The Retirement Decision Matrix
Sort everything on your mind about retirement into four boxes: decide now, prepare next, monitor, or safely ignore.
How this works
Below are concerns real pre-retirees bring up. Tap one to pick it up, then tap a zone to place it, or drag it there directly. Not sure where something belongs? Hit Show me an example to see where it typically falls, and compare that to your own instinct. There’s no wrong answer here; this is just a way to turn a pile of worries into a short list of what actually needs your attention first.
Or focus on one specific decision:
Everything on your mind
Tap a concern to pick it up, then tap a zone, or drag it onto the map. Or just hit Show me an example.
Decide Now
- Delay materially worsens the outcome
- Often time- or tax-sensitive
- The primary focus of our meetings
Prepare Next
- Important, but not urgent
- Room for thoughtful planning
- Becomes a future “Decide Now”
Monitor Only
- Variables outside your control
- Needs awareness, not action
- Re-evaluated every 6–12 months
Ignore Safely
- Low-impact, day-to-day items
- A guard against overwhelm
- Confidence in what you set aside
This is a general educational exercise, not a personalized recommendation. Where an item truly belongs depends on your full financial picture, which is exactly what a real conversation is for.
One amount, more than one priority?
Curious how a single dollar amount could work across more than one priority at once, your kids, aging parents, your own retirement? Try the Squeeze Test.