Orlando, Central Florida & nationwide by video
Your 401(k), pension, Social Security, taxes, insurance and will were probably set up by different people at different times. A financial strategy connects all of them, so every decision supports the same goals: income you can count on, less tax and a family that is protected.
Always free. No pressure, no obligation. Virtual or in person in Orlando.
Financial strategy basics
Comprehensive financial planning used to mean a thick binder that sat on a shelf. What actually protects your retirement is knowing what to do next, and how each choice affects everything else.
Neither the firm nor its agents or representatives may give tax or legal advice. We work alongside your CPA and estate attorney.
What a complete strategy covers
Complete financial planning comes down to nine areas. Each one answers a simple question. Your strategy is the answer to all nine, working together.
A choice in one area quietly changes another. A few examples we see often:
A large Roth conversion or IRA withdrawal can raise your Medicare premiums two years later.
When you claim can change how much of your benefit, and your IRA withdrawals, is taxed.
An outdated beneficiary form can send an IRA to the wrong person, no matter what your will says.
What do you want retirement to look like?
Travel, family, when to stop working and where to live. Every other piece is built around this.
Our processWhat can you safely spend each month?
Your budget, emergency reserve, mortgage and other debts, so spending matches what your savings can support.
Florida retirement costsWhere will each paycheck come from?
Turning savings, pensions and Social Security into steady income designed to last as long as you do.
Retirement planning in OrlandoIs your money positioned for the job it has to do?
We review your diversification and asset allocation to see whether it fits your income needs, timeline and comfort with risk, then explain your options and recommend the appropriate resources.
Turning savings into incomeHow do you keep more of what you saved?
Withdrawal order, Roth conversions and required minimum distributions, coordinated with your CPA.
Tax-efficient strategiesWhen should each of you claim?
Claiming and spousal choices that fit your whole income plan and help protect a surviving spouse.
Social Security optimizationHow will you pay for care?
Medicare choices, IRMAA surcharges and long-term care costs built into your income plan, not treated as an afterthought.
Healthcare planningWhat happens if something goes wrong?
Protection against a market drop, a long life, illness or the loss of a spouse, with the right coverage for each risk.
Insurance and riskWho receives what, and who decides?
Wills, trusts, beneficiaries and account titling, coordinated with your estate attorney so your wishes are followed.
Estate planningPlan vs. strategy
A plan tells you where you stand. A strategy tells you what to do next, and keeps telling you as life changes.
| Question | Financial plan | Financial strategy |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | A report or projection | A coordinated set of decisions |
| How often is it updated? | Often once, then filed away | Reviewed every year and when life changes |
| What does it focus on? | Whether the numbers work | What to do next, and in what order |
| How are taxes handled? | Estimated | Planned year by year with your CPA |
| Who connects the pieces? | Usually you | One coordinator, working with your CPA and attorney |
| When markets or laws change? | It goes out of date | It adjusts |
60-second Strategy Check
Tap each piece you already have a clear, written answer for.
Tap the pieces you have covered. Most people we meet have 3 or 4 pieces in place, and no one connecting them.
How we work
We map your income, savings, Social Security, taxes and healthcare costs into one coordinated financial strategy with a clear timeline.
We stress test your strategy against market downturns, inflation, a long life and health events, then recommend the right protection.
We review and adjust your strategy every year as tax laws, interest rates and your life change, so you can enjoy retirement with confidence.
Your first session is free, with no pressure and no obligation.
Who we help
Whether retirement is a few years away or already here, we help you replace uncertainty with a clear, protected strategy.
You are 5 to 10 years from retirement and want to know if you are on track, when you can retire and how to protect your savings from a market drop right before you stop working.
You need your savings to become a reliable paycheck, and you want to make smart decisions about Social Security, Medicare and taxes without second-guessing.
You are facing important financial decisions after a loss and want a patient, trusted guide to help you understand your options and feel secure again.
You are preparing to sell or step away from your business and want to turn the proceeds into protected, dependable income for the rest of your life.
Orlando workplace benefits
Many pre-retirees in Orlando spent decades with one employer. The benefits they built there, from a pension to company stock, often hold the biggest decisions in the whole plan.
Teachers and county, state and university employees in the Florida Retirement System choose a pension payout option, and some options keep paying a surviving spouse. Whether to enter DROP is a big choice too, and most of these decisions are permanent.
Read: Pension payout choicesLong-time Publix associates often hold much of their savings in Publix stock, which does not trade on a public stock exchange. We plan how much to keep and how and when to turn some of it into income.
