Retirement Planning and Investment Management for Maine Professionals
Provision Wealth Planning helps Maine professionals build a coordinated retirement income strategy — one that accounts for taxes, healthcare costs, longevity, and the specific benefit structures of Maine employers.
For Maine Professionals Within 5 to 15 Years of Retirement
You’ve spent your career building savings. Now the questions are different: When do I take Social Security? Which accounts do I draw from first? Is my investment portfolio positioned for retirement income that supports the lifestyle I want? Am I going to have enough?
We work with people who are serious about answering those questions. You don’t need to have everything figured out. You need an advisor who will look at your full picture and give you a real plan — not a general rule of thumb.
Retirement Planning
Coordinating Every Income Source
Social Security Timing Strategy
Social Security timing is one of the most consequential decisions in retirement — and the right answer is different for every person. We model multiple claiming scenarios based on your health, your spouse's situation, your other income sources, and your tax picture. We don't recommend a date until we've run the numbers.
Pension Election Decisions
If you have a pension through the Maine State Retirement System, Northern Light, or another employer, the election you make at retirement is permanent. Lump sum or monthly benefit? Survivor option or higher individual payment? These decisions require modeling your full income picture before you make a choice.
Tax-Efficient Withdrawal Sequencing
Which accounts you draw from first — and in what order — has a significant impact on your lifetime tax liability. We build a withdrawal sequence that minimizes the taxes you pay over the course of your retirement, not just in year one.
Required Minimum Distribution Planning
RMDs begin at age 73 and can push you into a higher tax bracket, increase your Medicare premiums, and affect your estate. We plan for RMDs years in advance so they don't create a surprise.
Healthcare Cost Planning
If you retire before 65, there's a gap between when employer coverage ends and when Medicare begins. We help you understand the cost, identify your options, and build a bridge so that the gap doesn't derail your retirement timeline.
Your Financial Life is Complex. Let’s Simplify It.
Portfolios Designed for Retirement Income
A portfolio built for accumulation looks different from one built for income. As you approach retirement, we shift the strategy — adjusting allocation, managing risk, and building in the liquidity you'll need to fund the early years of retirement without selling at the wrong time.
Tax-Aware Investing
Where an asset sits — inside a Roth IRA, a traditional IRA, or a taxable account — affects how it gets taxed. We manage asset placement across your accounts to minimize drag and help extend how long your money lasts.
Personally Managed — Not Handed Off
We don't hand your portfolio to an algorithm or a model. Tom manages your investments directly, and any significant change to your portfolio is a conversation. You know what we're doing and why.
Fee-Based Investment Management
We charge a transparent, graduated fee based on the assets we manage. No commissions, no product sales, no incentive to recommend anything other than what's right for you.
Why Retirement Planning and Investment Management Work Better Together
Your investment portfolio and your retirement income plan are not separate. The withdrawal sequence you use affects your tax liability. Your tax liability affects your Medicare premiums. Your Medicare premiums affect your budget. Your budget affects when you can retire.
Managing retirement planning and investments in isolation — with different advisors, or with one service outsourced — means decisions get made without full context. We keep both in one place, so the strategy is always coherent.
Working with University of Maine System or Northern Light Employees?
If you’re a University of Maine faculty member or a Northern Light Health employee, we have employer-specific guidance that goes deeper than this page. We know your benefit structures, your plan options, and the questions that come up most often.
Common Questions
When should I start planning for retirement?
Ideally, 10–15 years before your target retirement date. That window gives you time to optimize Social Security timing, adjust your investment allocation, run Roth conversion analysis, and build a healthcare bridge plan. If you’re already within 5 years of retirement, a retirement income projection is the most urgent step.
How much do I need to retire in Maine?
There’s no universal number. It depends on your income sources, planned expenses, healthcare situation, and when you want to retire. What we do is build a specific projection for your situation — so you have a real answer, not a rule of thumb.
When should I take Social Security?
Social Security timing is one of the most consequential decisions in retirement planning, and the right answer depends on your health, your spouse’s situation, your other income sources, and your tax picture. We model multiple claiming scenarios for every client before making a recommendation.
How is a fee-based advisor different from a commission-based one?
A commission-based advisor earns money when you buy or sell products they recommend. A fee-based advisor like Provision charges a transparent fee for comprehensive planning. All of your planning work, scenario modeling, consultations, and communication are included in that fee. We have no financial incentive to recommend any particular product. This is a core part of the fiduciary standard Tom holds as an AIF®.
What happens to my 403(b) or 401(k) when I retire?
You have several options: leave it in the employer plan if allowed, roll it into an IRA, or begin taking distributions. The right choice depends on your tax situation, the investment options in the plan, and your income timeline. We walk through this specifically for every client approaching retirement.
The Right Time to Start Is Before You Think You Need To
Most people wait too long to build a retirement income plan. The clients who come to us 10 years out have the most options. The ones who come 18 months out are managing constraints.
A 30-minute call costs nothing and tells you exactly where you stand.