Question 1

When should I start retirement planning?

Accepted Answer

The most consequential planning window is the 10 to 15 years before your target retirement date — roughly ages 50 to 65. This is when the decisions about Social Security claiming, Roth conversions, rollover destinations, and income sequencing are made. Starting earlier gives more time to execute multi-year Roth conversion strategies and optimize the tax position before RMDs begin at 73. That said, it is never too late to improve the plan — even clients who are already retired benefit from restructuring their withdrawal sequence and beneficiary designations.

Question 2

What is the Back Nine Plan?

Accepted Answer

The Back Nine Plan is Doug Robb Jr.'s retirement planning framework. It addresses the 10 to 15 years before and after retirement — the period when the financial decisions made have the greatest impact on the outcome. The framework covers: rollover destination, Roth conversion schedule, Social Security claiming strategy, income floor construction, RMD planning, legacy and beneficiary structure, and estate coordination. Each decision is modeled in sequence because they interact — the Social Security claiming age affects the Roth conversion window, which affects the RMD amount, which affects the estate.

Question 3

How much do I need to retire?

Accepted Answer

The right number depends on your income needs, Social Security benefit, pension (if any), healthcare costs, and how long you plan to fund retirement. A common framework is the 4% rule — withdraw 4% of the portfolio in year one and adjust for inflation annually. At that rate, a $1 million portfolio generates $40,000 per year. But the 4% rule is a starting point, not a plan. Doug builds a specific income projection based on your actual numbers — Social Security, pension, IRA balance, and expected expenses — before arriving at a target.

Question 4

What is the difference between a financial advisor and a fiduciary?

Accepted Answer

A financial advisor is a broad term that includes broker-dealers, insurance agents, and registered investment advisors. A fiduciary is a legal standard — it requires the advisor to act in the client's best interest at all times. Broker-dealers are held to a suitability standard, which only requires that a recommendation be suitable for the client, not necessarily optimal. SEC-registered investment advisors like Doug Robb Jr. are fiduciaries by law. Doug does not earn commissions on product sales and has no financial incentive to recommend one product over another.

Question 5

Do I need a financial advisor if I have a pension?

Accepted Answer

A pension provides a guaranteed income floor, which simplifies the income planning problem. But it does not eliminate the need for planning. The pension vs. lump-sum decision, the survivor benefit election, Social Security coordination, deferred comp strategy, IRA rollover decisions, and Roth conversion opportunities all require analysis. NYC public sector workers with pensions often have the most complex retirement planning situations — not the simplest — because of the interaction between the pension, Social Security (including WEP and GPO), deferred comp, and IRA assets.

Question 6

What does ABC Wealth charge?

Accepted Answer

ABC Wealth charges an advisory fee based on assets under management. There are no commissions, no product sales, and no fees for the initial consultation. The fee structure is disclosed in the firm's ADV Part 2, which is available on the SEC's IAPD database. The initial consultation is free and covers a review of your current situation, your retirement timeline, and whether Doug's practice is the right fit.

Retirement Planning
Bronx, NY

Retirement Planning Services for Bronx and New York Residents

IRA Rollover Services

Social Security Planning

ROTH Conversion Strategy

Retirement Income Planning

Legacy Planning & Estate

NYC Pension Rollover

Public Sector Retirement

Wealth Management

The Back Nine Plan

Rollover Destination

Roth Conversion Window

Social Security Timing

Income Sequencing

RMD Planning

Legacy & Estate

Who Doug Works With

NYC Public Sector Workers

Pre-Retirees (Ages 55–65)

IRA Rollover Clients

Retirees Already in Distribution

Retirement Planning — Frequently Asked Questions

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Retirement PlanningBronx, NY