Will your money last
as long as you do?
Most people spend forty years building an income and almost no time planning what happens when it stops. One honest review shows you where you actually stand — what comes in every month, what goes out, and what to do about the difference.
Pension elections. Social Security timing. Income gaps. Guaranteed income options. In plain English.
what we do and don't do.
YWAIT is an independent insurance and retirement education practice. We are licensed to sell life insurance and annuity products in all 50 states, and we coordinate attorney-drafted estate documents through a professional partnership. We are not currently registered as an investment adviser or a broker-dealer — we do not manage assets, recommend securities, or charge a fee for financial planning, and we do not provide tax or legal advice. The review described on this page is a free educational analysis of the numbers you bring us. It is not individualized investment advice, and every decision stays yours. We are paid commissions by insurance carriers when a client purchases a product — see exactly how we're paid.
of non-retired adults say their retirement saving is not on track — and most have never seen their actual monthly numbers written down.1
The paycheck stops. The bills don't.
Most people have never mapped what their actual monthly income looks like in retirement. Social Security, pension, savings withdrawals — do they cover your life, or not? Most people find out after it's too late to adjust.
One Social Security decision can cost six figures.
Claiming at the wrong age, in the wrong order, or without a spousal strategy is one of the most expensive and most permanent mistakes retirees make. We look at the timing before you file, not after.
Pension elections are usually irreversible.
Single life or joint survivor. Lump sum or annuity. Most people pick what sounds reasonable without ever seeing the numbers side by side. We put every option your plan offers side by side, with real numbers, before you decide.
A retirement income review
built around your numbers.
Not generic advice. Not a sales pitch. A real look at your actual income, your actual expenses, and the exact distance between where you are and where you need to be.
You're guessing.
- Guessing how long your money will last
- Claiming Social Security at the wrong time
- Picking pension options without modeling them
- Paying more tax than necessary on withdrawals
- No clear monthly income picture
- Rolling over accounts without a strategy
- Hoping inflation doesn't derail everything
You're deciding.
- A written income timeline showing exactly what you have
- A side-by-side look at what each claiming age would pay you
- Every pension option modeled side by side
- A plain-English look at how withdrawal order affects your tax bill
- A clear monthly retirement income breakdown
- Your 403(b), 457, IRA, and TSP rollover options explained
- Inflation and longevity assumptions written where you can see them
You worked too long and too hard to leave the last chapter to chance. Guesswork is not a retirement strategy.
Get My Retirement Review →Everything you need
to retire with confidence.
Retirement Income Gap Review
We map your projected income against your projected expenses and show you exactly where the gap is — while there is still time to close it.
Pension Maximization Analysis
Single life, joint survivor, period certain, lump sum — every option available to you, laid out with real numbers so you can see what each one actually pays. Your plan administrator's documents govern the benefit you ultimately receive.
Social Security Timing
How the claiming math actually works on your record and your spouse's — what each filing age pays and what it costs you to file early. The decision is yours; our job is making sure you can see it clearly first.
Income Timeline & Projections
A clear, written picture of your retirement income month by month — what comes in, what goes out, and how long it lasts.
How Withdrawal Order Affects Taxes
The order you draw from taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free accounts changes what you keep. We show you how the sequencing works so you can review it with your own tax professional.
Rollover Options Explained
403(b), 457, IRA, TSP — we explain the rules, the deadlines, and the tax traps, so money doesn't move in a way that costs you. We do not recommend securities.
Inflation & Longevity Assumptions
Your income has to hold up for two or three decades. We write the inflation and longevity assumptions down in plain sight, so you can see — and question — the math behind every number.
Written Review Summary
You leave with your numbers in writing — your income timeline, your gap, and the options in front of you — not just a conversation you have to remember.
If you've earned it,
you deserve a plan to keep it.
Retirement planning isn't only for executives with million-dollar portfolios. It's for every hardworking person who wants their money to outlast them.
Union Members
Your pension is one of your largest assets, and one election can swing hundreds of thousands of dollars across a retirement. We work in union pension maximization and walk through every option before you sign.
Within 5 Years of Retirement
This is the critical window. Social Security timing, pension elections, rollover moves — most of these can't be undone. Get clarity before you lock anything in.
Teachers & Government Employees
403(b), 457, and public pension plans carry rules and tax treatment that get missed all the time. We help you use every benefit you've earned.
