You've spent years building your savings, investments, and financial foundation. As retirement gets closer, the questions can become more complicated.

 

When can I retire?

 

Will my savings last?

 

When should I take Social Security?

 

How will taxes affect retirement income?

And perhaps the biggest question of all:

Do I have enough to live the way I want?

As fiduciary advisors serving San Jose and Silicon Valley, we help families and individuals answer those questions with a comprehensive retirement plan built around the life they actually want to live.
 

A Retirement Plan Built Around Your Life

Retirement should be more than a number on a spreadsheet.

It's the freedom to travel. Spend more time with family. Pursue hobbies. Start something new. Help your children or grandchildren. Or simply enjoy the flexibility that comes with having more control over your time.

Your retirement plan should account for those goals. We look at your:

 

Investment risk and market volatility

 

Retirement accounts

 

Expected retirement income

 

Social Security benefits

 

Insurance and risk

 

Spending and lifestyle goals

 

Tax considerations

 

Healthcare and long-term care needs

We then bring those pieces together to help you understand what your retirement could look like, and how to get to your dream retirement.

Retirement Income Planning

Accumulating wealth is only part of retirement planning.

Once you stop working, your focus shifts from building your portfolio to creating a sustainable income strategy.

We help you evaluate how and when to draw from different sources of income.

Because a retirement plan shouldn't only answer how much you have. It should help answer how your money can work together throughout retirement.
 

Tax Planning for Retirement

Taxes don't necessarily stop when your paycheck does.

Our financial planning process incorporates tax considerations into your broader retirement strategy, including: Roth conversion analysis, RMD planning, Taxefficient withdrawal strategies, Asset location, Income timing.

The objective is to look beyond a single year's tax return and consider how today's decisions could affect your lifetime tax picture, in coordination with your tax professional.

Investment Planning for Retirement

Your investment strategy should change as your financial goals change. 

Someone who is decades away from retirement may have a very different investment strategy than someone who is five years away or already retired. 

We develop investment strategies based on your goals, timeline, risk tolerance, and income needs.

Rather than reacting to every market headline, we focus on how your portfolio fits into the larger retirement plan.

Planning for the Unexpected

A retirement plan also needs to account for the things you can't predict. 

Healthcare costs. Market volatility. Longevity. Long-term care. Changes in tax laws. Family needs.

We incorporate risk management and contingency planning into your overall strategy so you're not only planning for the retirement you hope to have, but preparing for the circumstances that could change it.

Retirement Planning in San Jose and Silicon Valley

We believe you shouldn't have to commit to an ongoing advisory relationship just to understand what your retirement could look like.

That's why our process starts with a conversation and a comprehensive look at your financial picture.

We'll help you identify your priorities, explore different scenarios, and understand the strategies available to you.

Learn more about us →

True North Advisors serves retirement planning clients throughout the greater Silicon Valley area, including San Jose, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Santa Clara, Los Gatos, and Saratoga.
We also work with clients virtually across California and nationwide.

  • San Jose
  • Sunnyvale
  • Cupertino
  • Los Gatos
  • Santa Clara
  • Mountain View
  • Palo Alto
  • Saratoga

Ready to start planning?

Ready to build a retirement plan around the life you want? Let's start with a conversation.

Call us at (408) 573.1822 or schedule a consultation online.

Schedule Free Consultation

Frequently Asked Questions

  • 1. How do I find a retirement planner in San Jose?

    Look for a fiduciary advisor who specializes in retirement income planning and takes time to understand your full financial picture before recommending a strategy. True North Advisors serves individuals and families throughout San Jose and Silicon Valley and offers a complimentary consultation to help you get started.

  • 2. When should I start retirement planning?

    The earlier you begin, the more flexibility you have. However, retirement planning becomes especially important in the five to ten years before your target retirement date, when decisions about Social Security timing, withdrawal strategies, Roth conversions, and healthcare coverage can have a significant impact on your long-term financial security.

  • 3. How much money do I need to retire in Silicon Valley?

    Retirement needs vary significantly based on your lifestyle, healthcare costs, housing situation, and income sources. Because the cost of living in San Jose and Silicon Valley is among the highest in the country, many Bay Area retirees need to plan for higher-than-average expenses. A retirement planner can help you model different scenarios based on your specific situation.

  • 4. What does a retirement planner do?

    A retirement planner helps you evaluate your savings, investments, Social Security options, healthcare needs, and income sources to build a strategy for generating sustainable income throughout retirement. At True North Advisors, we also incorporate tax planning, risk management, and estate planning into the retirement planning process.

  • 5. What is the difference between a retirement planner and a financial advisor?

    A financial advisor typically provides broad financial planning guidance across multiple areas of your financial life. A retirement planner specializes in the specific decisions and strategies relevant to retirement, including income distribution, Social Security optimization, Medicare planning, and long-term care. Many advisors, including True North Advisors, provide both.

  • 6. How does Social Security factor into a retirement plan?

    Social Security is one of the most important retirement income decisions you'll make. Claiming at the right age for your situation can mean significantly higher lifetime income. A retirement planner can help you evaluate when to claim, how to coordinate benefits with a spouse, and how Social Security interacts with your taxes and other income sources.