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What’s the #1 Risk to Retirement?

What’s the #1 Risk to Retirement?

What’s the Primary Risk to a Secure Retirement?

Retirement comes with countless risks to confront. Here’s a shortlist:

  1. Inflation Risk

  2. Market Risk

  3. Behavioral Risk

  4. Longevity Risk

  5. Long-Term Care Risk

  6. Underspending Risk

  7. Not achieving other meaningful goals

  8. etc.

Yet, there is one overarching retirement risk that sums up all of the above:

“Failure to create a competent and professionally designed financial plan is THE core risk to a successful retirement.”

Everything is Connected in Retirement

Every part of your financial life is interconnected with every other part of your financial life. For example, your tax plan affects your cash flow plan which affects your asset allocation plan which affects your estate plan.

You need a financial plan that speaks to not only every aspect of your financial life but also honors the interconnectedness of all retirement decisions.

This is extremely difficult to do on your own. Even if you are financially literate, blind spots still pop up when we are talking about our own financial decisions. In fact, experienced financial planning professionals should also likely hire an outside financial planner to help them with their financial planning!

Where Can I Get a Financial Plan?

Where can you get a professionally created retirement plan? Well, if you are within 5–10 years of retirement and you believe you would benefit from a customized and comprehensive retirement plan, we would love to chat:

That said, there are plenty of other great financial planners out there, especially if you have unique complexities. For example, if you are a young business owner or a recipient of stock-based compensation there are financial planners who specialize in matters such as this.

For example, we suggest searching the following sites for fee-only financial planners:

Interested in creating a custom retirement plan to ensure you enjoy a tax-efficient, secure, and joyous retirement? Schedule a free introductory call with a Trailhead Planners Certified Financial Planner® professional below!

© 2025 Trailhead Planners

Trailhead Planners, LLC (“Trailhead”) is a registered investment advisor offering advisory services in the States of Oregon, Minnesota, and in other jurisdictions where exempted. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training.

The information on this site is not intended as tax, accounting, or legal advice, as an offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or as an endorsement of any company, security, fund, or other securities or non-securities offering. This information should not be relied upon as the sole factor in an investment making decision.

Past performance is no indication of future results. Investment in securities involves significant risk and has the potential for partial or complete loss of funds invested. It should not be assumed that any recommendations made will be profitable or equal any performance noted on this site.

The information on this site is provided “AS IS” and without warranties of any kind either express or implied. To the fullest extent permissible pursuant to applicable laws, Trailhead Planners, LLC, disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including, but not limited to, implied warranties of merchantability, non-infringement, and suitability for a particular purpose.

Trailhead does not warrant that the information on this site will be free from error. Your use of the information is at your sole risk. Under no circumstances shall Trailhead be liable for any direct, indirect, special, or consequential damages that result from the use of, or the inability to use, the information provided on this site, even if Trailhead or a Trailhead authorized representative has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Information contained on this site should not be considered a solicitation to buy, an offer to sell, or a recommendation of any security in any jurisdiction where such offer, solicitation, or recommendation would be unlawful or unauthorized.

© 2025 Trailhead Planners

Trailhead Planners, LLC (“Trailhead”) is a registered investment advisor offering advisory services in the States of Oregon, Minnesota, and in other jurisdictions where exempted. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training.

The information on this site is not intended as tax, accounting, or legal advice, as an offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or as an endorsement of any company, security, fund, or other securities or non-securities offering. This information should not be relied upon as the sole factor in an investment making decision.

Past performance is no indication of future results. Investment in securities involves significant risk and has the potential for partial or complete loss of funds invested. It should not be assumed that any recommendations made will be profitable or equal any performance noted on this site.

The information on this site is provided “AS IS” and without warranties of any kind either express or implied. To the fullest extent permissible pursuant to applicable laws, Trailhead Planners, LLC, disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including, but not limited to, implied warranties of merchantability, non-infringement, and suitability for a particular purpose.

Trailhead does not warrant that the information on this site will be free from error. Your use of the information is at your sole risk. Under no circumstances shall Trailhead be liable for any direct, indirect, special, or consequential damages that result from the use of, or the inability to use, the information provided on this site, even if Trailhead or a Trailhead authorized representative has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Information contained on this site should not be considered a solicitation to buy, an offer to sell, or a recommendation of any security in any jurisdiction where such offer, solicitation, or recommendation would be unlawful or unauthorized.

© 2025 Trailhead Planners

Trailhead Planners, LLC (“Trailhead”) is a registered investment advisor offering advisory services in the States of Oregon, Minnesota, and in other jurisdictions where exempted. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training.

The information on this site is not intended as tax, accounting, or legal advice, as an offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or as an endorsement of any company, security, fund, or other securities or non-securities offering. This information should not be relied upon as the sole factor in an investment making decision.

Past performance is no indication of future results. Investment in securities involves significant risk and has the potential for partial or complete loss of funds invested. It should not be assumed that any recommendations made will be profitable or equal any performance noted on this site.

The information on this site is provided “AS IS” and without warranties of any kind either express or implied. To the fullest extent permissible pursuant to applicable laws, Trailhead Planners, LLC, disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including, but not limited to, implied warranties of merchantability, non-infringement, and suitability for a particular purpose.

Trailhead does not warrant that the information on this site will be free from error. Your use of the information is at your sole risk. Under no circumstances shall Trailhead be liable for any direct, indirect, special, or consequential damages that result from the use of, or the inability to use, the information provided on this site, even if Trailhead or a Trailhead authorized representative has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Information contained on this site should not be considered a solicitation to buy, an offer to sell, or a recommendation of any security in any jurisdiction where such offer, solicitation, or recommendation would be unlawful or unauthorized.