Retire Blessed,
Not Stressed

For Texas families nearing retirement, the Retire Blessed Plan helps you turn decades of saving into a clear retirement paycheck strategy—coordinating Social Security, tax‑smart withdrawals, and investment guardrails—so you can stop guessing and retire with confidence.

15 minutesno pressurewe’ll tell you if we’re a fit.

Request a Swan Fit Call →
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Most People Don’t Know If They’re Truly Ready for Retirement
And it quietly weighs on them.
You’ve worked hard for decades. You’ve saved, sacrificed, and done the right things. But as retirement comes closer, the questions get louder.
The Fears Almost Everyone Carries
The Social Security Decision
“What if I choose wrong—and lock in less income for life?”
The Spending Question
“How much can we safely spend without jeopardizing our future?”
The Market Timing Trap
“What happens if the market drops right after we retire?”
The Tax Burden Ahead
“Are we missing strategies that could save us thousands over the next 30 years?”
The Rising-Cost Reality
“What if healthcare or inflation eats away at our nest egg?”
The Longevity Unknown
“Will our money last as long as we do?”
Even disciplined savers feel a deep sense of uncertainty at this stage — because retirement today is nothing like it was for your parents. No pension. More volatility. Longer lifespans. Bigger decisions. Fewer do-overs.
My role is to replace fear with clarity, guesswork with guardrails, and uncertainty with a plan that honors your faith, your family, and your future.

A Clear Path Forward — Built for Real Peace of Mind

You don’t need more confusion. You don’t need more opinions. You need a simple, ordered path — a way to turn uncertainty into clarity. That’s what the Swan Song System does.

1. Consolidate & Organize

Bring every account, asset, and decision into one clear picture. Clarity begins when everything is in order.

2. Solve Problems

Identify income gaps, tax traps, market risks, and blind spots. We fix what’s broken — with wisdom, not guesswork.

3. Manage Execution

Your income, investments, insurance, and timing — managed with one steady hand. You stop carrying the burden alone.

4. Work the Plan

We track progress, adjust as life changes, and keep you accountable. Your plan stays alive — not forgotten in a drawer.

Anchored by the G.R.A.C.E. Framework

  • Guaranteed Income
  • Reserves & Insurance
  • Asset Growth
  • Comprehensive Tax Planning
  • Estate & Legacy
Request a Swan Fit Call →
See How The Plan Works →

Meet Your Retirement CFO: Christopher Swan, CFP®, MBA

With 15+ years of experience, I help Texans nearing retirement replace uncertainty with a clear, written plan.

Income strategy.

Tax‑smart withdrawal planning.

Investment guardrails for down markets.

Legacy alignment.

One quarterback.

One coordinated strategy—so you don’t carry the burden alone.

Meet Chris →

Chris has gone above and beyond to help me understand and manage my finances! He is very kind, personable and knowledgeable and I don’t know where I would be without him! I highly recommend his services!

Brittany D. - Registered Nurse

Thanks to Chris Swan's expertise and dedication, we now have a tailored financial plan that has propelled us to new heights, putting us firmly on track to achieve our long-term goals.

Eric L. - Neighbor & Local Business Owner

He took the time to understand my unique financial situation and provided personalized recommendations that have greatly improved my financial outlook.

Branden R. - Neighbor & Sales Manager

Retire With Swan has not provided any compensation for the testimonials shown. The testimonials shown have been selected from among all client feedback. To our knowledge, no other conflicts of interest exist regarding these testimonials.

Retirement Transformations

Learn how I use my Swan Song System to help you transform your retirement worry into confidence.

Recent widow and teacher happy after hiring Retire With Swan and Christopher Swan to be the Retirement CFO for her retirement plan and going through the Swan Song System - Retire With Swan's comprehensive retirement planning process.

Linda, a retired Texas teacher, was blindsided when her Social Security survivor benefit dropped to zero. Here’s how the Swan Song System helped her build stable, lifelong income.

Retirees Kevin and Vivian, Built a Retirement Plan That Let Them Focus on What Matters Most By Working through the Swan Song System and GRACE Framework at Retire With Swan

Kevin and Vivian had saved $600k but lacked a plan to turn it into dependable income. The Swan Song System helped them build a structured, confident retirement.

Illustrative examples only. Not actual client results. Not financial, tax, or legal advice.

Smiling man with curly hair and beard wearing a beige jacket and a gold cross necklace, standing against a light background with a green and white circular border.

Christopher Swan, CFP®, MBA
Founder & Retirement CFO

“I can’t wait to help.”

Our 3 Step Process

#1 - Swan Fit Call

A short call to understand your timeline, savings, and biggest concern. If we’re not a fit, I’ll tell you plainly.

#2 - Get Your Retire Blessed Plan.

Your personalized blueprint through the Swan Song System.

#3 — Implement + Monitor (Optional)

If you want an ongoing Retirement CFO, we execute the plan and review it with you as life and markets change.

Questions new clients ask.

  • Our sweet spot is $150k–$3M saved and planning to retire within the next 1~5 years. Many of our Northlake neighbors fall in that range. If you’re close (maybe you’re a Pecan Square homeowner or local teacher), let’s talk — no judgment, just honest guidance.

  • Growth bucket: custom ETF + stock portfolios with dynamic guardrails.

    Reserves bucket: cash, money market funds(treasuries), MYGAs, long term care, life insurance for estate planning.

    Income bucket: pensions, Social Security, + next-gen income annuities if needed.

    Guardrails throttle withdrawals when markets dip—no forced selling.

  • Both, when they solve a problem. We’re independent—no captive products. If an FIA with an income rider or SPIA plugs an income gap, we’ll show you why and how.

