investment choices tie into longevity and health care costs. Make sure they care about education and clarity, so you know what to expect and how to respond when life changes.

When a plan is built with that kind of transparency, uncertainty gives way to control. You stop second-guessing and start seeing how your financial choices support the life you want in retirement.

With clear information and a thoughtful plan, retirement becomes less about worry and more about living well.

Ezra Byer contributed to this article.

The appearances in Kiplinger were obtained through a PR program. The columnist received assistance from a public relations firm in preparing this piece for submission to Kiplinger.com. Kiplinger was not compensated in any way.

Disclaimer

This article was written by and presents the views of our contributing adviser, not the Kiplinger editorial staff. You can check adviser records with the SEC or with FINRA.

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Robert Szigeti is the founder and president of SG Wealth Management in Princeton, New Jersey. He has served in the financial services industry since 1990, previously working on Wall Street and as an adviser at Smith Barney, where he was recognized as one of the top 10% advisers. Bob earned a degree in accounting from Rowan University and holds a Certified Investment Management Analyst® certification from The Wharton School.