You Don’t Have to Do This Alone Anymore
Full-Service Retirement Planning and Investment Management
You’ve been the one in charge of the money for 40 years. The 401(k), the IRAs, the taxes, the decisions. You’ve done it well. But you don’t want to keep doing it forever, and you don’t want your spouse to have to figure it out if something happens to you. What you want now is a financial advisor for retirement planning who knows your full picture, picks up the phone when you call, and stays with you for the rest of your life.
What a Financial Advisor for Retirement Planning Does at Focus Planning Group
Full-service retirement planning at Focus Planning Group is an ongoing relationship in which a fiduciary financial advisor manages your investments at Charles Schwab, runs your retirement income strategy, coordinates your annual tax planning, and updates your financial plan as your life changes. The relationship is built to last 25 years or more.
We’ve been doing this for over 25 years from our office in Bayport, New York, and we serve clients virtually across the United States. Most of the people we work with have been with us for over a decade.
Our approach is built on three things:
A Quieter Way to Live with a Financial Advisor for Retirement Planning
Retirement is supposed to be the time when worry goes down, not up. For most of the people we meet, it’s the opposite. The questions get bigger. The mistakes get more expensive. There’s no employer, no HR department, no payroll service handling things for you anymore. It’s just you and your spouse, making decisions that will shape the next 25 years.
We take that off your plate.
When you work with us, you don’t have to keep up with tax law changes, Social Security rules, RMD deadlines, Medicare windows, or what the market did this week. You don’t have to wonder if you’re pulling from the right account, claiming Social Security at the right time, or leaving money on the table at tax season. We watch all of it. You live your life.
If something comes up, you call. We pick up.
What We Manage for You
Full-service clients of Focus Planning Group receive ongoing management of the following:
If something off this list happens: a home sale, an inheritance, a health event, a family member who needs financial help, a new car purchase or lease, you call us first. We think it through with you before you act.
The Questions We Answer Together
These are the most common questions full-service clients ask us, and the ones we work through with them every year:
“When can I start taking money out of my retirement accounts, and how much?”
“Should I delay Social Security or claim it now?”
“How do Roth conversions and RMDs fit into my tax plan?”
“Should I own bonds in retirement?”
“Should I look to harvest my capital gains or do a Roth conversion?”
“Can we afford to help our daughter with a down payment?”
“We just sold the house. What do we do with the cash?”
“How do I make sure my spouse is okay if something happens to me?”
“Are we going to be okay?”
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How Full-Service Retirement Planning Works
Start Here:
Schedule a Complimentary Intro Call
We begin with a brief conversation to understand your goals and determine if this model aligns with your needs. There’s no prep or pressure, just clarity on next steps.
Your First 90 Days:
The Focus on Retirement Blueprint System
Retirement comes with a lot of moving parts. We break everything down into four steps, one topic at a time, over your first 90 days. No overwhelming binders. No guesswork. Just a clear plan you can act on.
1. Rough Cut Meeting (about 60 minutes). Statement of Financial Purpose, Balance Sheet, and your Retirement Budget.
2. Projects (six meetings of about 30 to 45 minutes each). Retirement Income, Tax Distribution Planning, Social Security Timing, Investment Planning, Estate Planning, and Insurance Consulting. One topic per meeting.
3. Account Setup (only if it applies to you, about 5 to 7 business days). Rollovers and transfers to Charles Schwab if you decide to consolidate.
4. One-Page Financial Plan (about 60 minutes). Every important number and decision on a single sheet.
Every Year:
Ongoing Management
Once your plan is built, we run it. Your investments are managed at Schwab. We meet at least once a year for a full plan review, with quarterly check-ins as standard. We coordinate with your CPA at tax time. We adjust the plan as life changes.
You don’t have to schedule anything. You don’t have to remember anything. We run the calendar.
For the Long Run:
A Relationship That Lasts
The Focus on Retirement Blueprint System isn’t a one-time project. The four parts are what keep your retirement running year after year. Tax planning every year, Social Security as the rules change, estate reviews, investment rebalancing, and a phone you can pick up whenever something happens.
Most of our clients have been with us for over a decade. Many have introduced their adult children to us. A few have introduced their grandchildren.
A Story From Our Practice
Tom and Linda came to us 18 months before Tom’s retirement. Tom had managed their money for 40 years and done well: a healthy 401(k), a few IRAs, a brokerage account, and an inherited IRA from Linda’s mother. Linda trusted him, but she had never been deeply involved in the details.
What brought them in wasn’t a crisis. It was a quiet realization. Tom was 64. He looked at Linda one night and said, “If something happens to me, you’d have to figure all of this out on your own.”
That was the conversation that brought them to us, looking for a financial advisor for retirement planning who would care for both of them, not just the one who’d been handling the money.
We worked through the Blueprint together over their first 90 days. We built a withdrawal strategy that pulled from the right accounts in the right order, mapped out a five-year Roth conversion window before RMDs hit, claimed Linda’s Social Security on the right schedule, consolidated their accounts at Schwab, and built a one-page plan they both understood.
That was eight years ago. Linda is now as comfortable on our quarterly calls as Tom is. They sold the house in 2024, and we walked them through the tax planning. Tom went back to consulting part-time for two years, and we adjusted the income plan. When Linda’s mother passed away, we handled the paperwork for the inherited IRA.
They don’t lie awake at night anymore. That’s the point.
Who Full-Service Retirement Planning Is For
It’s probably not the right fit if you only want help with a single question, or if you’d rather pay by the hour and stay fully hands-on. For that, we offer hourly and flat-fee planning.
