The retirement decisions you make in the next 12 months will shape the next 30 years.
Which accounts you draw from. When you begin Social Security. Medicare. Taxes. Gifting. The questions arrive faster than the answers. We’ve guided many households through this transition.
A money-in-motion event.
Retirement is the moment a sum of money you’ve spent 30 or 40 years building must start working for you. Before the paychecks stop, the decisions begin.
We call moments like these “money in motion.” Retirement is the most common and often comes with the highest stakes. It’s the one decision in your financial life you make once. A misstep on the timing of Social Security, the order you draw down your accounts, or the Roth conversion windows you miss can be costly. The right calls, made early, compound in your favor.
You don’t need a salesperson at this moment. You need a guide. Trusting someone with your entire life savings is a responsibility we don’t take lightly.
The cost of getting it wrong is bigger than most people realize.
A retirement plan is a series of decisions that interact. Here are a few where the math matters most:
Withdrawal order
Which accounts you draw from first (taxable, tax-deferred, Roth) drives your lifetime tax bill. The wrong order can mean paying more tax than necessary.
Social Security timing
Claiming at 62 versus 67 versus 70 can swing lifetime benefits received dramatically.
Roth conversions
There’s a window between retirement and your Required Minimum Distribution age (73 or 75 depending on your birth year) where converting traditional dollars to Roth at the right tax rate can save substantial tax over the long haul. Miss the window, and the door closes.
Required Minimum Distributions
Missing one triggers a 25 percent penalty on the amount you should have taken. Coordinating RMDs with Social Security, charitable giving, and Medicare premium thresholds (IRMAA) avoids surprise costs that can add thousands a year.
Legacy planning
A large pre-tax retirement account can be a tax burden in disguise for your heirs, often hitting them during their peak earning years. Strategic use of RMDs, Roth conversions, and charitable giving can change that picture significantly.
These aren’t isolated decisions. They’re threads of the same fabric. We help you understand how they’re woven together.
A plan, then a partner.
You won’t find a one-size-fits-all retirement framework here. You’ll find a process that starts where you are.
Step 1
Listen.
Before any recommendation, we listen. What you’ve built. What you want next. What’s already working. What’s keeping you up. The plan we build only works if it’s built around what matters to you.
Step 2
Clarify.
Retirement planning has a lot of moving parts, and the order matters. We bring withdrawal strategy, Social Security timing, Medicare, RMDs, Roth conversions, charitable giving, and legacy planning into one conversation. That way you can see how everything connects before considering any recommendations.
Step 3
Plan.
Planning isn’t a one-time event. Markets shift. Tax rules change. Family situations evolve. Your investments and financial plan must, too. We review, adjust, and guide you through every market and every milestone.
We’ve helped many households navigate this transition.
Many of our clients came to us as they were approaching or already in retirement, so we’re accustomed to the decisions you’re facing. Are you looking to:
Take care of your loved ones
Make informed and confident financial decisions
Create a lasting legacy through family and charitable giving
Mitigate taxes
The team behind your plan.
You’ll work with named advisors, not a call center. Get to know the team on our Team page.
This ranking was issued by CNBC in October 2025 and covers the period October 2025 to October 2026. Pittenger & Anderson did not pay to obtain this rating; however, we have licensed the CNBC FA 100 logo for use in our own advertising materials.
More about P&A.
#5 on the 2025 CNBC FA 100. The only Nebraska firm to make the list, all seven years it’s been published.
Fee-only, full-time fiduciary, since 1995. No commissions. No product sales. No kickbacks. Our advice is aligned with your goals, not a sales quota.
Approximately $3 billion in assets under management. 900+ client households in over 30 states.
Questions retirees and pre-retirees often ask.
How do I create a retirement paycheck from my investments?
Many of our clients reach retirement with the confidence that they’ve saved enough but without a clear plan for turning those savings into a reliable monthly income. We can help create a retirement paycheck for you. Each month, a consistent amount lands automatically in your checking account, so you can budget with the same predictability you had during your working years.
What’s the typical Pittenger & Anderson client profile?
Most P&A clients have at least $1 million in investable assets when we begin working together. The retirement-stage clients we serve usually have between $1 million and $20 million across investment, retirement, and taxable accounts. If you’re close to that mark, or about to receive a sum from a business sale or inheritance, we’re happy to have a conversation about whether we’re a fit for each other.