Already Retired
Not sure your income will hold? We review your current withdrawal strategy, tax picture, and Social Security setup and look for adjustments that extend your runway.
Dual-Income Couples
Two Social Security records, two pension elections, two IRAs. Coordinating them is a strategy, not a guess. We build the spousal plan around both of you.
Anyone With a 401(k), IRA, or TSP
If you're leaving an employer or facing a rollover decision, get the rules explained first. One misstep can trigger taxes and penalties that take years to recover from.
Not sure where you stand? That's exactly what the review is for.
Book My Free Retirement Review →Income is one layer
of seven.
The YWAIT Protection Planning System™ looks at your household in seven layers. Retirement income is one of them — a big one, but a strong income plan with no estate documents behind it still leaves your family exposed. Your review walks all seven so you can see which layers are solid and which are open.
The retirement review sits mostly in Your Money™ and Your Plan™. Whether the other layers are genuinely covered depends on your documents, how your assets are titled, and who is named on your beneficiary forms — which is what we check.
Clear steps.
Zero guesswork.
You show up. We do the heavy lifting. You leave with something in writing.
Book Your Free Review
A no-pressure 60-minute call covering your income sources, projected expenses, and target retirement date. Bring your pension statement, your Social Security estimate, and a list of your retirement accounts.
We Run the Numbers
We build your income timeline — every source coming in, every major expense going out — and identify the gap between what you'll have and what your life actually costs.
You See Your Options
We lay out your options side by side: pension elections, Social Security timing, rollover choices, withdrawal order. You leave with a written summary of your numbers and the choices in front of you.
Ongoing Support
Life changes and plans should change with it. Annual check-ins, updates when your situation shifts, and answers when you need them. You're not making these calls alone.
Real people.
Real decisions.
I was two years from retirement and had no idea what my actual monthly income was going to be. Jessica ran the numbers and showed me I had a real gap — and exactly how to close it before it was too late.
My pension election was coming up and I was overwhelmed. Single life? Joint survivor? Lump sum? Jessica walked me through every option with actual numbers. I made my decision with total confidence.
I claimed Social Security too early, before I found Jessica. She walked me through my survivor options and my rollover choices so I understood them. I wish I'd found her sooner.
The statements above are testimonials from actual clients of YWAIT regarding retirement, estate document, and insurance services. These clients were not compensated in cash or in kind for their statements, and no promotional arrangement exists between YWAIT and the individuals quoted. Client names have been shortened to protect their privacy, and clients were not selected on the basis of favorable outcomes. Each statement reflects that individual's own experience and is not representative of the experience of all clients. A testimonial is not a guarantee of any future result, income level, or outcome, and your experience will differ. YWAIT has a material conflict of interest in presenting testimonials, because favorable statements promote our business and may lead you to purchase products or services from which we earn compensation. YWAIT is compensated through commissions paid by insurance carriers and through flat fees for estate document services.
Straight answers to
common questions.
Are you a financial adviser?
No — not today, and we won't pretend otherwise. YWAIT is a licensed insurance practice that does retirement education and insurance-based income strategies. We are not a registered investment adviser or a broker-dealer, we don't manage investment accounts, we don't recommend securities, and we don't charge a fee for financial planning.
What we do is show you your own numbers — what's coming in, what's going out, where the gap is, and what each Social Security or pension election would pay you. That's education, and the decisions stay with you. If a guaranteed-income product turns out to fit, we're licensed to offer one and we're paid a commission by the carrier for it, which we disclose every time.
Jessica is working toward the Series 65 and investment adviser registration. When that is approved, this page and our disclosures will be updated to say so.
When should I start planning for retirement?
Now, regardless of your age. If you're ten or more years out, we focus on savings and income structure. If you're within five years, we focus on pension decisions, Social Security timing, and your income gap. If you're already retired, we review what you have. There's no "too early" or "too late" — only better and worse informed.
What is a retirement income gap?
It's the difference between what you expect to receive in retirement — pension, Social Security, withdrawals from savings — and what your life actually costs to run. Most people have a gap they've never quantified. The review puts a number on it while you still have options.
Can you help with my pension election?
Yes, and it's one of the things we do most. We model every option your plan offers — single life, joint survivor, period certain, lump sum — so you can compare them side by side instead of choosing on instinct. Pension elections are frequently permanent, so this is worth the time.
