Mark’s Story

Mark had nearly $900,000 in his 401(k)… But it was still on autopilot.

The closer retirement became, the more he realized one account would determine almost everything about his future.

The Situation

Mark was 58 years old.

After decades of saving, his 401(k) had grown into the largest financial asset he owned. Like many people, he selected a Target Date Fund years earlier and simply let it run.

For years, that made sense. The account continued growing, retirement felt far away, and there was little reason to make changes.

As retirement approached, however, his perspective changed. His 401(k) was no longer just an investment account—it was becoming the paycheck that would support the next 30 years of his life.

The Challenge

Mark wasn't unhappy with his Target Date Fund. He simply wasn’t sure it was still the best choice.

Questions began to surface: 

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    Is my investment strategy still appropriate?
  
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    Am I taking too much risk or too little?
  
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    Could I retire sooner?
  
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    Should I be more diversified?
  
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    Am I missing opportunities inside my employer's retirement plan?

He didn't want to gamble. He simply wanted confidence that his largest asset was working as hard as it could.

Our Approach

Rather than starting with investments, we started with retirement.

We reviewed:

From there, we designed an allocation based on Mark's retirement goals—not simply his age.   Sometimes that meant remaining in portions of the Target Date Fund.

Sometimes it meant building a more customized allocation. The goal wasn't to chase returns. It was to better align his investments with the retirement he wanted.

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    Retirement Timeline
  
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    Desired retirement income
  
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    The role the 401(k) would play
  
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    Available investment options inside the plan

By Working WIth Advanta

Mark left with something he didn't have before —confidence.

He understood why he owned each investment.

He knew his portfolio supported his retirement goals.

He knew his investment strategy fit into his overall retirement plan.

He understood the balance between growth and protection.

He had a better understanding of how his portfolio was intended to support his retirement goals.

Could This be you?

If you're within ten years of retirement and your 401(k) has become one of your largest assets, now may be the right time to ask a different question.

Not 'How has my account performed?'

But...

'Is this portfolio still the best strategy for the retirement I want?'

Ready to review your 401(k)?

Our complimentary 401(k) Builder shows you whether your current allocation still fits your retirement goals and identifies opportunities to better align your investments with the retirement you're working toward.

See How It Works

The above case study is hypothetical and does not involve an actual Advanta Wealth Management client. No portion of the content should be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience the same or certain level of results or satisfaction if Advanta Wealth Management is engaged to provide investment advisory services. Actual results will vary based on individual circumstances, investment objectives, market conditions, and other factors.