He’s not the type to jump into anything blindly, and in fact, when we first reached out, he almost hung up.

He told us later, “I thought you were just another advisor trying to sell me something.”

And honestly? We can’t blame him.

Thomas had been fielding phone call after phone call, pitch after pitch. Each one sounded shinier than the last. But it all felt off. He shared that one guy promised him 30% returns - charging 1% a month - and then Thomas found out that advisor had active court cases pending.

It’s wild what people will promise when they’re desperate for your attention.

But what stuck with us most wasn’t that over-the-top pitch. It was what Thomas said next: “My wife talked me out of some high-risk stuff. I think it’s time we just go back to the basics.”

That’s where his story takes a turn - because returning to the basics was exactly what helped Thomas and his wife, Cathy, find the peace they were looking for.

A Simple Checklist, A Shared Moment

Sometime between sorting through pitches and reading through guides, Thomas found a retirement checklist we had sent him. Nothing flashy. Just the fundamentals - organized, clear, and complete.

He told us, “I knew I had to do some of this stuff... but seeing it all in one place really opened my eyes.”

That’s the thing about simplicity. It doesn’t always feel impressive - but it works. And it works especially well when two people are navigating retirement together.

Thomas was the one who initially engaged with the checklist. But not long after, Cathy joined one of our calls too. She had questions of her own. And in that moment, something shifted. The conversation wasn’t just about numbers anymore - it was about clarity for both of them.

From Flash to Framework

Eventually, Thomas found a local advisor who stood out - not because of promises, but because of process. No pressure tactics. No pie-in-the-sky projections. Just real tools and real conversations.

He showed them a system to track their actual spending. Helped them download a financial app so they could finally see where their money was going, not just where it should be going. But the most powerful shift came with one strategic idea: take a portion of their savings and place it in a vehicle offering guaranteed interest for seven years. Something that acts more like a private bond - protected from market volatility, and specifically designed to mitigate sequence of returns risk.

That’s when it clicked for Thomas.

He wasn’t chasing return anymore. He was protecting the timeline. That vehicle didn’t promise “the most,” but it did promise something more important: it would still be there seven years from now.

That single realization changed everything. Thomas wasn’t just impressed with the advisor’s charts or app. He was calm. Confident. Clear. And that clarity gave him the emotional freedom to finally say, “At least now I know where our income will come from.”

This is what so many retirees are truly searching for - not the perfect portfolio, but peace of mind.

From Noise to Clarity

What Thomas discovered is what so many others are missing. That retirement planning doesn’t have to be a hunt for the flashiest offer. It’s a process of cutting through the noise until what’s left is a plan that’s actually livable. Not just for you, but for your spouse. Your family. Your future.

And sometimes, it all starts with something as simple as a checklist.

So if you’re sitting in Thomas’s shoes - unsure who to trust, overwhelmed by the flood of offers, maybe even thinking of hanging up on the next call - pause for a second.

Grab the checklist. Read through it. Not to act right away, but to start seeing clearly again.

Because retirement isn’t about chasing returns. It’s about finally feeling like you know what comes next.

Want to start where Thomas did? Download the Retirement Readiness Checklist to take the first step towards clarity.