Cary Smith, Director of Business Development 6/10/25 Cary Smith, Director of Business Development 6/10/25

Diversifying Your Portfolio After Retirement

In the years leading up to retirement, you may have relied on the simplicity of target-date funds or asset allocation strategies designed to reduce risk as your retirement date approached. Now what? You’ve crossed that milestone—but retirement isn’t the finish line. You still have many years ahead, and you need your portfolio to perform well while continuing to manage risk. That’s where intentional diversification becomes critical.

Cary Smith, Director of Business Development 5/7/25 Cary Smith, Director of Business Development 5/7/25

Why True Readiness for Retirement Goes Beyond Quitting Work

Retirement is often painted as the golden destination after decades of hard work—a well-earned reward marked by freedom, leisure, and the chance to finally relax. But while it may seem like the finish line of a long career, retirement isn't just about leaving the office behind. In fact, true readiness for retirement goes far beyond simply quitting work.

Cary Smith, Director of Business Development 4/9/25 Cary Smith, Director of Business Development 4/9/25

What to Do if You’re Retiring During a Down Market

Retirement is a major life milestone, ideally filled with the excitement of newfound freedom and the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of your labor. But retiring during a market downturn can stir anxiety. After decades of saving and investing, seeing your portfolio shrink just as you plan to tap into it is understandably nerve-wracking. Fortunately, there are several strategies you can employ to protect your finances and make your retirement more resilient—even in a turbulent market.

Cary Smith, Director of Business Development 3/12/25 Cary Smith, Director of Business Development 3/12/25

Master Retirement Spending: Craft Your Income & Expense Blueprint

Retirement isn’t just about saving—it’s about knowing how to spend wisely. After years of diligent saving, the challenge shifts to making that money last. A structured retirement income and expense plan is essential for ensuring long-term financial security. In this article, we’ll explore how to optimize income sources, manage expenses, build a realistic budget, and withdraw funds efficiently to maintain a comfortable lifestyle.

Client First Capital 5/8/23 Client First Capital 5/8/23

A Retirees Perspective on Retirement Planning: Beyond the Finances

Too often, when people think about retirement they focus too much, if not solely, on the financial side of retirement. I had a 35-year career in Financial Services, I understand the importance of being financially prepared. Equally important is the non-financial side of retirement. The “how am I going to live” and “how will I spend my time” side of retirement.

Amar Shah, CFA, CFP® Founder & CIO, Client First Capital 3/13/23 Amar Shah, CFA, CFP® Founder & CIO, Client First Capital 3/13/23

Top 3 Retirement Planning Lessons from Silicon Valley Bank

Well, it’s hard to hide from the news of the Fed and Treasury coming to the rescue of depositors of a failing bank. Silicon Valley Bank is the 20th largest bank in the United States of America and mainly serves the needs of startups and venture capital firms. And because of mismanaged risk and the inability to create liquidity when needed, the bank was taken over by regulators from the FDIC last Friday. This article covers the events that led to the failure of the bank and broader impacts as well as lessons learned from these series of events that can be applied to managing retirement.

Client First Capital 3/18/21 Client First Capital 3/18/21

Do Individuals in retirement need an estate plan?

If you are retired, spending down your assets, and don’t have young children that need guardianship, do you really need an estate plan? The answer is still YES because if you don’t have one the government will get to decide!