Third Act Retirement Planning

The firm is purpose-built for the decumulation phase of life rather than the accumulation phase. While most wealth managers optimize for capital appreciation, Third Act Retirement Planning prioritizes sustainable withdrawal rates, tax-efficient distribution sequencing, and longevity protection. Its planning process is anchored to converting retirement assets into a reliable paycheck.

Client portfolios typically feature low-cost exchange-traded funds, individual bonds or bond ladders, and in some cases fixed or variable annuities with income riders. The allocation is structured to balance inflation protection from equities with the principal stability and income generation of fixed income. Product choice is driven by the client's required withdrawal rate and risk tolerance.

Most registered investment advisers of this size and structure offer an introductory meeting at no cost. This session typically serves as a discovery process where the advisor evaluates the prospective client's full retirement balance sheet, excluding primary residence, and outlines a preliminary income distribution plan. The client receives a copy of the firm's Form ADV Part 2A, which details all fee schedules and conflicts of interest.

The firm likely treats the 4% rule as a rough heuristic rather than a prescription. Modern retirement research, including work published by Morningstar and Wade Pfau, suggests starting withdrawal rates should be dynamic and responsive to market valuations at the retirement date. Third Act Retirement Planning would be expected to adjust client spending guardrails based on prevailing real interest rates and equity valuation levels.

No. The firm's incorporation as a standard investment advisory practice places it squarely in the retail and mass-affluent registered investment adviser category. It does not offer the complex estate, trust, and operating-business services that define a family office. The target client is a household, not a multi-generational enterprise.