Talk through your Publix stockIf your 401(k) holds your employer's stock, a rule called net unrealized appreciation (NUA) may let part of the growth be taxed at capital gains rates instead of as ordinary income. It has to be planned before you roll the account over.
Read: 401(k) rollover guideSome employers offer a lump sum in place of a monthly pension. The right choice depends on your health, your spouse, your other income and how the offer compares with the monthly amount.
Read: Lump sum or monthlyUnder the Rule of 55, leaving your job in or after the year you turn 55 lets you take penalty-free withdrawals from that employer's 401(k). Rolling it to an IRA first can give up that option.
Read: Laid off near retirementWhen employer health coverage ends before Medicare starts, COBRA or a Marketplace plan has to bridge the gap. The cost and the timing belong in your income plan.
Read: Bridging to MedicareThese decisions come up often for people retiring from Orlando's largest employers, including Walt Disney World, AdventHealth, Orlando Health, Lockheed Martin, Publix, UCF and Orange County Public Schools.
Roger Fishel Financial is not affiliated with or endorsed by any employer named on this page. Neither the firm nor its agents or representatives may give tax or legal advice.
Not ready to talk yet?
Learn how to draw income from your 401(k), IRA and Social Security in the right order, so you may keep more of what you saved.
Free resources
Plain-English articles from Roger Fishel on the decisions that shape your retirement.
A 2026 guide to building a paycheck from your 401(k), IRA and other savings.
Read the guideThe real risks that derail a retirement and how a coordinated strategy helps avoid them.
Read the guideHow spending changes across the go-go, slow-go and no-go years, and how to plan for each.
Read the guideWhy the years right before and after you retire matter most, and how to protect them.
Read the guideCommon claiming errors that can cost tens of thousands over a lifetime.
Read the guideStraight answers to the questions Orlando retirees ask Roger most.
Read the guide
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers to the questions we hear most from pre-retirees and retirees in Orlando and across the country.
A complete financial strategy covers nine areas: your goals and lifestyle, cash flow and debt, retirement income, investments, tax strategy, Social Security, Medicare and healthcare, insurance and risk, and estate and legacy. What makes it a strategy is that all nine are coordinated, so a decision in one area supports the others.
Retirement planning answers when you can retire and how your income will work. A financial strategy goes further by coordinating every piece of your financial life, including taxes, Social Security, healthcare, insurance protection and your legacy, so they all support the same goal. We bring both together into one integrated strategy.
Safe money strategies focus on protecting what you have already saved and creating dependable income, rather than chasing higher returns. That means stress testing your strategy for market downturns, inflation and health events, and making sure the right protection is in place so a setback does not derail your retirement.
We start by gathering every piece: income sources, retirement accounts, Social Security estimates, tax returns, insurance policies and estate documents. Then we build one written strategy that shows how they work together, and we coordinate with your CPA and estate attorney so everyone follows the same plan.
We review your diversification and asset allocation to see whether it fits your overall financial strategy, income needs and comfort with risk. We explain what we find in plain English, make sure your plan and strategy are appropriate, and recommend the appropriate resources for your needs.
No. The families who often benefit most have their savings in a 401(k), IRA or pension and a few big decisions ahead, like when to claim Social Security or how to draw income. What matters is wanting every piece to work together.
Not at all. Many clients come to us after they retire. There are still important decisions ahead, including tax strategy, required minimum distributions, Medicare, long-term care and protecting a surviving spouse.
Yes. Many clients come to us with an FRS pension, a company 401(k) holding employer stock, Publix stock or a lump sum pension offer. We look at how each choice affects your income, taxes and your spouse before you make decisions that are hard to undo. Neither the firm nor its agents or representatives may give tax or legal advice.
No. We meet in person in the Orlando area and work with clients across the United States through secure video meetings.
Your first strategy session is free with no obligation. It is a relaxed conversation about your goals and concerns, and you will leave with clear next steps whether or not we work together.
Did not see your question? Ask it in a free session.
Schedule a Free Q&A Session
Free Retirement Clarity Guide
7 Retirement Tax Mistakes That Could Cost You Thousands
Learn the avoidable errors that quietly shrink retirement income, and what to do about each one while you still have time.
✓ RMD, Roth and Social Security tax traps
✓ Simple fixes you can act on this year
✓ Sent to your inbox in seconds
By submitting, you agree to receive emails and text messages from Roger Fishel Financial. Msg and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out. We never sell your information.
