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A lot of people come to us after working with an advisor (or two) who handed them a plan that looked exactly like everyone else's — same mix of funds, same generic projections, same vague reassurances. What was almost always missing were the pieces that actually keep people up at night: taxes, healthcare, and how the paycheck actually shows up once the paycheck from work stops.
That gap is the reason Iowa Retirement Benefits & Solutions exists in the first place, and it's why we built our process the way we did — around education, transparency, and a repeatable framework, not around products.
Retirement is about more than just investments. It's about having a roadmap that ties everything together — income, taxes, healthcare, and estate planning — so you can stop worrying about "what if" and start focusing on living. — Ethan Ball, CRPC®, Founder, Iowa Retirement Benefits & Solutions
The Six Pillars We Build Every Plan Around
Before we ever talk strategy, we make sure every plan touches the same six areas. Skipping one is usually where the "what ifs" creep back in.
Retirement Planning
Finding out when you can retire comfortably — not just when you have to — and what roadblocks might get in the way. We dig into this in What Is the Retirement Red Zone.
Investment Management
Customized portfolios built around your goals and risk tolerance, with a focus on managing volatility rather than chasing returns. See How the "Sequence of Returns" Impacts Your Investment Portfolio.
Tax Planning
Roth conversion strategies, RMD and withdrawal planning, and IRMAA mitigation. Related reading: Is Now the Right Time to Convert to a Roth IRA? and What Is IRMAA?
Income Planning
Turning savings into a reliable paycheck using a Safety, Protection, and Growth bucket strategy. More in How to Create a Guaranteed Retirement Income.
Estate & Legacy Planning
Making sure your assets, beneficiaries, and wishes are documented and coordinated — not left to the courts. See What Estate Planning Really Is.
Healthcare & Protection
Medicare guidance, long-term care planning, and building health costs directly into your retirement numbers. See The True Cost of Long-Term Care.
Most retirement mistakes don't happen because someone picked the wrong investment. They happen because one of these six pillars got overlooked entirely — usually taxes, healthcare, or income timing. Building every plan around all six from the start is how we catch the gaps before they become expensive.
Our Five-Step Roadmap
Here's exactly what happens when you work with us, from the first conversation to ongoing management.
Let's Decide If We're a Good Fit
This first meeting is about you and your story. No pressure, no sales pitch — just a conversation. We'll talk about:
- What planning you've done so far
- What's currently in place
- Your goals, worries, and priorities
Turning Questions Into Clarity
Behind the scenes, we dig into your situation and connect the dots you may not even know you're missing — analyzing potential roadblocks around market risk, taxes, healthcare, longevity, and inflation. You'll get a plain-English report showing what's strong and where adjustments could save you time, money, and stress.
Your Retirement Roadmap
This is where the rubber meets the road. We'll walk you through the exact steps to reach your retirement goals, answer your biggest questions, and show you how our team can simplify your journey. By the end, you'll see your full roadmap laid out in front of you — and you decide from there whether to move forward.
Putting the Plan Into Action
Once you decide to move forward, we turn your plan into action — setting things in motion, guiding you through next steps, and making sure you always know what's happening and why.
Walking the Road Together
Retirement isn't a straight road — life and markets change. We don't just hand you a map and send you off. We stay in the passenger seat, adjusting the plan as needed, and helping you navigate every turn along the way.
Every client leaves with everything organized in a Family Portfolio Binder — so the people you love aren't left guessing about accounts, beneficiaries, or documents if something happens to you.
Who We Work With
We specialize in helping pre-retirees and retirees turn decades of savings into dependable income. Our clients want clarity about Social Security, Medicare, taxes, and investments — not to be sold the latest product.
Pre-Retirees
Still working and saving, wondering "When can I retire — and will I have enough?" Weighing early retirement offers, turning 59½, or just starting to wonder how savings become a paycheck.
New Retirees
Recently left work (or about to), shifting from accumulation to distribution. Want steady income, tax-smart withdrawals, and confidence the plan can weather market ups and downs.
Local Employer Retirees
Many clients come from well-known employers like General Mills, Rockwell Collins/Collins Aerospace, Quaker Oats, The University of Iowa, and local school districts — we know the ins and outs of these retirement packages.
Widows & Surviving Spouses
Losing a spouse is overwhelming, and managing finances afterward can feel like another heavy burden. We help simplify accounts, guide you through survivor benefits, and build a plan for stability. See A Widow's Guide to Financial Security.
Ready to See What Your Roadmap Looks Like?
The first step is always the same, no matter which of the six pillars is worrying you most right now: a complimentary review, with no sales pitch — just a conversation about your life and your goals.
Let's Build Your Roadmap
Step 1 starts with a conversation, not a commitment. Let's talk about where you are and where you want to go.
Schedule Your Complimentary Review →Investment advisory services are offered through Fusion Capital Management, an SEC registered investment advisor. The firm only transacts business in states where it is properly registered or is excluded or exempted from registration requirements. SEC registration is not an endorsement of the firm by the commission and does not mean that the advisor has attained a specific level of skill or ability. All investment strategies have the potential for profit or loss.
