Shope + Associates, LLC

Shope + Associates, LLC Whether you’re thinking about retiring or if you’re already retired, your goals and planning needs are different.

Shope + Associates provides retirement planning services to individuals who are within three to five years of retiring and to individuals who are currently enjoying retirement. You go from an accumulation stage of hoping you have enough money to retire to a spending stage of hoping you don’t run out of money. No matter what stage you’re in, we’ll develop a financial plan that’s straightforward and

easy for you to understand. Our approach consists of segmenting your assets into categories based on different time horizons. For example, money that you need for living expenses should normally be invested differently than money you don’t need for the next ten years. We use this methodology, as it mitigates the sequence of returns risk for our clients. We also use financial planning software that will calculate a probability of retirement success based on your current income, investments and planned expenses. We believe this provides our younger clients with additional peace of mind when they’re trying to determine if they’re able to retire. For our clients who are retired, we use it to track their progress and to make recommendations if their income or expenses change.

That knot in your stomach when you think about retirement?It's not just you. And it's trying to tell you something.Stop ...
01/21/2025

That knot in your stomach when you think about retirement?

It's not just you. And it's trying to tell you something.

Stop waiting for the "perfect" moment.
It doesn't exist.

Here's what you need to do RIGHT NOW:

1. Get brutally realistic about your numbers
• Calculate ALL expenses (yes, even the small ones)
• Factor in inflation
• Include healthcare costs
• Don't forget taxes

2. Test drive your retirement budget
• Live on your projected income NOW
• Track every dollar for 3 months
• Identify spending leaks
• Build your emergency fund

3. Create your income strategy
• Map out your Social Security timing
• Organize savings into Now/Soon/Later buckets
• Plan your withdrawal sequence
• Understand your tax implications

4. Prepare emotionally
• Define your purpose beyond work
• Build your social network
• Plan your daily schedule
• Create your "Day 1" vision

5. Stress test everything
• Run multiple market scenarios
• Plan for healthcare emergencies
• Consider family obligations
• Build in flexibility

Understand this:

Your retirement date is closer than you think.
But rushing into retirement is worse than waiting.

I've seen too many people retire with a number but no plan.

Don't be one of them.

Start having these conversations now.
Your future self will thank you.

What's your biggest concern about retiring?

Wishing you prosperity and joy!

Pat

In 2025, retiring without a financial plan is no longer optional.That's not meant to scare you.It's meant to protect you...
01/20/2025

In 2025, retiring without a financial plan is no longer optional.

That's not meant to scare you.
It's meant to protect you.

Here's why:

The retirement landscape has fundamentally changed.

• Pension plans are disappearing
• Social Security faces uncertainty
• Market volatility is the new normal
• Healthcare costs keep climbing
• Inflation is eating away at savings

But here's what I've noticed after helping hundreds of retirees:

Those with a clear financial plan sleep better at night.

Why?

Because they know:
• Exactly where their retirement income will come from
• How their savings are protected
• When to take Social Security
• What their healthcare strategy looks like
• How their loved ones are protected

Just last week, a couple told me:
"We wish we'd done this years ago. The peace of mind is priceless."

Think about it:

You wouldn't build a house without blueprints.
Why build your retirement without a plan?

The good news?

It's not too late to start.

What's keeping you from creating your retirement plan?

There's a tax time bomb in your 401(k).And if you're within 5 years of retirement, you need to hear this.Here's the trut...
01/18/2025

There's a tax time bomb in your 401(k).

And if you're within 5 years of retirement, you need to hear this.

Here's the truth:

Having all your retirement savings in pre-tax accounts is like giving Uncle Sam a blank check for your future.

Think about it:

• Every dollar you withdraw will be taxed
• Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) force your hand at 73
• Future tax rates? Unknown (but unlikely to go down)

I recently worked with a couple who had $2M in their pre-tax accounts.

They thought they were set.

Until we calculated their future RMDs...

At age 75, they'd be forced to withdraw over $100,000 annually - whether they needed it or not.

All taxable. All pushing them into higher tax brackets.

The good news?

There's still time to act.

Consider:

• Roth conversions
• HSA contributions for tax-free healthcare
• After-tax investment strategies

Remember:

It's not about how much you've saved.
It's about how much you keep after taxes.

