Life is Long. Earth is Short.
And God put you here for a reason.
Optimize Your Fruit-Bearing Potential
While our lives are very long (eternal, in fact), our time on this earth is very short.
We have a responsibility to use temporary resources during this temporary time,
to impact others permanently (Luke 16).
My lifelong mission is to optimize the resources for those who understand this,
and to help them do the same for others.
Your next chapter matters.
Retirement Planning & Investment Management
Why Worthwhile Retirement?
Tax-efficient retirement planning.
My expertise is in the retirement, or "distribution," stage of life.
I specialize in tax and income planning for those who are either already retired or are soon to be.
Deliberately small, by design.
Instead of working with 100+ clients and providing typical service, I cap my practice at ~40 ongoing client relationships.
This is done in order to deliver a superior level of financial planning and client service.
Currently serving: 15 families (Yes! We're accepting new clients.)
Independent & fee-only.
Unlike most firms, I have no financial assocations with any particular product or fund.
I don't earn commissions for recommending one solution over another, thereby removing the most prevalent conflict-of-interest in the financial planning world.
About Me
Hi, I’m Jacob George, CFP®. I'm a retirement planner with lots of opinions. This is true about me in general, but especially when it comes to personal finance. I think it only fair to lay these opinions out on the table, so that you know what to expect.
On a Personal Note
In the small town of Greenwood, AR, I share my life with my beautiful wife Caitlin, and our two perfect daughters. My favorite season is fall, my favorite day of the week is Tuesday, and my favorite weather is a light drizzle. I love disc golf, swimming, and pickleball. I love travel hacking with points and miles credit cards. And I love spending time with my church family at the Valley View Church of Christ.
Life is Long. Earth is Short.
One of my favorite coworkers from my software days was an atheist. One day he said: "Isn't it interesting that we say 'life is short,' when it is literally the longest thing we'll ever experience."
I remember feeling so sad for him. Not just because that could become his reality, but because that was worldview — that once you die, it's over. Life, as Jesus defines it, isn't short at all. It's extremely long; eternal, in fact. What is short is our time on this earth. And how we spend our short time (and other resources), has an eternal impact — not just for ourselves, but the world around us.
"Life is short?" No. Life is long. It is earth that is short.
Two Ways We Can Work Together
A One-Time
Financial Plan
For the "DIYer" who wants expert guidance without ongoing asset management. A complete plan built around your situation—for $3,000.
Ongoing Retirement Planning
A continuous partnership through your retirement years. I'll work with you as life unfolds, adapting your plan and managing your investments.
One-Time Financial Plan
$3,000
A simple, clear, one-time fee.
What We'll Cover
When can I retire?
We'll look at where you stand today, run what-if scenarios around different retirement dates, and pinpoint specific changes that could move your timeline up. You'll get a clear answer on whether you're ready to retire now — or what still needs to fall into place.
How much can I spend in retirement?
We'll build annual income projections, define a sustainable spending level, and look for ways to optimize your spending without sacrificing the life you want.
Should I do Roth conversions — and how much?
We'll evaluate whether Roth conversions are appropriate for your situation — and if so, design a multi-year Roth conversion "calendar" with amounts tailored to your tax bracket.
How do I avoid Medicare IRMAA surcharges?
We'll review what triggers IRMAA surcharges, evaluate whether it's worth taking steps to avoid them, and prepare for the impact if applicable.
How do I plan for Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)?
We'll forecast your RMD amounts and timing, plan withdrawals ahead of the deadline, and coordinate RMDs with your broader tax strategy.
What happens to my spouse if something happens to me?
We'll stress-test income for your surviving spouse, review beneficiary designations, and make sure they won't be left with a financial gap.
How can I make the most of Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)?
We'll explore Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) and other tax-efficient giving strategies that support your causes while lowering your tax bill.
How do I balance sequence-of-returns risk with enjoying my go-go years?
We'll weigh portfolio risk against early retirement spending, so you can enjoy your active years without jeopardizing the decades ahead.
Which accounts should I withdraw from first?
We'll map a year-by-year withdrawal sequence across your taxable, tax-deferred, and Roth accounts as part of a comprehensive distribution strategy.
How do I keep income taxes under control?
We'll coordinate withdrawal timing, account mix, and decisions across Roth conversions, RMDs, and Social Security to minimize your lifetime tax bill.
What could "retirement" look like for me?
We'll explore lifestyle scenarios, income sources, and trade-offs so you have a clear picture of what's realistic and achievable.
When should I claim Social Security?
