You and your family have spent decades working hard, saving diligently, and building something worth protecting. Every dollar you've accumulated represents years of discipline and sacrifice — and when retirement finally arrives, it should be ready to support the life you've envisioned. At Benge Retirement Group, our wealth management approach is built around exactly that: a personalized, fiduciary-driven strategy that protects what you've built, positions it intelligently for the years ahead, and makes sure it's working just as hard in retirement as you did to earn it.
We don't believe in one-size-fits-all portfolios. Through a personalized retirement income strategy built around your specific income needs, tax situation, and Social Security timeline, we carefully position your assets across all four dimensions — performance, risk, taxes, and fees — so you can protect what you've spent a lifetime building, reduce unnecessary risk, and retire with the clarity and confidence you deserve.
At Benge Retirement Group, we've found that most people who feel uncertain about retirement have one thing in common — not a lack of savings, but a lack of clarity. After years of working with pre-retirees across Tennessee, we've seen it time and again: the anxiety fades the moment someone finally has a written strategy that shows them exactly where they stand, exactly where they're going, and exactly how to get there.
A recent study found that retirees across America are collectively leaving $3.4 trillion on the table due to suboptimal Social Security claiming decisions — an average of $111,000 per household. That's not a rounding error. That's a decade of grocery bills, a grandchild's college fund, or years of additional financial security. At Benge Retirement Group, Social Security optimization is the foundation we build every retirement plan on — because that one decision, made at the right time, changes everything.
The biggest threat to your retirement savings isn't a market crash. For many Americans, it's the tax bill they never saw coming. At Benge Retirement Group, our approach to tax planning isn't about avoidance. It's about making sure that the wealth you've spent a lifetime building doesn't get quietly eroded by a tax burden that could have been anticipated, planned around, and significantly reduced.
Medicare should be simple. You turn 65, you enroll, you're covered. But the reality is far more complicated — and the decisions you make in those first few months can affect your coverage, your premiums, and your out-of-pocket costs for years to come. It's a lot to navigate on your own, and the stakes are high. Most people approaching 65 significantly underestimate just how much of a financial decision Medicare enrollment really is. Choose the wrong plan, miss a critical deadline, or fail to account for how your income affects your premiums — and you could be paying thousands more per year than necessary. At Benge Retirement Group, Medicare advising isn't a sideline service. It's a core part of every retirement income plan we build because getting Medicare right isn't just about healthcare. It's about protecting your retirement income from one of its biggest and most overlooked threats.
No one wants to think about needing long-term care. But the statistics are hard to ignore — nearly 70% of Americans turning 65 today will require some form of extended care during their lifetime, and the cost of that care can be staggering. A single year in a nursing facility can exceed $90,000. Most people assume Medicare will cover them if that moment ever arrives. It won't — at least not in the way most people expect. Medicare covers short-term skilled nursing care under very specific conditions, but it was never designed to fund long-term assisted living, memory care, or in-home support. That gap between what people assume they're covered for and what they're actually covered for is one of the most financially dangerous blind spots we see in retirement planning — and without a plan in place to address it, those costs don't just affect you. They can quietly devastate the financial legacy you've spent a lifetime building for your family.
Because when a health crisis hits, the last thing you or your family should be worried about is how to pay for it.
Strategizing is Key!
Social Security can be confusing because it involves so many factors like earnings history, age of retirement, and different benefit types. It's important to understand the system to make informed decisions about your benefits.
Here's a breakdown of common areas of confusion and how to navigate them:
By understanding the basics of Social Security and the factors that affect your benefits, you can make informed decisions and plan for your retirement. If you have not created your own SS portal to get your estimate, visit https://www.ssa.gov/ to get started!
Lets make it easy!
Our holistic approach to customized retirement planning starts with you! It begins with getting to know you and your goals. Tell us where you want to be, and we will work with you to develop a strategy that fits your needs. While your life and goals may change, we will adjust your plan to better suit your needs.
What are the steps?
In our first meeting, we identify your goals, priorities, obstacles, challenges and desires. We will discuss expectations from us, and if an ongoing relationship is right for both of us.
In our second meeting, we will take a deeper dive into your situation. As our conversation becomes more detailed about your personal and financial goals, we then begin to start structuring the blueprints for your preliminary plan. The more transparent this phase of our meeting is, the more accurate and detailed your plan will be.
Now that the foundation has been established, we can deliver an easy-to-follow road map that will guide you towards your financial future. This plan will address the areas that are most important to you, and outline the steps needed to conquer potential challenges. Your plan will also aim to gain maximum returns by a strong tax-efficient portfolio strategy.
We understand life is ever-changing, and your goals will too. When priorities shift, we will be here to adjust your plan so that it transitions along with you. Adapting to a changing world will always be our top priority for you. How we effectively address those changes will only create a stronger and more solid foundation as the world progresses.
Fixed Index Annuities. Let's make it easy!
An income annuity is a policy contract that is designed to pay out a guaranteed income payment for life, similar to a pension. It can start paying income in several ways:
1. As soon as the policy is initiated
2. When or if the annuitant decides to activate the income
3. Most commonly 1-12 months after an income annuity is issued
A growth annuity is a financial product that helps your invested money grow over time, typically used as a retirement vehicle. These are widely used in place of the traditional 401k, 403b, 401a, IRA, ect. Primarily, because of the guaranteed, projected growth and safety from market loss. It also allows your investment to grow tax-deferred, which can save you money long term.
Growth annuities can help you prepare for retirement by:
An annuity that can both grow and have a guaranteed income stream for life can be extremely beneficial! There are several options in creating a hybrid annuity, especially for clients that are still working, even part-time, after their official retirement and do not quite need to start taking income yet. They can, in the meantime, grow their retirement accounts, protect the principal, and activate that income in the future when they need it. This is a great strategy to include when optimizing.
Let's make it easy!
Initial Coverage Election Period: turning 65
Annual Enrollment Period: October 15-December 7
During this period, you can make any changes to your Medicare plan.
Open Enrollment Period: January 1-March 31
During this period, you can make any changes to your Medicare Advantage plan.
What qualifies? There are many!
Most common:
DISCLAIMER: Investment advisory services are offered through Altitude Capital Management LLC, a Securities and Exchange Commission registered investment adviser able to provide investment advice in states where it is registered, exempt, or excluded from registration. Content contained herein should not be construed as an offer or solicitation for investment advice or for the purchase or sale of any security, insurance, or other investment product. Investments involve the risk of loss, including possible loss of principal. Please consult with a qualified financial, tax, accounting, or legal professional before implementing any ideas or strategies discussed here. Content provided is obtained from sources believed to be reliable but cannot be guaranteed as to its accuracy or completeness. Insurance products are provided by Benge Retirement Group, LLC. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. We are not affiliated with nor endorsed by the Social Security Administration nor any other government agency. For more information, see our Form ADV Part 2A at Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD) .
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