Assembling Your Dream Team: Choosing the Right Advisors for Holistic Retirement Planning

Picture this: a 62-year-old business owner just closed on her company sale in early 2026. She’s suddenly managing a $6 million windfall, facing capital gains taxes, Medicare decisions, estate questions, and the realization that her old investment broker isn’t equipped to handle what comes next. That’s why it’s crucial to focus on assembling the right team for your unique situation.

Modern retirement isn’t a brief ending—it’s a 20-30 year third act requiring coordinated guidance across finances, taxes, legal matters, healthcare, and personal values. At Third Act Retirement Planning, we serve as fee-only fiduciary advisors, biblically informed and focused on people navigating sudden wealth from inheritance, business sales, NIL income, or settlements.

This article will show you exactly how to form your dream team of advisors, what each specialist does, and how to coordinate them for holistic retirement planning.

What we’ll cover:

• Clarifying your retirement vision before choosing advisors

• Why a fee-only fiduciary financial planner serves as your quarterback

• The five key specialists your team needs

• How to evaluate credentials, compensation, and values alignment

• A step-by-step roadmap for assembling your team

Start With Your Vision: What Does a God-Honoring Retirement Look Like?

Before assembling any team, you need clarity on your “why.” How do you want to live, give, and serve during retirement? Without this foundation, even expert advisors risk pulling in different directions.

Think concretely about ages and dates: your desired retirement age, when social security might start (62, 67, or 70—where delaying to 70 boosts benefits by 8% annually), and target timelines for major financial goals like helping grandchildren with college or paying off the mortgage. Reflect on your career and how your professional journey shapes your retirement aspirations and personal identity.

Proverbs 15:22 reminds us that “plans fail for lack of counsel.” But counsel works best when advisors understand your purpose. Consider writing a one-page Retirement Vision Statement covering your desired lifestyle, giving targets, and service roles. Share this with every advisor to maintain alignment.

Vision-clarifying questions to answer:

• What does financial stability look like for your family?

• What percentage of income goes toward charitable giving?

• When do you want to retire, and what does that life look like?

• What legacy do you want to leave?

• What short term goals do you want to achieve before or during retirement?

The Core of Your Team: Fee-Only, Fiduciary Financial Planner as Quarterback

Your financial advisor serves as the “quarterback” coordinating investment strategies, tax planning, estate coordination, insurance evaluation, and giving strategies into one cohesive retirement planning approach. Choosing the right financial advisor matters because it significantly impacts your long-term financial health, ensuring you have the guidance and strategy needed to navigate market changes and achieve your retirement goals.

“Fee-only” means we earn no commissions—our fees come directly from clients, not product sales. “Fiduciary” means we’re legally bound to act in your interests. This fiduciary duty matters enormously when you’re managing multi-million-dollar portfolios from sudden wealth. Your advisor helps you determine the best strategies and team members to fit your unique needs and goals.

At Third Act Retirement Planning, based in Marietta, Georgia, we build comprehensive plans covering retirement income projections, investment allocation, tax-efficient withdrawals, estate and legacy planning, healthcare costs, and charitable giving. Financial advisors offer asset management, holistic planning, and ongoing guidance, providing valuable insights to help you make informed decisions at every stage. As a Qualified Kingdom Advisor, Thomas Cloud, Jr. integrates biblical wisdom throughout.

Typical engagement steps:

• Discovery call to understand your situation and goals

• Data gathering (net worth, income, expenses, liabilities)

• Written financial planning document with 30-year projections

• Implementation of investment strategies and Roth conversions

• Ongoing reviews (mid-year tax check in September, RMD planning in November) to assist you in navigating complex financial decisions

Key Specialists for a Holistic Retirement Dream Team

A strong retirement team extends beyond the financial planner. A retirement planner evaluates various factors such as living expenses, healthcare costs, and investment strategies to help you achieve a comfortable and financially stable retirement. You’ll typically need a tax advisor, estate planning attorney, insurance specialist, healthcare consultant, and charitable advisor—though not all immediately.

Most clients interact with all these professionals over a 5-10 year window surrounding retirement. The key is coordination: each specialist should collaborate with your financial planner to help manage the complexities of retirement planning, not operate in a silo. Let’s examine each role.

Tax Advisor / CPA: Designing Tax-Efficient Retirement Income

Your tax advisor helps structure income from social security, pensions, IRAs, Roth accounts, and business sale proceeds to minimize lifetime taxes—not just this year’s bill.

Concrete examples matter here. Planning Roth conversions between retirement and age 73 (when RMDs begin) can fill lower tax brackets at 12-22% before forced distributions push you into 24%+. Managing 2026-2027 capital gains from a business sale requires coordinating with charitable deductions or trust structures to avoid triggering Medicare IRMAA surcharges.

While Third Act handles proactive tax planning, return preparation is typically handled by a CPA or EA we coordinate with.

Questions for a prospective tax advisor:

• What experience do you have with retirement income sequencing?

• Are you familiar with multi-state returns and complex events like stock sales?

• Will you collaborate directly with my financial planner?

Estate Planning Attorney: Protecting Family and Legacy

The attorney drafts your wills, revocable living trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and potentially irrevocable trusts for estate tax management.

