Your Income Style (RISA®)
The four retirement income styles
Each style is a different answer to the same question: how should savings turn into income? The best fit depends on you.
Total Return
In one line
Stay invested for growth, and take income from the portfolio as needed.
Who it fits
People who are comfortable with market ups and downs and want flexibility.
What it can do
It can keep you in control and keep growth potential in the plan.
What to weigh
Your income can vary with markets, and a bad early stretch can matter. It takes discipline to stay the course.
Time Segmentation
In one line
Divide money into time buckets: near-term needs in steadier holdings, later needs invested for growth.
Who it fits
People who want to see where next year’s money comes from and still want growth.
What it can do
It makes the plan easy to see and can make market drops easier to sit through.
What to weigh
It takes maintenance, and the buckets need refilling. It still needs a rule for when to refill.
Income Protection
In one line
Cover essential spending with income sources you can count on, then invest what’s left.
Who it fits
People who put certainty first and want fewer decisions to make.
What it can do
Contractually guaranteed income, where used, can make essentials predictable. Guarantees are subject to the claims-paying ability of the issuer.
What to weigh
Locking in can reduce flexibility and access to your money, and may reduce what’s left to grow or leave behind. Costs and terms vary.
Risk Wrap
In one line
Stay invested for growth and add protections around the portfolio that are designed to limit some of the downside.
Who it fits
People who want growth and a safety net under it.
What it can do
It is designed to let you keep market exposure while addressing a specific risk, though protection does not eliminate the risk of loss.
What to weigh
Protection has a cost and terms that can limit upside. It can be complex, so ask how it works before you commit.
If you don’t sit squarely in one box
Many people blend two styles, and couples often differ. That’s normal. It’s why we talk it through instead of handing you a label.
RISA® and Retirement Income Style Awareness® are registered trademarks of RISA, LLC. Scott Sullivan, RICP®, CLU® and Bay Point Financial is a licensed user of the RISA® assessment framework and methodology developed by Dr. Alex Murguía and Dr. Wade Pfau. RISA® scores and profile reports are intended for financial planning education and strategic style identification; they do not constitute a specific recommendation or guarantee of financial performance.