Don't wait until retirement to realize this.

What's your plan for managing taxes in retirement?

"I'm not ready to retire. I love what I do."I hear this almost daily from successful professionals.But let's be honest.....
01/17/2025

"I'm not ready to retire. I love what I do."

I hear this almost daily from successful professionals.

But let's be honest...

It's rarely about the work itself.

Your career isn't just a job - it's been your identity for decades.

It's the morning routine you've mastered.
The respect you've earned.
The purpose that drives you.
The colleagues who've become friends.

These aren't just bullet points on a resume.
They're the chapters of your story.

I recently worked with a doctor who struggled with this exact challenge.

"Who am I if I'm not treating patients?" she asked.

The answer surprised her:
You're still you - just with the freedom to write your next chapter.

Your expertise doesn't vanish when you retire.
Your impact doesn't end.
Your identity doesn't disappear.

It evolves.

Think of retirement not as closing a book, but as opening a new one.
You're still the author.
You just have more creative freedom.

Because the truth is:
Your career shaped who you are.
But it isn't all you are.

What new chapter would you write if you had the freedom to choose?

Cheers!

Pat

People nearing retirement are always confused about this one thing:When is "enough" really enough?It's not just about hi...
01/17/2025

People nearing retirement are always confused about this one thing:

When is "enough" really enough?

It's not just about hitting a number.
(Though that's what most people think...)

Here's what I've learned after helping hundreds of people retire:

The real confusion isn't about the math.
It's about confidence.

Think about it:

• You've saved diligently
• You've done the calculations
• You've read countless articles

But you're still wondering:
"Am I really ready?"

Here's the truth:

Confidence comes from clarity, not just calculations.

That's why I use the Bucket Strategy with my clients:

1. NOW money (1-2 years)
Protected from market swings

2. SOON money (6-10 years)
Balanced for income and preservation

3. LATER money (10+ years)
Positioned for long-term growth

The result?

People stop asking "Do I have enough?"
And start asking "When can I start?"

Just last week, a client told me:
"For the first time, I can see exactly how my retirement works."

Remember:

It's not about having the biggest nest egg.
It's about having the clearest plan.

What's your biggest "enough" question?

Share below 👇

UPCOMING CLASS NEWS:We're back in person and ready to share our knowledge of retirement planning with you! Click through...
10/05/2021

UPCOMING CLASS NEWS:
We're back in person and ready to share our knowledge of retirement planning with you! Click through the pages of our brochure below to learn more about the Retirement Planning Today® course. Ready to sign-up? Visit http://bit.ly/retirementplanningtoday to reserve your spot.

Jeans and a t-shirt because it doesn’t matter what you’re wearing, as much as what you’re doing for your clients. Howev...
10/03/2021

Jeans and a t-shirt because it doesn’t matter what you’re wearing, as much as what you’re doing for your clients. However, we do believe in matching t-shirts.

Join Pat at our next seminar, Retirement Planning Today®! To visit the full course schedule and details, visit bit.ly/re...
09/30/2021

Join Pat at our next seminar, Retirement Planning Today®! To visit the full course schedule and details, visit bit.ly/retirementplanningtoday.

Pat Shope is the founder and Managing Partner of Shope & Associates, LLC and a Certified Wealth Strategist® as designated under the auspices of the New England College of Finance and Cannon Financial Institute. He is a passionate and vibrant individual who thrives on helping others reach their retirement goals through a planned and systemic approach to wealth management.

Can you afford to retire? Retirement Planning Today® is a two-session course that shows you how to assess your financial...
09/26/2021

Can you afford to retire? Retirement Planning Today® is a two-session course that shows you how to assess your financial situation and develop a personalized plan to help achieve your retirement goals. You’ll receive an objective in-person education on various topics from an investment advisor representative along with a course textbook that’s yours to keep. Space is limited. Sign-up today at http://bit.ly/retirementplanningtoday!

Industry jargon and all those capital letters and numbers (IRA, ROTH, 401k, 403b) got you confused? Shope + Associates c...
09/22/2021

Industry jargon and all those capital letters and numbers (IRA, ROTH, 401k, 403b) got you confused? Shope + Associates can help you navigate through the financial landscape.

Address

180 Little Lake Drive , Suite 2B
Ann Arbor, MI
48103

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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