Encore Retirement Planning Rubric

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
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2	Retirement Planning Rubric
3	Category	Criteria	Emerging Confidence (Low)	Approaching Confidence (Moderate)	Confident (High)	Extended Confidence (Exceptional)	Rating	Comments
4	1. Financial Readiness	Purpose: Is there intentionality to your life and a strong sense of purpose?	No intentionality or low sense of purpose.	Moderate intentionality and a reasonable sense of purpose.	Most days are lived intentionally and align with a greater sense of purpose.	Strong sense of purpose, retirement doesn't feel like retirement. Each day matters.
5		Savings & Investments: Does the individual have sufficient savings, investment portfolios, and other assets?	Minimal savings or investments with unclear targets.	Savings nearing target; moderate investment diversification.	On-target savings; portfolio diversified and optimized.	Surplus savings and investments providing flexibility.
6		Income Coordination: Has a retirement income style been selected and implemented?	No awareness of style or coordination.	Aware of style and taking steps to implement across income sources.	Retirement income style selected and implemented over income sources.	Redundancy in place to manage risk of eventual diminished capacity.
7		Income Streams: Are multiple income streams (Social Security, pensions, dividends) established?	One or no income streams with little diversification.	Multiple streams identified but not fully secured.	Stable and reliable income streams in place.	Diversified and inflation-protected income streams.
8		Debt Management: Has (bad) debt been minimized or eliminated?	Significant high-interest debt remains.	Major debts reduced; minor liabilities remain.	Debt-free or manageable low-interest debt.	Proactive use of debt as a strategic tool if necessary.
9		Emergency Fund: Is there a liquid reserve for unexpected expenses?	No or minimal liquid savings for emergencies.	Partial emergency fund meeting some unexpected costs.	Fully funded (3–6 months of expenses).	Fully funded with lines or credit for major shocks.
10		Tax Strategy: Are tax-efficient withdrawal and investment strategies in place?	Limited understanding or strategy for taxes.	Basic tax strategies explored (e.g., IRA contributions).	Comprehensive tax plan for withdrawals, investments and transfers.	Repeatable processes in place to accomplish tax strategy (e.g. annual planning).
11	2. Health & Long-Term Care	Health Insurance: Is there sufficient coverage, including Medicare, supplements, or private insurance?	Gaps in coverage or incomplete understanding of options.	Basic health insurance with limited coverage.	Comprehensive health and supplemental insurance in place.	Fully optimized insurance with proactive cost controls.
12		Long-Term Care Planning: Are provisions in place for potential long-term care needs?	No plan for long-term care or reliance on family.	Researching long-term care options and costs.	Long-term care insurance or savings allocated.	Advanced planning, including trusts and hybrid policies.
13	3. Lifestyle & Goals	Lifestyle Budgeting: Does the plan account for desired activities (travel, hobbies, etc.)?	No detailed budget; lifestyle ambitions not aligned with resources.	Some budgeting for basic lifestyle goals.	Budget accommodates desired lifestyle comfortably.	Ability to pursue aspirational goals without financial strain.
14		Housing: Is the housing strategy sustainable (downsizing, relocation, reverse mortgage)?	Housing costs unsustainable or unclear long-term plan.	Exploring options for downsizing or sustainable housing.	Clear plan with manageable housing costs.	Housing strategy optimized for financial and personal goals.
15		Community & Relationships: Does the plan support social engagement and relationships?	Limited consideration of community or social connections.	Moderate engagement with some planned social activities.	Strong integration of community, family, and relationships.	Deep and diverse social network with meaningful connections.
16	4. Risk Management	Portfolio Risk: Is the investment portfolio adjusted for retirement?	High volatility portfolio unsuitable for retirement needs.	Moderate adjustments made to manage risk exposures.	Portfolio aligned with income style and each dollar attached to an objective.	Tax and behaviorally optimized portfolio with systems for rebalancing and tax management in place.
17		Inflation Protection: Does the plan account for inflation impacts on purchasing power?	No consideration of inflation in financial planning.	Basic inflation-aware investments (e.g., TIPS, real estate).	Inflation-adjusted income sources secured.	Portfolio proactively adjusted for long-term inflation risks.
18		Longevity Risk: Is there a plan to avoid outliving resources?	High likelihood of resource depletion.	Basic planning with conservative assumptions.	Comprehensive strategies (e.g., annuities, withdrawal rates).	Excess resources to cover extended longevity scenarios.
19		Fraud & Theft: Are there measures in place to reduce the likelyhood of being victimized by fraud and theft?	No special measures have been taken.	Password locker in use and credit frozen.	Security measures in place on critical accounts (two-factor authentication, passkeys, etc).	Processes in place for making large financial decisions including reliance on a competent third party.
20	5. Estate Planning	Wills & Trusts: Are estate planning documents current and comprehensive?	Outdated or incomplete estate documents.	Basic documents in place but not reviewed recently.	Up-to-date, thorough estate plan reflecting current goals.	Advanced estate planning with strategies for legacy impact.
21		Beneficiary Designations: Are beneficiaries updated for all accounts and policies?	Missing or outdated beneficiary designations.	Beneficiaries updated for major accounts.	All designations current and aligned with estate goals.	Proactive review and optimization for tax-efficient transfers.
22		Gifting Strategy: Does the plan consider gifting to heirs or charities during the person’s lifetime?	No consideration of gifting strategies.	Exploring basic gifting or small charitable contributions.	Implementing gifting strategies to heirs/charities.	Optimized giving plan maximizing impact and tax benefits.
23	6. Professional Guidance	Advisory Team: Is the individual working with trusted advisors (financial planner, accountant, attorney)?	No or minimal professional guidance.	Limited use of professionals for basic advice.	Comprehensive team of trusted advisors in place.	Highly experienced advisors using advanced strategies.
24		Plan Updates: Is the retirement plan reviewed and updated regularly?	No review or updates; static plan.	Occasional reviews with minor updates.	Regular reviews and updates reflecting changing needs.	Dynamic updates with advanced forecasting and scenario planning.
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26		This rubric is an educational tool provided by Encore Retirement Planning, LLC., a Registered Investment Advisor, for informational purposes only. The content herein is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. Before making any investment or financial decisions, you should consult with your financial advisor, tax professional, or legal counsel to ensure your unique situation is considered.
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