Full-Service Retirement Planning vs. Hourly: Which Fits
|
Full-Service
|
HOURLY | Flat Fee
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Relationship |
Ongoing, multi-decade |
One-time or as needed |
|
Investment Management |
Yes, at Schwab |
No, you manage your own |
|
Fee Structure |
1% annually, scales down |
$300/hour or $3,750 flat |
|
Asset Minimum |
$250,000 |
None |
|
Tax Planning |
Annual, ongoing |
One-time review |
|
Best For |
Retirees who want a fiduciary running the financial side |
DIY investors who want an expert second opinion |
|
Includes Blueprint System |
Yes, as an ongoing system |
Yes, as a one-time project ($3,750) |
What Our Clients Say
★★★★★
Great experience with Joe
“I was looking for an advisor to help me with a retirement withdrawal plan and trying to avoid a hard sell for investments or packaged services I didn’t need. Joe was responsive, very knowledgeable, and gave me just what I needed and nothing more. It’s been a pleasure dealing with Joe.”
★★★★★
A GREAT CHOICE
“I was searching for a financial planner and unlike the other individuals I met with, Joe and I clicked. He was straight forward, responsive to my questions, and was genuinely interested in assisting me. Joe is responsive to my inquiries and calls and, I am pleased with his services.”
★★★★★
Detailed professional
“Joe did an amazing job on my complicated military retirement, thrift savings plan, current investments stocks/IRA’s and real estate portfolio. Wouldn’t trust any other person with my future. If you need an advisor Joes your guy.”
These testimonials were provided by current Focus Planning Group clients and may not be representative of the experiences of other clients. The clients were not compensated, nor are there material conflicts of interest that would affect the given testimonials.
Why Clients Choose Focus Planning Group
For over 25 years, we’ve helped clients simplify their financial decisions and approach retirement with confidence. Our philosophy is what we call Elegant Simplicity, which helps you see the big picture clearly and make informed decisions without unnecessary complexity.
As a fiduciary, our only goal is to help you make the best possible choices for your future and your family’s.
You’ll get professional advice that’s accessible, practical, and rooted in decades of experience. You’ll also get a person who knows your name, your spouse’s name, and the names of the things that matter most to you.
Book Your Free Intro Call to See if We’re a Good Fit!
We’ll assess your specific situation and determine if it’s the right fit. It’s completely complimentary.
This is a no-pressure call where you don’t need to prepare. It’s for folks who want clear direction and answers to their retirement questions. Pick a time that works for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is full-service retirement planning?
Full-service retirement planning is an ongoing relationship in which a fiduciary financial advisor manages your investments, runs your retirement income strategy, handles annual tax planning, coordinates your estate and insurance reviews, and updates your financial plan as life changes. At Focus Planning Group, full-service includes the Focus on Retirement Blueprint System, investment management at Charles Schwab, and direct access to Joseph Carbone, CFP®.
How is full-service different from hourly financial planning?
Full-service is an ongoing, multi-decade relationship in which we manage your investments and your plan continuously. Hourly is for people who want a one-time review or focused help on a specific question, without ongoing commitment. See the comparison table above.
How much does full-service retirement planning cost at Focus Planning Group?
We charge a single annual fee that starts at 1% and scales down as your assets grow:
First $1M: 1.00%
$1M to $2M: 0.85%
$2M to $3M: 0.75%
$3M to $4M: 0.65%
$4M to $5M: 0.55%
Over $5M: 0.50%
That fee covers the Blueprint, ongoing financial planning, and investment management. There is no separate planning fee and no setup fee.
How do I choose a financial advisor for retirement planning?
Look for a fiduciary who is legally required to put your interests first, handles the ongoing work (not just a one-time plan), and walks you and your spouse through Social Security timing, tax-smart withdrawals, and a written income plan.
Is there an asset minimum for full-service retirement planning?
Yes. Full-service requires at least $250,000 in investable assets. Below that threshold, we offer hourly planning with no minimum.
Are you a fiduciary financial advisor?
Yes. Focus Planning Group, LLC is an SEC-registered investment advisor, and we operate as fiduciaries at all times. We are legally and ethically required to put your interests first.
Where are my investments held?
At Charles Schwab, our third-party custodian. Schwab holds and safeguards your assets in accounts held in your name. We never take possession of your money. You have full transparency into your accounts at all times.
Do I have to move my 401(k) to Schwab?
Most clients consolidate at Schwab, so we can manage everything in one place, but it’s a conversation, not a requirement. If keeping your 401(k) at your employer makes sense (Rule of 55, NUA on company stock, specific fund access), we plan around it.
I don’t live in New York. Can I still work with you?
Yes. We work with clients virtually across the United States.
My spouse hasn’t been involved in our finances. Is that a problem?
No, and it’s one of the most common reasons people come to us. We make sure both spouses understand the plan and feel comfortable calling us. The one-page plan is a big part of that.
What happens if something happens to me?
Your spouse already knows us, already has the one-page plan, and already has the line to call. We handle the transition with them, including estate work, account changes, and ongoing planning. They are not starting from zero.
What if I already have an advisor?
Many advisors who are great at growing money during the working years aren’t built for the ongoing work of retirement. If your current advisor hasn’t walked you and your spouse through Social Security timing, tax-smart withdrawals, annual Roth conversion analysis, and a written income plan, this is the conversation to have.
How often will we meet?
At least once a year for a full plan review, with quarterly check-ins. You can call or email anytime if something comes up.
Who is Joseph Carbone?
Joseph Carbone, Jr., is a Certified Financial Planner® professional and the founder of Focus Planning Group, LLC. He has over 25 years of experience helping individuals and couples plan for and live in retirement. He works directly with every client.