Planning for Pre-Retirees

Get the plan right in the years that matter most.

The five to ten years before you retire are the most important planning years of your life. The decisions you make now, about taxes, savings, and timing, set the course for everything that follows. Kraus Capital helps you walk into retirement with a written plan instead of a hope.

We understand where you are

You are doing well. You have saved diligently, and retirement is finally in view. But the closer it gets, the more questions surface. Can I actually afford to stop working? Am I saving in the right accounts? What will taxes do to me once the paychecks stop?

You do not want to get this wrong, and you sense that the years right before retirement are no time to guess.

The questions you are asking

When can I realistically retire, and what would it take to retire sooner?

Am I building too much in pre-tax accounts that the IRS will tax later?

III

How do I turn my savings into a paycheck once I stop working?

Should I be doing anything now, in my higher-earning years, to lower future taxes?

How The Legacy Blueprint helps you

We build your plan around the three pillars. In Keep, we look at your tax picture now and across retirement, because the years just before and after you stop working often hold the best tax-planning opportunities of your life. In Grow, we make sure your investments are positioned for the transition, not still set up like you are decades from retiring. In Leave, we get the foundation of your estate plan in place early. Then the four phases carry you from your first Clarity Session through a written plan and into an ongoing relationship.

If you’ve built meaningful wealth, the next phase isn’t growth – it’s protection.

Services most relevant to you

Tax Planning

Your highest-leverage years are often right now.

Retirement Income Planning

Design the paycheck before you need it.

Social Security Optimization

Plan the claiming decision in advance.

What working together looks like

It starts with a free, 15-minute Clarity Session. From there, if we are a fit, we build your written Blueprint, stress-test it, and meet regularly as your retirement date approaches.

We work with pre-retirees in Boerne, across the Hill Country, and throughout the greater San Antonio area, as well as Austin and clients throughout Texas and nationally by phone and video. See the full path on The Legacy Blueprint.

Pre-retiree FAQ

How many years before retirement should I start planning?

The earlier the better, but the five to ten years before retirement are especially valuable because the tax and savings moves you make then have the biggest impact. It is rarely too late to improve your position.

I already have a 401(k). Why do I need a plan?

A 401(k) is a savings account, not a plan. It’s designed for accumulation, not to hold a retirement income strategy. A plan decides how those savings become income, how to minimize taxes on them, and how everything coordinates with Social Security, healthcare, and your estate.

Can you tell me if I can afford to retire?

That is one of the first things we help you see. Your free assessment gives you a clearer answer on your timeline and what, if anything, needs to change.

Should I be doing anything now while I am still earning?

Often yes. Your higher-earning years before retirement are some of the most valuable for tax planning, from how you fund accounts to setting up future Roth conversions. Acting before you retire usually gives you more options than waiting until after.

What if my retirement date is uncertain?

That is normal, and a good plan accounts for it. We can model retiring earlier or later and show you how each choice affects your income, taxes, and security, so the date becomes a decision rather than a worry.

See if you are on track to retire

Your free assessment gives you a clear read on your retirement timeline. About 15 minutes, no cost, no obligation.

Prefer to talk first?

Disclosures: Investment advisory services are offered through Kraus Capital, a registered investment adviser. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Kraus Capital and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure.

Brian Kraus is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. The CFP® marks are owned by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. and are used in accordance with CFP Board guidelines.

Charles Schwab serves as the independent custodian for client assets. Kraus Capital is not affiliated with, and does not receive compensation from, Charles Schwab for custodial services. No strategy assures success or protects against loss. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

See our Privacy Policy and Form CRS for more information. These documents are provided by our compliance vendor.