Projections are estimates based on the information you provide and on your plan's published figures. Your plan administrator's documents govern your actual benefit.
When should I claim Social Security?
It depends on your age, your health, your income needs, and whether you're married. Claiming at 62 with a full retirement age of 67 permanently reduces your benefit by 30%, while waiting past full retirement age adds 8% per year until 70.23 We run your specific numbers, including spousal coordination, and show you what each filing age produces.
Final claiming decisions and benefit amounts are determined by the Social Security Administration.
What's the difference between a 403(b), 457, IRA, and TSP?
Each has its own contribution limits, withdrawal rules, tax treatment, and rollover options — and the differences matter most during a job change or in the years right before retirement. We work regularly with teachers, government employees, and union members on exactly these accounts.
I'm already retired. Is it too late?
No. We can review your current withdrawal order, your Social Security setup, and your tax picture, and look for adjustments that extend your runway. Plenty of retirees find changes still available to them.
Do I need a certain amount saved to work with you?
No minimum. We work with everyday people, not only high-net-worth households. If you have a pension, a retirement account, or Social Security coming, there are decisions to make and we'll help you make them well.
What does the review cost, and how do you get paid?
The review is free and there is no obligation. We do not charge a separate fee for it.
YWAIT is compensated through commissions paid by insurance carriers when a client purchases an insurance or annuity product, and through flat fees for estate document services. That creates a conflict of interest you should know about: we have a financial incentive to recommend products that pay us. We don't offer every product in the market, and other options may be more suitable or less expensive. Ask us how we're paid on any specific recommendation before you act on it, and get a second opinion any time you want one.
YWAIT is not a registered investment adviser or a broker-dealer. We do not provide investment advisory services, securities recommendations, or tax or legal advice. Nothing on this page is an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security.
You spent decades building it. Protect the payout.
One conversation tells you where you actually stand — what your monthly income looks like, where the gap is, and what to do about it. No pressure, no obligation.
Free, no-obligation call · Written summary included · No sales pressure
Every Thursday at 4:00 PM PT / 7:00 PM ET — 50 minutes plus live Q&A. Free to attend, nothing to buy.
Sources & Citations
- Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2024 (May 2025) — 35% of non-retired adults said their retirement saving was on track, meaning approximately 65% did not. The report's own age breakdown shows 42% on track for ages 45–59 and 50% for ages 60 and over. Available at federalreserve.gov.
- Social Security Administration, Early or Late Retirement? — for a worker with a full retirement age of 67, claiming at 62 produces a permanent reduction of 30% (5/9 of 1% per month for the first 36 months, then 5/12 of 1% per month). Available at ssa.gov/oact/quickcalc/early_late.html.
- Social Security Administration, Delayed Retirement Credits — 8.0% per year for anyone born in 1943 or later, with credits ending at age 70. Available at ssa.gov.
- David Altig, Laurence J. Kotlikoff, and Victor Yifan Ye, How Much Lifetime Social Security Benefits Are Americans Leaving on the Table?, NBER Working Paper 30675 (published in Tax Policy and the Economy, vol. 37) — median household loss of $182,370 in lifetime discretionary spending for households aged 45–62, with roughly 90% of that group better off waiting until age 70. Available at nber.org/papers/w30675. A separate 2019 United Income study found only about 4% of retirees claim at the optimal age, at an average cost of roughly $111,000 per household.
- LIMRA (2023) — "just 1 in 5 retirees and non-retired workers have developed a formal written retirement plan." Available at limra.com.
- Social Security Administration, Office of the Chief Actuary, 2023 period life table published with the 2026 Trustees Report — remaining life expectancy at age 65 of 18.12 years for males and 20.66 years for females. Available at ssa.gov/oact/STATS/table4c6.html.
These figures describe population-level research and government actuarial averages. They are not predictions about your household, your benefit, or your outcome, and your results will differ. Social Security benefit amounts are determined solely by the Social Security Administration; pension benefits are determined solely by your plan and its administrator. Any projection we prepare is an estimate based on the information you provide and on stated assumptions that will not hold exactly. Nothing on this page is investment, tax, or legal advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security or product. Consult a qualified tax professional and an attorney licensed in your state before acting.
