Client Reviews

The Planner I’d Been Searching For

As my retirement drew closer, becoming less of a concept and more of a reality, I knew it was time for some serious financial planning. For years, my brokerage firm salesperson assured my husband and I that we were on track for a fairly secure retirement – which, to be fair, was sufficient advice. Until it wasn’t. Yes, we may have had enough savings tucked away (well, enough is a relative term), but the LOGISTICS of how to view our various accounts and the myriad ways of replacing my full time paycheck to meet expenses, and the tax implications, and the concerns about RMD and the dreaded “sequence of returns” issue (what the…?), and the fact that my husband still had his business, and visualizing how it might be each month knowing I would no longer see those two deposits from my employer in my bank account was keeping me up at night. The brokerage advisor offered a complementary “financial plan,” which consisted of a holistic look at my accounts and the Monte Carlo scenarios (it’s just a roll of the dice? egads) that foretold whether my money would last in relation to my expenses and my projected lifespan. Ok……now what? Once I understood I needed more help, I started listening to retirement planning podcasts to educate myself. Turns out, having a personal financial planner for retirement is very common nowadays and not just for the wealthy. I also learned how much I really didn’t know about retirement finances and —being a right brain dominant person—how much would have to be spoon fed to me before I could understand it. I needed some hand holding and quick! After speaking to —no joke— maybe 15 financial planners who specialize in retirement planning (important!) I knew I found the right person when I spoke to Joe Carbone. He checked all the boxes: He is willing to help me understand my unique financial situation. He is articulate. Smart. Systematic. Experienced. Patient. Professional. Encouraging. And, most of all: honest.

After about 3 months, a number of emails and phone calls, Joe had set up my custom digital dashboard that provides a visual, easy-to-understand snapshot of my retirement financial plan—based on his in-depth study and understanding of my financial situation. Among other things, I now know what I have and what I need, today and for the next 20 or so years given— current conditions of course.

After reviewing it with me, Joe sent me some action items which we are still working on. Since then, we’ve been in close contact and he has been so responsive and generous with his time and advice that I wish I had hired him years ago. Today’s financial landscape is so complicated and of course rapidly changing so it’s very helpful to have a level headed professional by your side. I’m glad that professional, for me, is Joe Carbone. Hire him now – before he gets too busy!

Betsy Craz

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | September 21, 2025