At-a-Glance
Ages: John (67), Susan (64)
Top Priorities:
Managing retirement income for their snowbird lifestyle
Planning for future health care costs
Updating estate planning to support their children and grandchildren
Key Financial Goals:
Creating a flexible retirement plan that supports their dual-state living
Preparing for future health care expenses and ensuring a smooth estate transition
Where They Are Now: John and Susan Harrison are enjoying their snowbird lifestyle with a secure financial plan that supports their family’s future.
Overview
John and Susan Harrison had spent their careers diligently saving for retirement, and now they were eager to enjoy the next chapter of their lives as snowbirds, splitting their time between Illinois and Arizona. John, a retired engineer, and Susan, a high school Spanish teacher nearing retirement, had spent years preparing for this moment. With a recent inheritance from Susan’s late mother and the complexities of managing their retirement, health care, and estate plan, the Harrisons realized they needed a more integrated, intentional approach.
John had always taken charge of the couple’s money matters, but as he got older, he saw new value in delegating more of their investment and financial decisions to a trusted professional team, freeing him up to focus on enjoying retirement. Susan, who had previously been comfortable letting John handle these responsibilities, now wanted to become more involved and gain a better understanding of their overall financial picture, especially as they considered the future needs of their adult children and grandchildren.
Encouraged by close friends who had been working with HT|TC Wealth Partners for years, John and Susan decided to explore how HT|TC could guide them through this important transition. After a discovery meeting to discuss their goals and concerns, the couple was drawn to how HT|TC could handle everything they needed in one place — from retirement and investment planning to estate and trust services. They appreciated the multigenerational approach, and felt their HT|TC team really understood the intricacies involved with both their immediate and long-term concerns.
With HT|TC’s help, they felt ready to move forward, confident they had found the right partner to help guide them through the next stage of their lives.
Challenges and HT|TC Solutions
Optimizing Retirement Income and Delegating Investment Responsibilities
As John enjoyed the early years of his retirement and Susan approached hers, they needed a strategy that would allow them to manage their income and enjoy their snowbird lifestyle — splitting time between Illinois and Arizona.
HT|TC’s wealth management team worked with the couple to build a flexible retirement plan that integrated John’s pension, Social Security benefits, and their various investment accounts. They also helped Susan evaluate her 403(b) — which could soon be rolled over — and understand how to fold it into the couple’s broader financial strategy. Additionally, the recent inheritance from Susan’s mother, which helped alleviate some of the pressure involved with drawing down their savings, was thoughtfully invested in a tax-efficient manner.
John felt relieved to delegate day-to-day financial management and investment responsibilities, while Susan appreciated gaining more clarity and confidence about their financial future.
Eliminating Uncertainty Around Future Health Care Costs
Since healthcare was an increasing priority for John and Susan, HT|TC offered them meaningful education around Medicare. This guidance helped them make informed decisions around their future health care coverage needs.
The team also helped the couple plan for potential long-term care needs, exploring and evaluating insurance options which would give them the ability to stay in one of their homes or access care without disrupting their retirement savings.
Through this collaborative process, John and Susan were reassured that their health care costs were manageable and in alignment with their broader goals. They felt comfortable about their ability to meet their future health care needs without compromising their overall financial health.
A Financial Plan for a Snowbird Lifestyle
Arizona was more than just an escape from Illinois winters for the Harrisons — it was a financially savvy decision, too. The state’s warm, dry climate, affordability, and low property taxes made it the right place for them to spend part of the year.
John and Susan's HT|TC wealth advisor designed the couple’s financial plan to accommodate their split residency, incorporating the costs of maintaining two homes in different states. Virtual check-ins, regular updates, and proactive communication helped ensure that their plan remained flexible and adaptable, allowing them to seamlessly manage their finances between Illinois and Arizona.
HT|TC’s thorough approach helped John and Susan enjoy their time in Arizona with less worry and uncertainty around their finances. The couple knew they had a well-crafted, intentional plan in place to help protect their assets and optimize their resources.
Comprehensive Estate and Financial Planning for Long-Term Security
Although preparing for retirement was their primary goal, John and Susan quickly realized their estate plan needed attention. Their wills hadn’t been updated for over 12 years; since that time, their estate had become more complex. HT|TC’s in-house trust and estate services team helped the couple update their wills, medical directives, and powers of attorney. Together, they also incorporated the inheritance into their broader estate plan and established a family trust.
John and Susan felt a strong sense of security, knowing they had taken steps which would help them pass down their assets smoothly to their children— Amy (35), who owns a small graphic design business, and Michael (38), an IT consultant — and grandchildren, ultimately providing support for their loved ones’ future educational and financial needs.
Supporting Family and Establishing a Legacy
While John and Susan were focused on securing their own retirement, they also wanted to make sure their children were also on a strong financial path. Their daughter Amy had her hands full balancing the demands of entrepreneurship and planning for her financial future. HT|TC’s business owner services helped Amy understand the complexities of managing both her personal finances and the financial health of her business.
Meanwhile, their son Michael, a married IT professional with three-year-old twin boys, had different financial needs. He was focused on saving for his children’s education and planning for his family’s future. HT|TC worked closely with Michael, providing personalized advice and building a plan around prioritizing his savings and investment strategies. This collaborative process allowed him to address his short- and long-term goals with confidence and intention.
HT|TC also facilitated regular family meetings where John and Susan could discuss their financial plans and vision with Amy and Michael, helping ensure everyone was aligned with the family’s long-term goals and values. These discussions helped the family build a unified financial vision and mission statement, helping ensure that John and Susan’s legacy would be carried forward. Knowing their children’s needs were being taken care of gave the couple additional contentment as they moved fully into this new chapter.
Outcome
John and Susan wanted their retirement to reflect the years of hard work and careful planning they had dedicated to their future. They didn’t just want a financial plan—they wanted a strategy that would allow them to enjoy their time in Arizona while staying connected with family in Illinois. With HT|TC guiding them through each step, they built a retirement that matched their vision. The HT|TC team developed a plan that aligned with their lifestyle and helped set the stage for Susan’s inheritance to grow in a tax-efficient way. They also provided thoughtful support on navigating their long-term care and health care options, including Medicare.
What truly set HT|TC apart for the Harrisons was the combination of deep experience and a genuine connection. The team’s decades of knowledge in guiding clients through major life transitions, paired with their attentive and personalized approach, earned their family’s trust and confidence. Regular check-ins and tailored updates helped assure them that their retirement goals were constantly in focus. For Susan, who was becoming more involved with their finances, HT|TC’s clear explanations helped her feel more informed and confident about the decisions being made.
HT|TC’s collaborative, holistic approach not only helped the Harrisons achieve their personal goals but also laid the groundwork for their family’s secure financial future. By updating their estate plan and crafting customized strategies for their children and grandchildren, they could now shift their attention to what really mattered—cherishing moments with family and enjoying the fulfilling snowbird retirement they had envisioned.
* Although this story is representative of the work HT|TC does to support the clients we serve, all individuals are fictional and do not represent actual clients.
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