The Real Deal on Retirement

“The Real Deal on Retirement offers anyone seeking to navigate the complex terrain of retirement planning a real solution. John breaks down the essentials of retirement planning into manageable steps. He empowers readers to take charge of their financial futures by simplifying concepts such as asset allocation and risk management. If you are looking to refine and augment your strategy, this book provides invaluable advice and tools to build a solid financial foundation for your retirement.” —Walker H., senior vice president, Financial Independence Group

“John VanWeelden looks beyond the traditional asset-based retirement planning and reveals powerful methods of creating a stable, tax efficient retirement plan, unique to each individual’s needs. This book demonstrates the benefits of focusing on cash flow to better generate a worry-free retirement. Whether you are a novice or experienced investor looking for alternatives to help mitigate the risks associated with conventional retirement investing, this book is for you . . . highly recommended reading.” —Frank F., retired engineer, Cintas

“I want to make sure that my wife and I age gracefully and enjoy our later years, knowing that our retirement plans are solid. Worry is not on my list of retirement goals! VanWeelden provides valuable insights on taxes, health care, and investments, providing a playbook for people to take action today. It's an encouraging and eye-opening read for anyone planning for retirement.” —Todd M., director, Valvoline

“My wife and I have been clients of John VanWeelden for fifteen years. He has positioned us exceptionally well for our retirement. We are now focusing on the legacy we’ll leave our three children, with confidence we’ll avoid the pitfalls John identifies. While reading his new book, The Real Deal on Retirement, I recognized features of the retirement plan he has laid out for us and got an even better understanding for why and how it has worked so well. The book is ideal for those approaching retirement, but it would also be a good read for those starting their career to prepare for retirement well ahead of time, and for retirees who want to address the flaws in their traditional approach to retirement planning.” —Ivan W., retired senior engineer, GE

“John VanWeelden nails it in The Real Deal on Retirement. Using everyday language and examples, he blows up myths and all-too-common misconceptions about how to plan for the financial side of retirement. No gimmicks, no tricks, no new-fangled tools or apps—just common sense applied to the ‘long game’ of building and preserving wealth through good markets and bad. His ideas are well-proven and an important wake-up call to those of us who grew up learning about and employing traditional approaches. Spoiler alert: there’s a better way to improve your odds of having sufficient income through your retirement and this book lays it out for you!” —Cameron M., president, Performance Advisors, LLC

“This book clearly illustrates what my wife and I have always felt: John is genuinely invested in our retirement success. The Real Deal on Retirement is your road map to designing a retirement income plan that coordinates everything from Social Security claiming strategies to advanced tax planning in order to optimize both your retirement cash flow and financial legacy. John is skilled at mapping retirement resources, using Income Stability Ratio as his north star.” —Jim L., retired director, Ethicon Endo-Surgery

“John’s book is a comprehensive yet easy read that should benefit any retiree. His grasp and explanation of active risk management is superb. He presents insightful concepts (the speedometer of risk) and strategies with a focus on long-term income flow, which are totally consistent with how he advises my wife and me, and puts them into practice. Undoubtedly you will learn much and get answers to questions you may never think or know to ask . . . but should.” —Dave S., retired senior manager, Procter & Gamble

“The Real Deal on Retirement by John VanWeelden is a transformative guide and a must-read for anyone serious about securing their financial future. It delivers straightforward, sincere insights into retirement planning and investing, stripping away the complexities to offer actionable, practical advice that you can start implementing today. By cutting through the jargon, this book empowers readers to achieve a financially worry-free retirement, making it an indispensable resource for anyone looking to ensure a comfortable and secure future, and leave a financial legacy for their children.” —Billy D., retired senior leader, Procter & Gamble; Management Consultant

“John has developed an efficient and thorough methodology for addressing the needs for both planning and action when it comes to the management of family resources in pre-retirement, early retirement, the long haul, and end-of-life phases of our lives. He is continuously in the teaching mode, with information, counsel, and flexibility to wrestle with your personal and family situations, as they affect your resources.” —Michael H., retired director, GE Marine Engines, GE Aircraft Engines; executive vice president, DG Fuels, LLC

“The Real Deal on Retirement is a commonsense approach where John brings together the perfect combination of art and science to deliver optimal returns while mitigating downside risk. This proven recipe is a must-read to help you meet your financial retirement ambitions.” —Aaron K., senior manager, Amazon

“The Real Deal on Retirement spells out the dangers of chasing returns in retirement. John does an excellent job of explaining the importance of prioritizing asset preservation and income stability, which often results in more money and more retirement income stability, especially when markets are volatile. This book is an enlightening comparison of the traditional approach to investment planning, Modern Portfolio Theory, and a more comprehensive and personalized approach that prioritizes risk management. The Income Stability Pyramid is an especially helpful tool for envisioning these concepts.” —John W., vice president, Standard Textile Co.

“The Real Deal on Retirement exposes (with substantiating explanation) the deficiencies of conventional retirement planning methods and related investment precepts. VanWeelden’s refreshing approach addresses volatility head-on, while also emphasizing the importance of carefully crafting and consistently adjusting retirement plans to unique personal circumstances and retirement objectives. The Real Deal on Retirement is well-organized and easy to read with a conversational approach that inspires one to read on. It's complete with valuable supplemental planning that’s often neglected or misunderstood, spot-on quotes, and timely-infused humor.” —Monte C., retired real estate manager, The Kroger Co.

“John VanWeelden has written a must-read book for anyone who has begun their retirement strategizing and planning. John’s primary point of emphasis is ensuring that you have sufficient, stable, increasing, tax efficient, and lifetime income. John’s strategy is to maximize cash flow and minimize risk versus the typical cookie-cutter asset growth–based financial plan. John incorporates risk management techniques that not only build lifetime retirement income but also protect your assets from the inevitable crash. Read this book and learn from one of the best!” —Greg S., director, Great American Insurance Group

“Wow! I have been consulting with financial advisors on their businesses for over thirty-five years and John’s book nails it. One of the best I’ve read, it approaches retirement planning from a holistic perspective, not just focusing on one strategy or product to solve the problem. What is especially unique is John’s inclusion of tools and resources. He includes a ‘Taking Action’ checklist at the end of each chapter and has incorporated QR codes throughout, which guide you to additional resources. The Real Deal on Retirement will be immensely helpful to many people looking for answers.” —David H., vice president, Financial Independence Group