FAQs

Serenity Financial Planning is an independent, fiduciary (advisory relationship only) financial advisory practice founded by Susan Alefi, AAMS, ChFC, EA. We specialize in investment portfolio management, tax planning, and retirement planning for people who want expert, personalized guidance - without the impersonal experience of a large institution. Serenity operates through LPL Financial, one of the nation's leading independent broker-dealers.

A fiduciary is held to a strong standard of putting your best interest - not the interests of a firm, a product manufacturer, or a sales quota. As a fiduciary (advisory relationship only) , Susan is obligated to recommend what is right for your situation, disclose any potential conflicts of interest, and always put your goals first. Not all financial professionals are fiduciaries, so it is an important distinction.

Susan holds the Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), and Enrolled Agent (EA) designations, in addition to her securities and investment advisory licenses through LPL Financial. The EA designation is the highest the highest tax credential awarded by the U.S. Department of the Treasury - making Susan uniquely qualified to integrate tax strategy directly into your financial plan.

At Serenity, you work directly with Susan - not a rotating cast of associates, not a call center, and not an 800 number. You have a dedicated local contact, a relationship manager available for prompt assistance, and an advisor who knows your name and your situation. Susan left a larger firm environment specifically to build a practice free from sales quotas and product pressure, so every recommendation is based entirely on your needs.

Serenity is designed for people between the ages of 50 and 65 who are approaching or entering retirement and want expert professional management of their finances. Susan works especially well with widows, divorced women, and medical professionals - people who are navigating major life transitions and need a trusted, knowledgeable advisor who will take the time to understand their full picture.

LPL Financial is one of the largest independent broker-dealers in the United States, supporting thousands of independent financial advisors nationwide. By operating through LPL, Serenity clients benefit from institutional-grade technology, compliance infrastructure, and account security - combined with the personal service of a dedicated local advisor. You get the best of both worlds.

Serenity charges fees based on a percentage of the assets we manage on your behalf. This fee structure means Susan's compensation is directly tied to the growth of your portfolio - when your accounts do well, so does the practice. There are no hidden commissions or transaction fees layered on top. A full explanation of fees will be provided during your initial consultation.

Serenity conducts formal client portfolio reviews at least twice a year - semiannually - either in person or virtually. These reviews reassess your investment allocations, income needs, risk comfort, and any changes in your life circumstances. This exceeds the industry standard of one annual review and reflects Susan's commitment to keeping your plan genuinely current.

Yes. Serenity clients have secure, on-demand access to view their account balances, portfolio performance, and statements at any time through our client technology platform. You never have to wait for a statement to know where things stand.

Serenity works with individuals who are serious about professional management of their finances as they approach or enter retirement. $500,000 in net worth is typically the minimum. Account requirements will be discussed during your initial consultation so we can determine whether we are a good fit for your situation.
 

There is no single answer - it depends on your lifestyle, where you live, your health, your other income sources, and how long you plan to work. A common guideline is to aim for savings that can replace 70–90% of your pre-retirement income annually, but your situation may look very different. A personalized retirement income analysis is far more useful than any rule of thumb.

One of the most common - and potentially irreversible - mistakes is making a major financial decision, like selling a business or a home, without first understanding what your actual cash flow will look like afterward. Once an asset is sold, that chapter is often closed. Running a detailed projection before any major transaction is essential to avoiding surprises that could affect your security for decades.

A retirement income plan maps out where your money will come from in retirement - Social Security, investment accounts, pensions, annuities, part-time work, and other sources - and how those sources will work together to cover your expenses over time. Without one, it is very difficult to know whether your savings will last. Most people approaching retirement benefit greatly from having a clear, written plan.

The often-cited "4% rule" suggests withdrawing 4% of your portfolio annually in retirement. However, this is a general starting point, not a guarantee. Your appropriate withdrawal rate depends on your portfolio size, market conditions, other income, life expectancy, and spending needs. A personalized analysis is the best way to determine a withdrawal strategy that is right for you.

This is a very personal decision that depends on your interest rate, tax situation, investment returns, and how much having a paid-off home would affect your peace of mind. For some people, eliminating the mortgage payment reduces monthly expenses and stress in retirement. For others, the math may favor keeping the mortgage and keeping more money invested. There is no universal right answer - it is worth running the numbers for your specific situation.

This is called "sequence of returns risk" - the risk that a major market decline early in retirement can have a disproportionate impact on your long-term financial security, since you may be withdrawing from your portfolio before it has a chance to recover. Managing this risk is one of the key reasons a well-structured retirement income plan - with appropriate diversification and withdrawal strategies - matters so much.

You can begin collecting Social Security as early as age 62, but your monthly benefit will be permanently reduced if you claim before your full retirement age (currently 66–67, depending on your birth year). Waiting until age 70 results in the highest possible monthly benefit - up to 32% more than your full retirement age benefit. The right time to claim depends on your health, other income sources, tax situation, and whether you are married. This decision deserves careful analysis.

Yes. A spouse may be eligible to collect up to 50% of your Social Security benefit at full retirement age, even if they have little or no work history of their own. Survivor benefits also allow a surviving spouse to collect up to 100% of the deceased spouse's benefit under certain conditions. Coordinating spousal Social Security strategies can meaningfully increase lifetime household income.

It can be. Up to 85% of your Social Security benefit may be subject to federal income tax depending on your "combined income" - which includes adjusted gross income, non-taxable interest, and half of your Social Security benefit. Many retirees are surprised to learn their benefits are taxable. Proactive tax planning before and during retirement can help manage this.

If you collect Social Security before reaching full retirement age and continue working, your benefit may be temporarily reduced if your earnings exceed certain annual limits. Once you reach full retirement age, you can earn as much as you want without any reduction to your benefit. The rules here can be nuanced, so it is worth reviewing your specific situation before making a decision.

Social Security faces long-term funding challenges, and projections from the Social Security Administration have noted potential future adjustments if no legislative changes are made. However, Social Security has broad political and public support, and most analysts expect the program to continue in some form. Building a retirement plan that does not rely solely on Social Security is a prudent approach regardless.

In retirement, you often have more control over your income than you did during your working years - which means more opportunity to manage your tax burden strategically. Decisions about when to withdraw from different account types (traditional IRA, Roth IRA, brokerage accounts), when to convert accounts, and how to time Social Security can all significantly affect how much of your money you actually keep. Proactive tax planning is one of the highest-value services an advisor can provide.

A Roth conversion involves moving money from a traditional, pre-tax retirement account into a Roth account, paying income tax on the converted amount now in exchange for tax-free growth and withdrawals later. Roth conversions can be particularly valuable in the years between retirement and age 73 (when required minimum distributions begin), when your taxable income may be lower. Whether a conversion makes sense depends on your current tax bracket, future expected rates, and overall plan.

The IRS requires you to begin withdrawing a minimum amount from most traditional retirement accounts (IRAs, 401(k)s, etc.) starting at age 73. These withdrawals - called Required Minimum Distributions - are taxable as ordinary income. Failing to take your RMD results in significant penalties. Planning for RMDs well in advance can help manage their tax impact and avoid surprises.