Learn the number 1 investing mistake people make in retirement and how to build a retirement investment plan.

The market goes up, the market goes down, and too often retirees get caught chasing returns or trying to predict the next big winner. In Step 4 of the Retirement Master Plan, I want to help you avoid the number one investing mistake I see retirees make: trying to control what you can’t control.

Instead of focusing on the unpredictable, like short-term stock market moves or economic headlines, you can create a retirement investment plan built on the things you can control. 

After years of working with retirees, I’ve noticed a consistent pattern. The people who struggle the most with investing are the ones who try to outsmart the market. They want to pick the hottest stock, time their withdrawals perfectly, or find a “magic bullet” investment that bails them out of overspending.

But all too often I find the reality is this: the stock market isn’t the problem—spending is. Trying to control what you can’t control almost always leads to disappointment. The better approach is to focus on two things you can control:

One of the most effective ways to simplify your retirement investing is by using a bucket strategy. Instead of viewing your portfolio as one big pool of money, divide it into two separate buckets:

• The Income Bucket (Short-Term Money): This is money you’ll need in the next few years to cover spending. It belongs in safe, short-term investments—bank accounts, money markets, or short-term bonds. Think of this as your paycheck replacement. You don’t want to rely on the stock market for cash you need next year.
• The Growth Bucket (Long-Term Money): Everything else goes here. These are dollars that you won’t need for several years, and they can be invested in long-term assets like stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. The purpose of this bucket is growth—helping your money keep up with inflation and supporting you for the rest of your retirement.

This framework takes the guesswork out of retirement investing. Short-term needs are protected, and long-term needs are invested for growth.

That’s the big question: how much should you set aside in your income bucket? The answer depends on your comfort level and your retirement spending needs.

• More aggressive investors may set aside just a year or two of cash flows in the income bucket.
• More conservative retirees may prefer 5, 7, or even 10 years of income safely set aside.

The rest belongs in the growth bucket, invested according to your personal risk tolerance. A simple way to figure this out is to ask yourself: on a scale of 1 to 10, how much risk am I comfortable with in the stock market? Your answer provides a starting point for how much of your growth bucket belongs in stocks versus bonds.

Retirement investing isn’t a one-time decision. Markets move, portfolios drift, and your needs evolve. That’s why rebalancing and refilling are so important.

• Rebalancing: Over time, your portfolio might shift away from your intended risk level. Rebalancing helps you bring it back in line, so you’re not accidentally taking on too much (or too little) risk.
• Refilling the Income Bucket: As you spend from your income bucket, you’ll need to replenish it with profits from the growth bucket—ideally after the market has been up.

This ongoing process ensures that your retirement plan adjusts with you, rather than leaving you vulnerable to market swings.

Remember, you can’t control the stock market, the economy, or political changes. But you can control:

• Your spending
• Your Social Security filing strategy
• Your tax planning
• Your allocation between short-term and long-term investments
• Your diversification and rebalancing decisions

When you focus on these controllable factors, you’ll build a retirement plan that is far more resilient and less stressful.

Step 4 of the Retirement Master Plan is all about creating a clear, practical investment strategy. By focusing on the income and growth buckets, regularly rebalancing, and refilling when needed, you’ll avoid the trap of trying to control what you can’t.

Next week, I’ll share the final step—planning for what you’ll leave behind. But for now, take some time to assess your own retirement buckets. Are you balancing safety with growth in a way that supports your dream retirement?

Because when you know more about your money, you’ll feel better about your money—and you’ll make better decisions for your future.

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Additional Links:

• FiveStepRetirementPlan.com – Free video course to create your retirement master plan.
• JeremyKeil.com – Learn more about my book Retire Today and find links to purchase.
• Step Zero of Creating Your Retirement Master Plan
• Step One of Creating Your Retirement Master Plan 
• Step Two of Creating Your Retirement Master Plan 
• Step Three of Creating Your Retirement Master Plan 

Connect With Jeremy Keil:

• Keil Financial Partners
• LinkedIn: Jeremy Keil
• Facebook: Jeremy Keil
• LinkedIn: Keil Financial Partners
• YouTube: Mr. Retirement
• Book an Intro Call with Jeremy’s Team

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