Saving for retirement is one job. Turning those savings into income you can rely on is a different one. The goal is simple to state: a paycheck that arrives every month, keeps pace with rising costs and lasts as long as you do.

Start with what you need

List your essential costs first, such as housing, food, insurance and healthcare. Then add the things that make retirement enjoyable, like travel and time with family. Guaranteed sources such as pensions and government benefits can cover the essentials, and your investments can fund the rest.

Plan withdrawals with tax in mind

The order in which you draw from accounts can change how much you keep. Taxable, tax-deferred and tax-free accounts are each treated differently, so a little sequencing can stretch your savings by years. We review this every year, because tax rules and your needs both change.

A sustainable plan is never finished. It is checked against the market, your spending and your health, and adjusted before small gaps become large ones.