Do you work with clients that are 10+ years from retirement?
Yes, it’s never too early to start planning. In fact, some of the most impactful retirement planning decisions are made a decade or more before your last paycheck. We work with clients navigating the complexities of purchasing a vacation home, funding college, managing stock options, etc. Most of our clients at this stage are in their peak earning years with a meaningful nest egg.
When should I claim Social Security?
The claiming age that makes sense for you depends on your health, your spouse’s situation, your other income, and your tax picture. For some clients, claiming early makes sense while for others, waiting until 70 maximizes lifetime benefits. We model the scenarios specific to your situation rather than relying on rules of thumb.
Which accounts should I draw from first?
The textbook answer is taxable accounts first, then tax-deferred (401k, traditional IRA), then Roth. Real plans almost never follow the textbook. The order depends on your current tax bracket, your projected RMDs, your Medicare premium thresholds, your charitable giving, and your estate plan. The right withdrawal order can save you significantly on lifetime taxes.
What are your credentials?
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professionals are required to complete rigorous education, have relevant experience, and are committed to acting in their clients’ best interests. The following advisors at our firm are CFP® professionals: Blake Anderson, Dan Anderson, Dan Frost, Diane Klein, Audrey Mines, A.J. Natter, Trey Pittenger, and Jon Sevenker.
Shane Riley and Dan Frost are both Chartered Financial Analyst® charterholders, a designation widely recognized as one of the most respected in the investment management industry.
Elizabeth Sydzyik is a CRPC™ designee, a designation focused on helping clients navigate retirement planning needs.
Kristin Kliewer holds the IACCP® designation, reflecting her expertise in investment adviser compliance and regulatory standards.
And lastly, even though we do not sell any insurance products, Audrey Mines is a licensed Insurance Consultant who can help you analyze any insurance policies and annuities you own.
How do you handle Medicare?
Each year, Medicare premiums, deductibles, and coverages change, which means if you don’t review these, you’ll likely pay more than you need to. We have three Nebraska SHIP volunteers on the P&A team (Diane, Elizabeth, and Julie) who are ready to give our clients an unbiased opinion. They aren’t here to sell you a plan; they’re here to educate you on your choices specific to Nebraska plans. They can provide enrollment guidance and general education about Medicare also.
What about Roth conversions?
For many of our clients, the window between retirement and when Required Minimum Distributions or RMDs begin (age 73 or 75, depending on your birth year) is the most tax-efficient moment in their lives. Converting traditional retirement dollars to Roth in that window, at a controlled tax rate, can save substantial tax over 30 years. Factors include: Medicare premiums, capital gains, charitable giving, and legacy planning goals. Done right, it’s one of the most valuable moves available to a retiree. Done wrong, it pushes you into higher tax brackets or unnecessary IRMAA surcharges.
What if the market drops right after I retire?
We stress test your financial plan to understand any and all vulnerabilities. This may include higher inflation, higher taxes, lower Social Security benefits, lower returns, and the impact of an immediate decline in the stock market. Building your investment portfolio to ride out market turbulence is core to what we do.
Additional Retirement Planning Resources.
A running collection of articles from our advisors on the questions retirees ask us most.
Retirement Planning in Your 50s: The Decisions That Matter Most
Key Takeaways: Your 50s are typically peak earning years, making this the best decade to accelerate retirement savings and correct course if needed. Age-50 catch-up contributions allow you to save more in retirement accounts, and choosing between pre-tax, Roth, and...
Retirement Is More Than a Math Problem
Key Takeways: Retirement planning is not only a financial calculation — it requires clarity about how you want to spend your time, your sense of purpose, and your vision for what matters most. A successful retirement is more often the result of planning with intention...
What are Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)?
Required Minimum Distributions, or RMDs, are the minimum amount you must withdraw each year from most retirement accounts once you hit a certain age. The distributions are taxed as ordinary income, unless they're from a Roth IRA, which has its own rules. Because RMD...
Two ways to start.
A 15-minute phone call. No presentation. No pressure. Or if you’re earlier in your research, download our guide to retirement and read at your own pace.
