How to Build a Retirement Plan With Lock Wealth — Allie & Noah’s Story
Want to learn how to retire without the worry of running out of money in retirement? Click here to watch this video
Why Listen to Me?
With over a decade of investment experience and years of guiding individuals and families through major financial decisions, I’ve seen what works, what trips people up, and what helps them sleep well at night. Investors I’ve worked with appreciate how we take the complexity of retirement planning and make it actionable. In my experience, it's not about just getting a plan on paper—it's about building a strategy that evolves with your life.
Allie and Noah's Journey: A Sample Financial Plan
Allie Hamilton and Noah Calhoun, two fictional characters you might recognize, decided it was time to take control of their financial future. They'd done well for themselves—modest savings, a paid-off house, and no major debt—but they were unsure what retirement would really look like.
Scrolling through videos one night, Allie stumbled on one about "retirement income planning" and realized they were missing a real plan. They wanted clarity, simplicity, and someone to walk beside them. That’s when they found Lock Wealth.
Intro Meeting
Allie and Noah didn’t come to the table with spreadsheets. They came with questions.
“Are we okay?”
“Can we actually do this?”
That first meeting wasn’t about balance sheets or budget line items. It was about their story. How Noah had worked decades in construction, and how Allie had taken a break from painting to raise their children. It was about the old house they loved, the lake they walked around every Sunday, and the unspoken fears that crept in during quiet nights.
In that 60-minute conversation, we didn’t throw around jargon. We asked questions that mattered. What does retirement feel like for you? Where do you want to wake up on your first day of freedom? What worries are keeping you up at night?
By the end of that call, Allie’s voice softened. Noah leaned in. They realized they weren’t just hiring a financial advisor—they were starting a relationship rooted in trust, clarity, and shared values.
They didn’t need perfection. They needed a plan that honored their life.
Agreement Signing
Next, they received the advisory agreement. Everything was clearly laid out: the scope of our services, our financial planning fee, and our assets under management (AUM) fee structure. No hidden costs. No surprises.
Allie appreciated that we’re a fee-only firm. Noah liked that we’d be acting in their best interest, legally and ethically. They signed, and we officially began the planning process.
Get Organized Meeting
We moved quickly to organize everything in one place. With the help of our secure financial planning software, they linked their:
Retirement accounts (401(k), IRA, Roth)
Social Security statements
Bank and credit card accounts
Investment and savings accounts
Mortgage and insurance documents
For the first time ever, Allie and Noah saw their complete financial picture in one place. In my experience, this alone helps reduce financial anxiety by 50%.
During this session, we also identified gaps: overfunded savings in checking, underperforming investments with high fees, and an outdated will.
Explore Possibilities Meeting
Now that we had the data, we could start asking better questions:
Could they retire earlier than planned?
What lifestyle was truly sustainable?
Should they defer Social Security to maximize lifetime income?
Were Roth conversions worth exploring?
We built two plans:
A baseline showing their current trajectory (about a 66% success rate)
An optimized version with tactical changes (increasing to 82%)
Allie was surprised to see that cutting $500/month in spending pre-retirement could make a massive difference long-term. Noah saw how switching from mutual funds (0.80% in fees) to ETFs (around 0.20%) increased their expected return without additional risk.
Together, we created a list of action items and trade-offs. We didn’t just tell them what to do—we showed them why it mattered.
Final Plan + Implement Meeting
We finalized their strategy and rolled into execution:
Adjusted portfolio allocation to align with their income needs
Began shifting contributions from Roth 401(k) to Traditional to save $12,000/year in taxes
Set up a slush fund for home repairs and travel
Created a Roth conversion schedule to reduce future RMD burdens
We scheduled biannual reviews (spring and fall) and made it clear they had unlimited access to us year-round. Life changes fast—and their plan would, too.
In my experience, implementation is where most plans fail. But when you have a financial partner walking you through it step-by-step, the execution becomes manageable and confidence skyrockets.
Ongoing Relationship
Allie and Noah decided to engage us for ongoing wealth management. They liked that they weren’t locked into it from day one, and appreciated the ability to upgrade after seeing the value firsthand.
Here’s how we continue to support them:
Three structured check-ins per year
Regular investment rebalancing
Annual tax strategy reviews
Real-time updates when markets or legislation change
And when life throws a curveball—whether it’s a medical emergency, a real estate decision, or helping a grandchild through college—they have someone to call.
Conclusion
Allie and Noah came to us unsure if they could retire confidently. Now, they have a strategy they understand, a plan they believe in, and a team who’s with them for the long haul.
This isn’t just about numbers—it’s about having clarity, peace of mind, and freedom to live your life.
Want to learn how to retire without the worry of running out of money in retirement? Click here to watch this video
FAQs
How long does the financial planning process take?
Typically, the process from intro to final plan takes 60-90 days. Implementation may follow immediately or stretch based on your pace and preferences.
What does the financial plan cost?
We are a fee-only advisory firm. We charge a financial planning fee and a separate AUM (assets under management) fee for ongoing investment management. Fees depend on the complexity of your situation.
What happens after the final plan?
You choose. You can walk away with a custom strategy or continue working with us as your investment and retirement partner.
Disclaimer: Case studies are hypothetical and do not relate to an actual client of Lock Wealth Management. Clients or potential clients should not interpret any part of the content as a guarantee of achieving similar results or satisfaction if they engage Lock Wealth Management for investment advisory services.