In 2026 and beyond, many families face potential changes to federal estate tax exemptions—the current $13.61M exemption may be halved when TCJA sunsets. Sudden wealth from inheritance or business exits makes an updated estate plan essential to avoid probate complications (which can cost 4-7% of estates) and family conflict.

Key estate tasks to discuss:

• Executor and successor trustee selection

• Guardian designations for minor grandchildren

• Charitable bequests aligned with your vision

• Beneficiary designation coordination with investments

• Asset titling for real estate and accounts

Insurance and Long-Term Care Specialist: Managing Major Risks

Third Act Retirement Planning earns no commissions on insurance policies—we help clients evaluate coverage needs, then collaborate with independent insurance professionals. Insurance specialists play a key role in risk management by helping safeguard your assets through appropriate coverage and integrated strategies to mitigate potential financial setbacks.

The statistics drive urgency: 70% of 65-year-olds will face long-term care needs averaging $300,000-$600,000. Key coverages include Medicare supplements or Advantage plans, long-term care or hybrid policies, life insurance (when needed), and umbrella liability coverage protecting your assets after an inheritance.

Red flags to avoid:

• Captive agents pushing single-carrier products

• Lack of transparency on commissions (some earn 100% first-year loads)

• Unwillingness to coordinate with your financial planner

Seek independents who compare 10+ carriers and explain pros and cons clearly for informed decisions.

Healthcare and Medicare Consultant: Planning for Medical Costs

Healthcare costs average $315,000 for a 65-year-old couple (per Fidelity), rising 5-7% annually. A true Medicare consultant—not just a general health insurance agent—helps compare Original Medicare plus Medigap versus Medicare Advantage plans.

Key milestones affect your finances directly. At 64, you may need ACA bridge coverage. The Initial Enrollment Period around 65 determines your Medicare Parts A and B. Each fall’s Annual Enrollment Period allows plan switches.

Decisions retirees face at 63-67:

• IRMAA surcharges based on income two years prior

• Health Savings Account usage before Medicare

• Medigap vs. Advantage trade-offs (network flexibility vs. costs)

• Coordinating coverage with a spouse on different timelines

Charitable and Legacy Advisor: Turning Wealth Into Impact

Charitable planning may be handled by your financial planner, a specialized attorney, or a donor-advised fund representative. Tools include DAFs for annual giving with immediate deductions, Qualified Charitable Distributions from IRAs after 70½ (up to $105,000 indexed for inflation), and charitable remainder trusts for appreciated stock positions.

At Third Act, we view giving as worship and stewardship—helping clients align tithes, offerings, and legacy gifts with their values.

Mini-case study: A 68-year-old couple redirects $50,000 of Required Minimum Distributions via QCDs to their church and local ministry. This reduces taxable income by $50,000, saving approximately $11,000 annually while supporting causes they love.

Evaluating Advisors: Credentials, Compensation, and Calling

Choosing the right advisor requires examining qualifications, payment structures, and values alignment. Note key details such as credentials, compensation, and whether the advisor’s values align with yours when making your decision.

Credentials to verify:

• CFP® for financial planners (requires 6,000+ hours experience)

• CPA or EA for tax professionals

• JD for attorneys

• Kingdom Advisor certification for faith-based planning

Compensation models:

• Fee-only: No commissions, transparent AUM or flat fees

• Commission-based: Earns money from product sales (potential conflicts)

• Fee-based: Hybrid that can obscure incentives

Third Act uses transparent fee-only AUM pricing, discussed openly during discovery calls.

Values alignment matters: The right financial advisor respects your faith, supports your risk tolerance, and shares your vision for generosity. Seek objective advice from professionals to ensure you receive unbiased guidance. This difference affects every financial decision from goal setting to investment selection.

How to Assemble and Coordinate Your Dream Team

Here’s your practical roadmap for this year:

1. Schedule a discovery call with a fee-only fiduciary planner to assess gaps and choose a financial partner who will work collaboratively with you.

2. Review your CPA and attorney within 3 months—ensure they handle retirement complexity

3. Add insurance and healthcare specialists over 6 months

4. Authorize advisors to communicate and share relevant documents (tax returns, estate docs, investment statements)

5. Organize documents in a secure digital vault for wills, trust documents, account statements, portfolio statements, records of living expenses, and insurance policies

Periodic “team huddles” led by your financial planner prove valuable after major events: business sales, inheritance, relocation, or health changes. This coordination provides accountability and ensures all members of your advisory team work from the same playbook.

How Third Act Retirement Planning Can Serve as Your Quarterback

Third Act Retirement Planning is a Marietta, Georgia-based, fee-only wealth management firm serving individuals and families with sudden or significant wealth seeking purposeful, faith-aligned retirement.

Our holistic services include retirement income planning, investment management, tax-efficient withdrawal strategies, estate coordination, healthcare planning, and biblically grounded charitable giving. We act as the coordinating hub—your dream team quarterback—ensuring your CPA, attorney, insurance specialist, and healthcare experts work together.

What happens on a discovery call:

• Bring your current statements, tax returns, and questions

• We’ll review your existing “team” and identify missing roles

• You’ll receive clarity on fees (transparent AUM tiers)

• We’ll map a 12-24 month plan to fill gaps and build confidence

Your financial journey deserves coordinated expertise, not scattered advice. Schedule a discovery call within the next two weeks to invest in support that lasts your entire third act.