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A plain-English guide to retirement income

Understand your retirement income. Before you decide anything.

Eight short questions. Then a personal report written from your answers, the questions worth asking before you move any money, and a free 30-minute review with a licensed professional if it fits.

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  • Free to use
  • Licensed professionals only
  • No obligation
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  • 6short questions
  • 2 minto finish the quiz
  • 30 minZoom review if it fits
  • $0cost to you, ever

Simple process

How it works

No account, no account numbers, and nothing to buy. Just a clear read on where you stand.

  1. Answer eight short questions

    Your age, how close you are to retiring, roughly what you have saved, what worries you most, and your state. About two minutes, no account numbers.

  2. Read your report

    Three short reads on what your answers mean at your stage, and the questions worth asking before you move anything.

  3. Talk it through if you want to

    Readers who qualify get a short call from our team, then a 30-minute Zoom review with a licensed financial professional. Free, and only if you ask.

What the guide covers

Three questions that decide most retirements

Not every question applies to every reader. Your report starts with the ones your answers point to.

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Turning savings into a monthly paycheck

What you can reasonably draw each year without running the account down too early, and how much of your spending is already covered by Social Security or a pension.

Start with this question
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Timing Social Security, Medicare, and withdrawals

Claiming at 62, at full retirement age, or at 70 sets your check for life. Which account you draw from first changes the tax bill. The order matters.

Start with this question
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Protecting the first five years

A bad market year right before or after you retire does more damage than one ten years earlier. How much stays exposed is a decision, not a guess.

Start with this question
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Why Retire Handbook

Plain answers, no pressure

We do not sell financial products, and we do not pretend a quiz can replace advice. We explain the questions, then connect you with someone licensed to answer them for your situation.

  • Plain English

    Every term is explained the first time it appears. If a sentence needs a glossary, we rewrite the sentence.

  • Licensed professionals only

    Anyone we introduce you to holds an active license in your state. You learn who you are speaking with before the call, and you can decline at any point.

  • No account numbers, ever

    The quiz asks for a savings range, not account details. Nothing on this site connects to your accounts.

  • Free, and honest about why

    Retire Handbook is paid by the licensed professionals it introduces readers to. That is the whole business. You are never obligated to buy anything.

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Before any introduction

Five checks before anyone meets you

A review is a real conversation about your money. The person on the other end should have earned it.

  • An active license in your state

    We confirm it with the state before an introduction, not after.

  • Experience with people near or in retirement

    Retirement income is its own subject. We do not introduce generalists.

  • A clean public record

    No disciplinary actions or license suspensions on the public regulatory databases.

  • A best-interest standard

    Any recommendation has to fit your situation and goals, not a product someone needs to move.

  • Re-checked every year

    Licenses and public records are checked again annually. A change in someone's record pauses introductions while we look.

Not sure a review is right for you?

Take the quiz and read the report first. The review is optional, and it comes after, not before.

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Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Straight answers about the guide, the review, and who you would be speaking with.

Is this really free?

Yes. The quiz, the summary, and the review call cost nothing. Retire Handbook is paid by the licensed professionals it introduces readers to.

Is this about annuities?

Yes. There are three kinds of annuity and they do different jobs. The quiz works out which approach fits your situation, or says plainly when none does. Nothing on this site sells one, and the review is with a licensed professional who can show you the options available in your state.

How much do I need to have saved?

Anyone can take the quiz and read the guide. Review calls are set up for readers with $100,000 or more in retirement savings, because that is where a professional can realistically help with income planning.

How long does it take?

The quiz takes about two minutes. Your summary appears as soon as you finish. If a review fits, our team usually calls within one business day to set a time.

Will someone call me?

If your answers show a review would be useful and you agree on the contact step, a member of our team calls to confirm your details and set a time. A licensed financial professional may then contact you. You can opt out at any time.

Do I need to share account numbers?

No. The quiz asks for a savings range, not account details. Nothing on this site connects to your accounts.

Who are the professionals?

Licensed financial professionals who work with people near or in retirement. You learn who you are speaking with before the call, and you can decline at any point.

Am I obligated to buy anything?

No. The review is a conversation about your situation. Nobody on our team sells financial products, and there is nothing to purchase on this site.

Does Retire Handbook give financial advice?

No. Retire Handbook is an educational resource. Personalized advice can only come from a licensed professional who knows your full situation.

Will my information be shared with several people?

No. If a review fits, your details go to one licensed professional, and you are told who that is before the call.

What if I already have an advisor?

Take the quiz anyway. The summary is a useful second read, and you can bring the questions it raises to whoever you already work with.

Start here

Ready to understand your retirement income? Start with six questions.

Two minutes, and you will know more about your own retirement income than most people do before they retire.

Start the quiz
  • Free
  • Takes 2 minutes
  • No obligation