Smarter Retirement Starts Here

While financial independence will look different for everyone, there are some general principles that can help you work toward this goal:

• Establish a Sustainable Withdrawal Rate: Begin by calculating how much you need to withdraw annually from your portfolio to cover expenses. Factor in income sources like Social Security and pensions, and subtract these from your total spending needs. Generally one should aim for an initial withdrawal rate of 4-5%, adjusting annually for inflation. Be mindful of taxes and market volatility, as they can significantly impact your withdrawal rate.
• Diversify Your Investment Portfolio: Protect your savings by diversifying across asset classes to reduce risk. Consider balancing growth-oriented investments with more conservative options to help ensure your portfolio can withstand market fluctuations while supporting your long-term financial goals.
• Plan for Unexpected Expenses: Prepare for unforeseen costs by maintaining a financial cushion—and having appropriate insurance coverage to help blunt any surprise costs. Regularly review and adjust your plan to account for evolving circumstances, can help ensure your money lasts throughout your retirement.

Look for someone with expertise in retirement planning, including Social Security, Medicare, and tax strategies. Ensure they offer personalized, comprehensive advice tailored to your lifestyle and goals.

Transparency is key—choose someone with a clear fee structure, mitigating conflicts of interest. Working with a fiduciary advisor will help ensure this person is always working in your best interests.

Finally, evaluate their communication style and willingness to educate. Your advisor should give you the guidance you need to confidently navigate the complexities of retirement.

We believe the best investment strategy for retirement is unique to you—your specific goals, needs, life stage, and situation. It’s practically impossible to choose one “best” strategy. That said, we do believe in adhering to five evidence-based principles for investing:

• Diversify broadly, both across and within global asset classes
• Use factors to determine investments within asset classes
• Take a systematic, long-term approach to investing and building wealth
• Rebalance regularly
• Keep costs, turnover, and taxes as low as possible

At Mercer Advisors, the phrase “unified in-house team” refers to our integrated group of professionals — financial planners, investment managers, tax advisors, estate strategists, insurance specialists, and other professionals — who collaborate to design and execute your comprehensive financial plan. This unified approach helps ensure all aspects of your financial life are working together.

A fiduciary is legally obligated to act in your best interest, placing your needs above their own. As a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA), Mercer Advisors upholds this fiduciary duty, ensuring that our advice is aligned with your financial goals.

Mercer Advisors offers flexible engagement options to meet your preferences. While we have 100+ offices nationwide, we also provide virtual services, allowing you to collaborate with your advisory team remotely.

We believe in simple, transparent fees. As a fee-based fiduciary, we can remain focused on doing what’s best for you, not commissions.

Yes! We offer a complimentary consultation where we’ll discuss your financial goals and how we can help. If you’d like to move forward and work with us, you’ll be thoughtfully matched with an advisor suited to your needs who can create a plan and help you put it into action.