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TellMark note · sample meeting
MEETING HEADER
Client name: Robert & Diane Hsu
Date: June 5, 2026
Advisor name: Alex Reyes, CFP
Meeting type: Video

SUMMARY
Annual review with Robert and Diane Hsu ahead of Robert's planned
retirement in 2028. Reviewed progress toward their retirement income
goal, discussed rolling over Robert's former-employer 401(k), and
evaluated a multi-year Roth conversion strategy. Agreed to begin a
partial Roth conversion this year and to revisit long-term care coverage.

CLIENT PROFILE & GOALS
Primary goal: Replace ~80% of pre-retirement income starting 2028 while
limiting exposure to a market downturn near retirement.
Goal category: Preservation (retirement income)
Risk tolerance: Moderate
Time horizon: ~2 years to retirement; 25+ year retirement horizon
Life updates: Robert confirmed a firm retirement date of March 2028.
Their daughter finished graduate school, so education funding is no
longer a concern.

TOPICS DISCUSSED
- Progress toward the 2028 retirement income target
- Rollover of Robert's former-employer 401(k)
- Multi-year Roth conversion strategy and tax-bracket management
- Sequence-of-returns risk and a cash buffer
- Long-term care insurance gap

FINANCIAL FACTS
- Assets: Former-employer 401(k) ~$310,000; joint brokerage ~$240,000;
  Diane's IRA ~$185,000; cash reserve ~$60,000
- Liabilities: Mortgage ~$120,000 at 3.1%, ~9 years remaining
- Income: Robert salary ~$180,000; Diane part-time ~$32,000; Social
  Security planned at full retirement age
- Insurance coverage: Robert term life $500,000 (expires 2030); no
  long-term care coverage in place
- Other figures or decisions: Convert ~$40,000 from traditional IRA to
  Roth in 2026, staying within the 24% bracket

RECOMMENDATIONS & RATIONALE
- Roll the former-employer 401(k) into an IRA. Rationale: consolidates
  accounts and broadens investment options to implement the target
  allocation, and fits their preference for simplicity heading into
  retirement.
- Begin a partial Roth conversion of ~$40,000/yr through 2028. Rationale:
  these are their last relatively lower-bracket years, so spreading
  conversions manages the tax hit and reduces future RMDs, supporting the
  income goal.
- Build a two-year cash buffer before 2028. Rationale: moderate risk
  tolerance plus a near-term retirement date raises sequence-of-returns
  risk, and the buffer avoids selling equities in an early-retirement
  downturn.
- Obtain long-term care insurance quotes. Rationale: a coverage gap could
  force drawdown of retirement assets, which works against the
  preservation goal.

ACTION ITEMS
- ☐ Send rollover paperwork for the 401(k) (advisor, by June 19)
- ☐ Prepare 2026 Roth conversion tax projection (advisor, before next meeting)
- ☐ Gather long-term care insurance quotes (advisor, within 30 days)
- ☐ Confirm March 2028 retirement date and pension details (client, by next meeting)

COMPLIANCE NOTES
Suitability confirmed: yes
Client acknowledged recommendations: yes
Conflicts of interest disclosed: not explicitly stated
Documents provided: none

ADDITIONAL NOTES
Diane voiced anxiety about a market drop right as Robert retires, and the
cash-buffer recommendation was framed specifically to address that
concern. Robert is open to part-time work in year one if markets are
poor. The couple prefers consolidating accounts to reduce complexity.

NEXT MEETING
September 2026. Review the Roth conversion projection, long-term care
quotes, and rollover completion.

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