The R.I.S.E. Method: A Simple Retirement Income Formula
If you’re approaching retirement and feeling overwhelmed… you’re not alone
Most people don’t struggle because they’re bad with money. They struggle because retirement forces you to make decisions you’ve never had to make before — about income, taxes, market risk, and guarantees.
So here’s a simple, human framework to map your retirement income on one page.
R — Required Income
List only the non-negotiables: housing, food, utilities, insurance, healthcare, transportation.
This is the income that must show up every month, in every market.
I — Independent Income
Income that arrives without touching your portfolio:
Social Security, pensions, rental income, part-time work, and lifetime income tools if you use them.
This lowers stress because you don’t have to “guess” it.
S — Strategic Gap
Required Income minus Independent Income = Your Income Gap.
This number determines where your income should come from, how much risk you can take, and how vulnerable you are to early-retirement market drops.
E — Efficient Buckets
Organize your assets by time horizon, so your money is always matched to when you’ll actually need it.
1️⃣ Safety (0–5 Years)
Money needed for near-term income and spending.
This bucket should have zero volatility and full liquidity or contractual guarantees.
Examples:
• Cash and high-yield savings
• CDs and short-term Treasuries
• MYGAs
• Fixed Indexed Annuities with Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Benefits (for contractual income)
• High-grade corporate bonds with short maturity
Purpose:
Protect against market downturns, sequence risk, and forced withdrawals.
2️⃣ Stability (5–15 Years)
This bucket refills the Safety bucket over time and grows moderately with controlled volatility.
It should balance income, diversification, and smoother returns.
Examples:
• Balanced portfolios (60/40)
• Conservative allocations and bond strategies
• Private credit & other alternative income investments (for the right person)
• Private real estate income strategies
• Accumulation-focused Indexed Annuities
Purpose:
Provide steady, lower-volatility growth to support income needs in years 5–15.
3️⃣ Growth (15+ Years)
Your long-term inflation fighter.
This bucket has time to recover from market cycles and should target higher long-term growth.
Examples:
• Long-term diversified equity portfolios
• Broad stock market exposure (U.S. & Intl)
• Public REITs & long-term real estate equity strategies
Purpose:
Growth for later-retirement income and inflation protection.
Why It Works?
Because it gives you what every retiree deserves:
clarity, predictability, and control.
Retirement doesn’t require guesswork — just a clear map.
R.I.S.E
Required Income
Independent Income
Strategic Gap
Efficient Buckets
Simple. Practical. Yours.
Lastly…
If this guide raises questions or you’d like to explore these ideas further:
You can reach me at (510) 368-6521 via text or call, or
Email me at Deontae@thrivemywealth.com with general questions or feedback.
You can also find me on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dbladeford
Disclaimer
The information presented in this article is not intended as personalized financial advice, investment advice, tax advice, or legal advice. Always consult with qualified professionals before making decisions about your personal financial situation.