Carolina Financial Services Group

10/12/2026

How well will your retirement plan withstand life's uncertainties?

1. Has your retirement plan been stress-tested for the Widow's Penalty?
2. Has your retirement plan been stress-tested for the Sequence of Returns Risk?

Here's the question I believe every pre-retiree and retiree should ask:

Has my retirement plan been stress-tested to determine how these risks could affect my income and financial security?

I strongly encourage you to take the time to watch this video.
https://youtu.be/yxIE5bHQOT4?is=F-oOyYks9JoJPJnB

If you're unsure whether your retirement plan has been properly stress-tested for these risks, I encourage you to find out before they become a problem.

To schedule a retirement plan stress test, please contact me:
Call: 252-215-9095
Email: [email protected]
Schedule an Appointment Online: https://calendly.com/mowens-cfsgroupnc/analysis

09/30/2026

Your retirement income strategy can impact more than just your monthly cash flow.

Understanding how IRA or 401(k) withdrawals may affect the taxation of Social Security benefits is an important part of retirement planning. A little tax planning today can help you make more informed decisions for the future.

09/28/2026

09/28/2026

Person A starts collecting at 62. Because of the five years head start, Person A has already received about $84,000 by age 67. Person B waits until 67, so at that point they’ve collected nothing but they receive a larger monthly benefit once they start.

By age 72, Person A has collected about $168,000, compared with $120,000 for Person B. By age 77, Person A is still slightly ahead: $252,000 vs. $240,000.

But eventually the larger monthly benefit catches up. Somewhere around age 79, Person B passes Person A. By age 82, Person B has collected about $360,000, compared with $336,000 for Person A.
This is a simplified example and doesn’t account for things like COLAs, taxes, the earnings test, investment returns, spousal benefits, or survivor benefits

09/20/2026

A pile of accounts is not a plan. When someone says “we will look at that closer to retirement," that is the punt that costs five-figure and six-figure decisions: Social Security timing, withdrawal sequencing, Roth conversions, the tax-planning window that closes in September of the year before you retire. Two years of runway produce better choices than three months
of pressure.

After being a licensed retirement planning specialist for 34 years, my job is to take the financial decisions, that are usually are outside the scope of a money manager or growth focused advisor, and make them clear, so clients can see their full
picture and make the right call themselves.

09/07/2026

Having a big pile of money in your IRA, 401k or Savings is not the same as having enough lifetime income. Retirees live off income not assets.

08/23/2026

Carolina Financial Services Groups offers fixed index annuities to provide a steady income stream for people in retirement.