The Ultimate Retirement Checklist: Your Step-By-Step Guide (Featuring the NSCA Strategy™)
The Ultimate Retirement Checklist: Your Step-By-Step Guide (Featuring the NSCA Strategy™)
Retirement isn’t just an age or a number — it’s a transition into a new stage of life that requires clarity, preparation, and the right tools. Whether you’re five years away or already retired, having a structured plan ensures you protect what you’ve built and enjoy the future you’ve imagined.
To make the process easier, we’ve created The NSCA Retirement Strategy™, a simple framework designed to help you organize your finances, protect your health, and secure your legacy. Use this checklist as your roadmap.
✔ Step 1: Know Your Retirement Numbers
Before anything else, you need a clear financial snapshot.
Calculate:
Your monthly expenses today
How expenses may change in retirement
Your retirement income sources (Social Security, pensions, investments, annuities)
Emergency fund and long-term savings
Any outstanding debt
NSCA Strategy Tip:
Use your Retirement Readiness Score™ to measure whether you're on track. A score between 1–5 gives you an instant picture of your preparedness and highlights areas needing attention.
✔ Step 2: Protect Your Income
Your retirement plan should last as long as you do — and ideally longer.
Consider:
Income-producing investments
Growth vs. guaranteed income strategies
Tax-efficient withdrawals
Required minimum distributions (RMDs)
Inflation protection
NSCA Strategy Tip:
We help you balance “Lifetime Income” vs. “Growth Income.” Many retirees underestimate how long they’ll need their nest egg. A blended plan helps you avoid outliving your assets.
✔ Step 3: Build Your Health & Long-Term Care Plan
One of the biggest threats to retirement savings is the rising cost of care. In many states, long-term care exceeds $140,000 per year — and Medicare doesn’t cover most of it.
Ask yourself:
How will I pay for care if needed?
Do I prefer home care, assisted living, or nursing care?
Who will manage care decisions if I cannot?
Do I have a long-term care plan beyond hoping family can step in?
NSCA Strategy Tip:
We use our Care Readiness Score™ to determine your risk exposure and identify tax-free LTC solutions that protect your retirement dollars from being drained by unexpected care needs.
✔ Step 4: Get Your Legal Documents in Order
Estate planning is not just about wealth — it’s about clarity, protection, and easing the burden on loved ones.
Your core documents should include:
Will
Living Trust (revocable or irrevocable)
Financial Power of Attorney
Healthcare Proxy
Living Will / Advance Directive
NSCA Strategy Tip:
Our Estate Planning Blueprint helps you understand whether a will, a revocable trust, or an asset-protection trust is right for your goals — without overpaying or getting lost in legal jargon.
✔ Step 5: Organize and Protect Your Assets
Your financial house should be clean, organized, and aligned with your goals.
Review:
Beneficiary designations
Life insurance policies
Annuities
Investment accounts
Real estate
Business interests
NSCA Strategy Tip:
Many people don’t realize that beneficiaries override your will. A quick NSCA Beneficiary Audit can prevent major mistakes and simplify future transfers.
✔ Step 6: Prepare for the Unexpected
A solid retirement plan includes buffers for life’s curveballs.
Make sure you have:
Adequate emergency savings
Updated life insurance
A tax plan for major withdrawals
Clear instructions for loved ones
A digital legacy plan
NSCA Strategy Tip:
We help clients create a Family Emergency Binder — a complete roadmap of contacts, documents, passwords, instructions, and asset lists so your family never has to guess during a crisis.
✔ Step 7: Create Your Retirement Lifestyle Plan
Retirement is more than money — it’s purpose.
Consider:
Where you want to live
Travel plans
Part-time work or consulting
Hobbies and personal goals
Charitable giving
Family time and caregiving roles
NSCA Strategy Tip:
We help align your financial plan with your Lifestyle Vision Statement, ensuring your money supports the life you want — not the other way around.
The NSCA Strategy™: Bringing It All Together
Our approach simplifies retirement planning into three pillars:
1. Protect Your Assets
Shield your savings from taxes, probate, lawsuits, and long-term care expenses.
2. Prepare Your Family
Give your loved ones clarity through proper legal documents, planning tools, and communication.
3. Preserve Your Legacy
Create a long-term plan that reflects your values and supports future generations.
Ready to See Your Retirement Score?
If you want a personalized review of your retirement readiness, long-term care exposure, or estate planning gaps, you can book a free consultation below:
