How Your Financial Planner Failed You: Retirement Income Planning Essentials

Studies show that on average 10,000 baby boomers are retiring daily. This creates a need and demand on the financial services industry to adopt effective methods of helping boomers transition into the distribution phase of their lives. Being that we shape opinions about money, investing and financial goals throughout our working years, the challenge of this transition to retirement can be burdensome. Oftentimes, these acquired attitudes can contradict the needed solutions to create a successful retirement. In service of this philosophy, Michael has developed this book as a proprietary retirement system; which allows clients to truly define their goals, map out their future, and properly track their progress. At its core, this system is a tool to build recommendations for clients: showing them where financial inefficiencies exist, clearly depicting the relationship between returns and risk, and creating holistic and purposeful financial strategies to help clients reach their goals. Ultimately, Michael hopes to provide a tangible and individualized palette of options that clients can use to build the retirement plan they desire. Michael’s hope is that you read this book and gain a basic understanding in shaping the big picture of your retirement income plan. Concepts in this book are designed as an overview to establish the process and expectations you should have when working with your financial professional.

Michael Mansfield is the owner of The Lynd Group Advisors LLC, a State Registered Investment Advisory firm in his hometown of Ventura, California. Additionally, Michael shares ownership of The Lynd Group LLC, a retirement income planning firm, with his mother Debra. Every facet of Michael’s history exemplifies his passion for helping others and his natural affinity for leadership: he earned his Eagle Scout award at age 16 and later honorably served as a Cavalry Scout with the United States Army. Michael had attended Ventura College before he enlisted, continuing on with his education after his military service. He was extended an opportunity to work with a private financial planning firm while earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Cal State San Bernardino. It was there that he developed the passion for finance and insurance that continues to guide him. Today, Michael boasts an impressive set of financial credentials and expertise: a Certified Financial Planner™, Michael is a licensed investment advisor representative, and a former securities broker, holding his Series 66 and Series 7 license (currently inactive). Additionally, Michael is Life/Accident & Health licensed in California. To show his true commitment to the financial profession and his clients, Michael has obtained his Master of Business Administration in Financial Planning (MBA-FP) from California Lutheran University. For Michael, effective financial planning begins when the reality of the numbers and the needs of the individual intersect: the numbers determine the potential options, but the person sets the path. As a result, Michael is dedicated to educating his clients about the strategies and tools he suggests, not just presenting them with a product, so that they have the knowledge necessary to help them make the decision that is best suited to meet their needs. In his view, financial planners are most beneficial when they analyze the portfolio of a client and, based on their findings, develop a variety of recommendations that would provide the client with the best statistical opportunities for success. The client would then be able to select the option most closely matched to their unique needs.