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A Retirement Income Plan Built Around How You'll Actually Live

Our Income Planning Process

New here? Start with the Lifetime Income Model™ overview →

At Four C Financial, retirement income planning is what we do. We don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach — we believe your income should be organized, predictable, and built to last the full length of your retirement. Our Lifetime Income Model™ divides your assets into five distinct time horizons, each with a specific purpose. The result is a plan that delivers reliable income now, protects against sequence-of-returns risk, and positions your long-term assets for continued growth — so you can retire with confidence, not guesswork.

Bucket 1: Years 1–5 | Immediate Income

This is your income engine. Bucket 1 holds two to three years of living expenses in cash and short-term, liquid assets — money you can access immediately without ever having to sell investments. No market timing. No forced liquidations. Just predictable income from day one of retirement. When the market dips, you draw from this bucket, giving your growth assets the time they need to recover.

Bucket 2: Years 6–10 | Near-Term Income Reserve

While Bucket 1 is paying your bills, Bucket 2 is working to replenish it. This bucket holds bonds, fixed income, and other moderately stable assets designed to generate income over the next five years. It acts as a buffer — insulating you from market volatility while steadily maturing and flowing into Bucket 1. This is how we keep your immediate income safe without sacrificing overall growth potential.

Bucket 3: Years 11–15 | Intermediate Growth

With a 3-bucket approach, the middle bucket is forced to do too much — it has to bridge short-term income needs AND generate long-term growth simultaneously, creating an impossible tension. By adding Bucket 3 as a dedicated intermediate layer, we give each bucket a single, clear job. Bucket 3 holds diversified growth-oriented investments aimed at meaningful appreciation over the next decade, without the pressure of near-term income demands. By years 11–15, these assets are mature enough to flow into Bucket 2, keeping your income pipeline fully funded for decades to come.

Bucket 4: Years 16–20 | Long-Term Growth

Bucket 4 is your long-range growth engine. This bucket holds equities and higher-growth investments with a 16–20 year horizon — assets that don't need to be touched for at least a decade and a half. With that kind of runway, they can weather market cycles and compound meaningfully over time. By the time these assets are needed, they will have had the opportunity to grow significantly, ensuring your income plan remains intact well into your later retirement years.

Bucket 5: Years 21+ Through the Remainder of Retirement | Legacy & Longevity Reserve

Bucket 5 is your ultimate safety net — and your legacy. Holding the assets you won't need for 21 or more years, this bucket has decades to grow through the full power of compounding. It serves two purposes: first, it ensures you never run out of income no matter how long you live; second, it positions any remaining wealth for an intentional legacy, whether that means leaving something meaningful to family, charity, or both. With Bucket 5 in place, your retirement plan is built not just for today — but for the full journey.

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LOCATIONS

Palm Desert, CA  |  Austin, TX  |  Clinton, WA

info@fourcfinancial.com

760.491.1499

Investment advice offered through Integrated Partners, doing business as Four C Financial, a registered investment advisor.  The information on this website has not been approved or verified by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or by any state securities authority. Registration as an Investment Adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training. 

The Deep Dive

How the Lifetime Income Model™ actually works — bucket by bucket.

The Lifetime Income Model™ overview shows you the big picture. This page shows you the mechanics — exactly how each bucket flows into the next, how income stays funded for decades, and how you can stress-test the numbers using our interactive calculator.

Lifetime Income Model™ page

The what and why — strategy overview, the problem it solves, and how it compares to traditional planning.

This page

The how — detailed bucket mechanics, the replenishment sequence, and a live calculator to run your own numbers.

FourC Income Strategy Calculator

Most retirement strategies treat your portfolio as a single pool of money and apply one withdrawal rate. The bucket strategy works differently — it divides your assets into five time-based segments, each with a distinct purpose. Near-term money stays safe and liquid. Long-term money stays invested for growth. The result: you never have to sell at the wrong time, and your income stays reliable no matter what the market does.

This calculator lets you compare both approaches side by side — so you can see exactly how the bucket strategy affects portfolio longevity, income stability, and legacy wealth over a 30-year retirement. Adjust your starting balance, monthly income goal, and return assumptions to run your own scenario.

Scroll down to see the interactive comparison — then click "Get my results" on the Retirement Income Estimator to run your personal numbers.