We'll compare claiming ages, model spouse and survivor benefits, and identify the strategy that maximizes lifetime income for your situation.
How do I make my inheritance as easy as possible on my heirs?
We'll look for ways to simplify what your heirs inherit, reduce confusion and conflict, and make sure your wishes are clear and easy to follow.
How do my investments change throughout retirement?
We'll map how your asset allocation and risk level should evolve across retirement phases — not stay frozen on day one.
What will healthcare cost?
We'll estimate healthcare expenses before and after Medicare, including premiums and out-of-pocket costs, and how they fit your retirement budget.
Do I need life insurance in retirement?
We'll assess whether you still need life insurance, how much coverage makes sense, and whether you're over- or under-insured for your goals.
Should I pay off my mortgage?
We'll compare paying off your mortgage versus keeping it in retirement, factoring in cash flow, taxes, and peace of mind.
Do I need long-term care insurance?
We'll weigh whether long-term care insurance makes sense for you, what self-funding would look like, and how either path fits your overall retirement plan.
How It Works
Intro Call
Data & Review
Plan Delivery
Implementation
(Timeline: 6 weeks from start to finish)
You'll receive lifelong access to the RightCapital financial planning software, as well as 3 months of email support after plan delivery.
Want ongoing retirement planning instead? During the planning process, if you decide to switch to ongoing planning, we'll credit your $3,000 plan fee toward future fees — and we can get started right away.
Ongoing, Comprehensive Retirement Planning
Common Questions We Solve For
- "Am I truly ready to retire?"
- "When should I claim Social Security?"
- "Which accounts should I pull from first?"
- "How do Roth conversions fit into my plan?"
- "How much can I spend each year without running out?"
- "What happens to my spouse if something happens to me?"
What You Get
At the beginning, you receive a comprehensive financial plan that serves as our guide for future decision making. This plan is a living, breathing, evolving presentation. After we discuss your initial plan, I work closely with you to adapt and refine it as life unfolds.
- Reallocating investment portfolios
- Setting up and implementing a portfolio distribution plan
- Annual income & tax projections, including Roth conversion analysis, IRMAA planning, tax loss/gain harvesting, and charitable giving
- Finetuning your estate plan
- Assessing insurance needs
We typically have two formal meetings per year to update your plan, refine your withdrawal strategy, set tax planning objectives, and discuss any questions or concerns you have. But of course, you're not limited to only working with me every six months — I'm here for you as life unfolds. I'm accessible by zoom, phone, or email as life happens and decisions need to be made.
Your RightCapital Portal
You'll have continuous access to your personal finance portal through RightCapital. It aggregates information from all your banking, investment, and lending accounts into one view. You can see your net worth, investment holdings, cash flow projections, and a variety of other reports.
Where Your Accounts Are Held
We provide ongoing discretionary management of your investable assets, held in custody at either Charles Schwab or Altruist, depending on client needs and preferences. Our straightforward, passive, fee-conscious investing approach ensures your portfolio remains diversified, low-cost, and properly allocated for your situation.
Who This Is Best For
This service is best suited for those who are retired or within a few years of retirement, and want a trusted fiduciary through the distribution years. Our typical client looks something like this:
- Age 50+
- Single or married; children typically independent
- Retired or within a few years of it
- Is involved in their local church congregation
- Expects to receive Social Security
- Does NOT own any private investments, such as hedge funds, private equity, partnership interests, etc.
- Does NOT own foreign investments outside the U.S.
Simple, Transparent Pricing
It typically takes some digging to find out how much a financial advisor charges. I thought I would save you the trouble and put it right here. As a fee-only advisor, I don't earn commission or hidden compensation. The only fee I earn is a percentage based on the assets I manage for you.
| Assets Under Management | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| $0 – $1m | 1.00% |
| $1m – $3m | 0.75% |
| $3m – $5m | 0.50% |
| $5m – $10m | 0.33% |
| $10m+ | 0.25% |
Resources
Mailing List
I use this list to stay in touch — it’s my home base for reaching people who want to follow along, and for you to reach me. I respond to each of your replies, and it's here I accept questions/topics for the podcast.
Podcast
A Worthwhile “Retirement” on Spotify—short episodes on retirement, stewardship, and related topics.
Substack Publication
From A Worthwhile “Retirement” on Substack—longer reads on retirement, faith, and money. Free on the web.
How You Can Reach Me
If you feel Worthwhile Retirement may be a good fit for what you're looking for in an advisory relationship,
please fill out the form below.
Other Inquiries
If you have questions outside of becoming a client, feel free to reach me directly at jgeorge@worthwhileretirement.com