Fourteen minutes.

That’s how long it took the stock market to slam on the brakes on March 9 2020. A $1 million 401(k) fell $120 000 before lunch—yet the IRS still wanted its cut.

Market shocks hurt. Tax shocks hurt more. Below are three simple shields wealthy retirees use so neither Wall Street nor Washington can hijack their lifestyle.

Why Old-School Diversification Falls Short

• 60/40 portfolios*—once called “safe”—have crashed twice in twelve years.
  

• Bonds* lost 13 % in 2022, their worst year since America had 13 colonies.
  

• Taxes* go up in 2026 when today’s lower brackets expire.
  

Spreading money across stocks and bonds isn’t enough. You also need to spread risks: tax risk, crash risk, income risk. Let’s build those defenses.

Shield #1 – The Tax-Location Fortress

1. Convert to Roth the Smart Way

Move slices of a big IRA into a Roth each year while rates are still low. In our tests, a $500 000 IRA, converted $100 000 at a time, saved $460 000 in lifetime taxes.

2. Shelter What You Can

Put growth stocks in Roths, keep municipal bonds in taxable accounts, and use properly structured insurance contracts that grow without yearly taxes. Picture hauling treasure behind castle walls before the battle starts.

Shield #2 – The Market-Stress Test

Wouldn’t you like to know—before the next crash—how much damage your portfolio could take?

Our software runs your holdings through past disasters like 2008 and 2022. Example:

• Present mix: would drop 28 % in a 2008 repeat.
  

• Adjusted mix: drops only 13 % yet keeps the same growth in normal years.
  

With the downside trimmed, your growth bucket can stay invested and rebound while your bills get paid from Shield #3.

Shield #3 – The Guaranteed-Income Airbag

Sequence risk is simple: if a market crash hits while you’re pulling money out, the account may never recover. The cure is to stop pulling when stocks are down.

Build an income floor that covers must-pay bills:

• Pensions and Social Security—maximize by delaying start dates if possible.
  

• Deferred-income annuities—trade part of your nest egg for steady, lifetime checks.
  

When the market wobbles, these checks keep rolling. You never have to sell battered shares at fire-sale prices.

Case Study – Dr. Carter’s “Untouchable” Plan

Profile: 62-year-old surgeon, $3.2 million saved, retired mid-2021.

Result: In 2022’s –18 % slide, Dr. Carter’s tax bill was $0 and his income never missed a beat. He still took the planned Greek Isles cruise.

DIY Danger Zone

A bad Roth move can bump you into a higher bracket and burn $92 000. Stress-testing tools aren’t free. Insurance contracts hide fees in fine print. Doing it alone is like fixing your own brakes at 70 mph.

That’s why we created the Possibility Plan—a session that measures your money against these three shields and hands you a clear action map.

Quick Test: Is Your Nest Egg Bulletproof?

1. Do you have guaranteed income that covers basic bills for life?
   

2. Is more than 30 % of your savings in tax-protected accounts or contracts?
   

3. Has your portfolio been stress-tested for a 2008-style crash?
   

4. Will the 2026 tax hike cut your spendable income?
   

5. Could your spouse run the plan if you were unable?
   

Score 4 or 5? You’re close. Under 4? Time to reinforce.

Ready to Armor Up?

Markets and Congress won’t send a save-the-date before their next hit. Build your shields now.

👉 Book a complimentary Possibility Planning Session and get your personal “Tax & Market Shield Blueprint.”

Your future self—and your heirs—will thank you for building stronger walls.