In preparing for retirement, income taxes and market volatility (i. e. risk) are two of the primary drivers in how big a pile of money your savings will grow to.  We've been taught to save money in a government-sponsored retirement plan.  You get a tax deduction up front, you may get an employer match, and the more comfortable you can get with stock market volatility (i. e. risk) the more likely you are to grow that pile of money into something that lasts as long as you do.  Right?

And yet, no one is obligated to tell you that the more successful you are in your working years the more likely you are to retire to a higher tax bracket, not lower.  And no one is required to tell you that if the early years of your retirement feature a 49% drop in the value of your stocks like we experienced in the bursting of the dot.com bubble in 2000 - 2002, or a 57% drop like we suffered through in 2007-2009, that retirement account you're drawing your income from is almost certain to go broke while you're still relatively young and healthy.

As a CPA, I believe your money should be accessible, rather than locking it up for decades in an account you can't touch without penalties.  That way, you’re better positioned to take advantage of business and investment opportunities as they arise.  Locking your money away in a government-sponsored retirement plan like a 401(k), 403(b) or IRA may just create a cash flow that works out better for the government and the financial industry than it does for you.  

I believe a strategy that minimizes your lifetime income taxes, minimizes your financial risk and maximizes your spendable cash flow sets you up for a great retirement and a legacy you can be proud of. 

If you believe what I believe, then maybe we've got something to talk about.