A framework for bringing retirement decisions into one coordinated plan
7 Pillars Planning Framework
Retirement planning often involves more than one important decision at a time. Income, investments, taxes, healthcare, risk, long-term care, and legacy goals may each deserve thoughtful attention, but they are rarely independent of one another. The 7 Pillars Planning Framework reflects how KFP thinks about retirement planning: as a set of interconnected decisions that are best considered together rather than in isolation.
A thoughtful framework for bringing retirement, income, and investment decisions into relationship with one another.
This framework helps organize those relationships into one coordinated planning approach. It is designed to bring greater clarity to the financial questions that often become more important as retirement approaches and unfolds.
A thoughtful framework for bringing retirement, income, and investment decisions into relationship with one another.
This framework helps organize those relationships into one coordinated planning approach. It is designed to bring greater clarity to the financial questions that often become more important as retirement approaches and unfolds.
How KFP Thinks About Retirement Planning
At KFP, retirement planning begins with the belief that important financial decisions should be made in relationship to one another. A choice about Social Security may affect taxes. A withdrawal strategy may influence portfolio design. Healthcare costs, long-term care considerations, and legacy goals may all shape how a retirement plan needs to function over time.
Because these decisions are often connected, retirement planning can benefit from a framework that brings the broader picture into view. The goal is not complexity for its own sake, but thoughtful coordination.
Because these decisions are often connected, retirement planning can benefit from a framework that brings the broader picture into view. The goal is not complexity for its own sake, but thoughtful coordination.
The Foundation: 7 Pillars Retirement Planning
At the center of this approach is 7 Pillars Retirement Planning®, the broad structure KFP uses to organize the major areas of retirement planning. It provides a practical way to evaluate the parts of retirement that often need to work together within one coordinated plan.
• Income Planning
• Investment Planning
• Tax Planning
• Risk Analysis
• Healthcare Planning
• Long-Term Care Planning
• Estate and Legacy Planning
• Investment Planning
• Tax Planning
• Risk Analysis
• Healthcare Planning
• Long-Term Care Planning
• Estate and Legacy Planning
Together, these seven areas help bring shape and structure to the broader retirement picture.
To see how this broad structure is applied in practice, visit our Retirement Planning Services page.
More Than a List of Topics
The seven pillars are meant to bring structure to the major planning decisions that shape retirement. By considering how one area may affect another, recommendations can be made in context and shaped around your goals, values, and circumstances.
This reflects the planning-first philosophy that guides our work at Kastler Financial Planning. Rather than beginning with products or isolated strategies, we begin with the broader retirement picture and work thoughtfully from there.
This reflects the planning-first philosophy that guides our work at Kastler Financial Planning. Rather than beginning with products or isolated strategies, we begin with the broader retirement picture and work thoughtfully from there.
Applying the Framework to Retirement Income
One practical expression of the 7 Pillars Planning Framework is retirement income planning. A retirement paycheck often involves more than portfolio withdrawals alone. It may include Social Security, pensions, required minimum distributions, tax considerations, spending needs, and long-term sustainability.
7 Pillars Purpose-Driven Income Plan™ reflects how the broader framework is applied to the work of designing a coordinated retirement paycheck. The goal is to help align income sources and withdrawal decisions with the broader retirement plan rather than treating them as isolated cash-flow choices.
To learn more, visit our Income Planning page.
7 Pillars Purpose-Driven Income Plan™ reflects how the broader framework is applied to the work of designing a coordinated retirement paycheck. The goal is to help align income sources and withdrawal decisions with the broader retirement plan rather than treating them as isolated cash-flow choices.
To learn more, visit our Income Planning page.
Applying the Framework to Investment Planning
7 Pillars Investment Planning®
Investment decisions are most useful when they support the retirement plan they are meant to serve. 7 Pillars Investment Planning® reflects the investment-planning component of the broader framework, helping align portfolio decisions with retirement income needs, tax considerations, risk profile, long-term objectives, and personal values.
This is part of what KFP means by a planning-first approach to investing. Rather than viewing the portfolio in isolation, investment decisions are evaluated in the context of the broader retirement picture they are intended to support.
This is part of what KFP means by a planning-first approach to investing. Rather than viewing the portfolio in isolation, investment decisions are evaluated in the context of the broader retirement picture they are intended to support.
7 Pillars Purpose-Driven Portfolios™
For some clients, the investment-planning component becomes more specific through 7 Pillars Purpose-Driven Portfolios™, the portfolio-design expression of the broader framework. This is where portfolio structure is shaped around retirement needs, long-term objectives, and, where appropriate, personal values and purpose.
Depending on the situation, implementation may include a broadly diversified Core portfolio with selected Satellite themes that support the broader retirement plan. The aim is not customization for its own sake, but thoughtful alignment between the portfolio and the work that portfolio is meant to do.
To explore this further, visit our Portfolio Design for Retirement page.
Depending on the situation, implementation may include a broadly diversified Core portfolio with selected Satellite themes that support the broader retirement plan. The aim is not customization for its own sake, but thoughtful alignment between the portfolio and the work that portfolio is meant to do.
To explore this further, visit our Portfolio Design for Retirement page.
One Framework, Multiple Components
The 7 Pillars Planning Framework is expressed through several related components. 7 Pillars Retirement Planning® provides the broad retirement-planning structure that guides our Retirement Planning Services. 7 Pillars Purpose-Driven Income Plan™ reflects how that structure is applied to Income Planning and the design of a coordinated retirement paycheck. 7 Pillars Investment Planning® reflects the investment-planning component of the broader framework, while 7 Pillars Purpose-Driven Portfolios™ represents its portfolio-design expression through Portfolio Design for retirement.
Taken together, these components reflect one coordinated planning philosophy. They are intended to bring greater structure, consistency, and clarity to the financial decisions that shape retirement. Related areas such as Tax Planning and Ongoing Support also fit within this broader planning approach, helping connect the written retirement plan to the decisions and adjustments that may follow over time.
Taken together, these components reflect one coordinated planning philosophy. They are intended to bring greater structure, consistency, and clarity to the financial decisions that shape retirement. Related areas such as Tax Planning and Ongoing Support also fit within this broader planning approach, helping connect the written retirement plan to the decisions and adjustments that may follow over time.
A Planning Approach Designed to Bring Coordination
The purpose of this framework is not to make retirement planning feel more complicated. It is to bring greater clarity, structure, and thoughtful coordination to the decisions that often matter most. For those who value a planning approach that is personal, fiduciary, and attentive to the bigger picture, the 7 Pillars Planning Framework helps show how the pieces fit together.
Explore Whether This Planning Approach is a Good Fit
Schedule a ConsultationIf you would like to explore whether this planning approach may be a good fit for your situation, we invite you to schedule a no-charge, no-obligation consultation—a chance to get acquainted and decide whether it makes sense to take a next step together.