  • Assets sit at Altruist (SIPC + excess coverage). We can view and trade; we can’t touch cash without your sign-off.

  • Absolutely. We already help clients manage held-away accounts like 401(k)s, 403(b)s, or TSPs while you’re still on the job. We’ll either use an in-plan brokerage window or other secure connections. One dashboard, one strategy – even if your 403(b) is with Northwest ISD or your 457 is through Denton County, we’ll incorporate it so your entire retirement gameplan is coordinated.

  • Flat Fees for Retirement Plans: I charge a flat fee, half upfront, half at delivery, for a Retire Blessed Plan.

    Hourly Fees: I provide hourly rates for Retire Blessed Planning clients that need ongoing help but have decided to manage their plans on their own.

    Investments: 1.00 % on the first $2 M, negotiated above—billed monthly.

    Insurance/Annuities: carrier-paid; no advisory fee, no surrender charges from us.

    No hidden kickbacks—full transparency.

  • We tax-model every move before we make it. That means considering Uncle Sam and Austin – though Texas has no income tax, Northlake property taxes and federal taxes still impact your plan. We look at each withdrawal, trade, or Roth conversion and figure out the tax bite before we act.

    Goal: legally keep your lifetime tax bill as low as possible (not just this year’s). For example, we might spread out a Roth conversion to avoid pushing you into a higher federal bracket or to keep property tax rebates in play

  • Absolutely—faith-aligned screens and impact funds available on request.

  • 1️⃣ Explore — Schedule a 30-minute Retirement Gap Call
    We’ll meet virtually or at a local coffee spot in Northlake. I’ll listen, learn your story, and gather a few key details (or you can use my secure data vault) to see where you stand today and what’s possible next.

    2️⃣ Clarify — Receive your Retire Blessed Plan™
    I’ll build a clear, personalized plan using my Swan Song System — focused on your income needs, tax strategy, and investment guardrails. You’ll see exactly how your assets can create lasting, values-aligned income for retirement.

    3️⃣ Commit — Move forward with confidence
    When the plan feels right and the process makes sense, we’ll make it official. You’ll become a client, and I’ll serve as your Retirement CFO — guiding you through every step with clarity and accountability.

    4️⃣ Craft & Deploy — Build your personal pension
    We’ll open and align your accounts, structure guaranteed income, and design growth strategies within your G.R.A.C.E. Framework (Guaranteed Income, Reserves, Asset Growth, Comprehensive Tax, Estate). Everything is customized — from TRS rollovers to Denton County tax planning — so you can Sleep Well At Night.

    5️⃣ Guide — Walk together for the long haul
    We’ll meet twice a year (spring and fall) for full reviews and stay connected in between with proactive updates. Because I live here too, I’m just a short drive or call away — often around Pecan Square or Harvest. You’re not just a client; you’re a neighbor I’m committed to helping retire blessed, not stressed.

  • Start with a Free Swan Start Call — your first step toward clarity and peace of mind.
    It’s simple: answer a few quick questions about your goals and current situation, then choose a convenient time to chat.
    There’s no cost, no pressure — just a friendly conversation with your local Northlake advisor to see if we’re the right fit to help you retire blessed, not stressed.

  • Item descriptionTexas is great for retirees income-tax-wise, but Northlake property taxes (around 1.3% effective rate) can bite. We help you plan for those property taxes, utilize the over-65 exemption and even the property tax freeze available in Denton County, so you’re not caught off guard.

  • Northlake offers the small-town charm with big-city access. Pecan Square in particular has amenities like a community center, pools, events for families – an environment where neighbors know each other. Many of our retired clients love the sense of community and safety here. Plus, being in Denton County, you get relatively low city taxes and the benefit of Texas’s retiree-friendly policies.

  • IIn Texas, most school districts (including ours) don’t pay into Social Security. So when you retire with a TRS pension, you either won’t get Social Security or it’ll be reduced by rules like the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). We help Northlake-area teachers plan around this – for example, by timing a spouse’s Social Security or using investments to fill any income gap left by the pension. TRS is a great benefit, but you want to coordinate it with your other savings (403b, Roth IRA, etc.) for a secure retirement.

  • First responders often have a pension through programs like TMRS or a 457 deferred comp plan. In Northlake and surrounding areas, many police and fire personnel can retire young (50s) after 20–25 years of service. We help you answer big questions: Can you afford to retire when eligible? Should you enroll in the Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) if available? How do you handle insurance if you retire before Medicare? We’ve worked with local heroes to map out income from pensions, back-up savings for early retirement, and even second careers or businesses if you ‘retire’ from the force but want to keep working in the community.

  • Small-business owners in our area often have most of their wealth tied up in the business – whether it’s a local restaurant, farm, or tech startup. We help you set up tax-advantaged retirement plans (like a SEP-IRA or Solo 401k) to save beyond just building the business. We’ll also talk exit strategy: do you plan to sell your Northlake business or pass it on? If so, we coordinate that with your retirement timeline. Many local owners forget to pay themselves first – we make sure your retirement doesn’t get lost while you’re busy running the company.

  • Yes, a few! Denton County offers an additional homestead exemption for homeowners over 65 (currently $55,000 off your home’s taxable value, plus a tax ceiling on school taxes). Also, the Northlake area has perks like discounted trash services for seniors and free local events (for example, the Pecan Square community hosts social gatherings that retirees love). We keep tabs on these so you don’t miss out. Part of our service is ensuring you take advantage of every local break – whether it’s a tax exemption or a community program.

You Were Never Meant to Retire Aimlessly

Your work, wisdom, and wealth are stewardship.

Let’s build a plan that helps you live generously, lead your family well, and finish faithfully.

Request a Swan Fit Call →

15 minutes • no pressure