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How We Work

How to Best Plan for Retirement

Who is Mark Sharp Retirement?

Mark Sharp Retirement is a virtual, independent financial planning firm dedicated to helping individuals and couples transition from work life to retirement. We specialize in turning retirement savings into sustainable, tax-efficient income—offering personalized guidance for those on the verge of or recently retired.

What is retirement income planning?

Retirement income planning is the process of turning the savings you’ve built over your career into a reliable, tax-efficient income stream that supports your lifestyle throughout retirement. It goes beyond budgeting—it integrates spending, investing, risk management, and tax strategy to help ensure your money lasts as long as you need it to.

The goal is to give you the confidence to enjoy retirement on your terms, provide for the people and causes you care about, and stay prepared for the unexpected.

Why choose Mark Sharp Retirement?

Most financial planning firms take a generalist approach, focusing on helping clients build wealth. At Mark Sharp Retirement, we specialize in what comes next.

We work exclusively with individuals and couples who are on the verge of retirement or have recently stepped into it. This phase presents a very different set of challenges—turning savings into sustainable income, managing taxes, and maintaining steady spending power over a retirement that could last 30 years or more.

That’s where we come in. With deep expertise in retirement income strategy, tax efficiency, and risk management, we help you make informed decisions with confidence. Our work is focused, intentional, and designed to meet the realities of life after the paycheck stops.

You may be a good fit if
  • As an empty nester, your financial focus is now fully on securing your future.
  • You’re about to retire or have recently retired and you need expert assistance with income generation, tax strategies, and comprehensive investment management.
  • You’re facing challenges in your investment, retirement, or tax planning that need to be addressed before you can fully enjoy retirement.
  • You’ve built your nest egg and now need a clear strategy for how to draw from it in retirement.
  • You value a collaborative approach, preferring to delegate financial decisions to trusted experts while you focus on enjoying retirement with peace of mind.
  • You are specifically seeking ongoing, relationship-based planning support rather than one-time or project-based work.
You may not be a good fit if
  • You’re early to mid-career, with retirement still far in the future.
  • Your primary concern is saving for retirement, rather than focusing on how to spend in retirement.
  • You have financial needs related to young family planning, college savings, debt management, student loans, special-needs planning, stock options, or alternative investments.
  • You prefer a self-directed approach and feel confident in creating and executing your own financial solutions without ongoing professional advice.
  • You’re exclusively seeking one-time or project-based work.
What are your fees?

Several pricing options are available. Click here to learn more.

Do you only work with clients in Portland?

No, we can work with clients in Portland and nationwide as a virtual-first financial services firm. Using the latest technology, we provide seamless service wherever you are—all we ask is that you're comfortable with virtual meetings.

What is fee-only financial planning and why should that matter to me?

Our fee-only model means we do not accept commissions from third parties for the financial products or services we recommend. Instead, we are compensated directly by you, our client, ensuring we remain an objective partner in your financial planning decisions. Our fees are always transparent and clearly outlined before we begin working together.

Are you a fiduciary and what exactly is a fiduciary?

At Mark Sharp Retirement, we act as fiduciaries for our clients, meaning we are ethically obligated to prioritize your interests above our own in all financial decisions.

What is the CFP® designation?

The CFP® designation signifies a high standard of expertise, ethics, and professionalism. While many may call themselves "financial planners," as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, I have undergone extensive training, met strict experience requirements, and am held to rigorous ethical standards. To learn more about what it takes to become a CFP® professional, click here

What is the RICP® designation?

The RICP® designation offers in-depth training on creating holistic and integrated retirement financial plans. A Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP®) specializes in retirement income planning, guiding retirees and those nearing retirement on how to sustainably manage and spend their accumulated assets. To learn more about what it takes to become an RICP® professional, click here

What is the WMCP® designation?

The WMCP® designation equips professionals with deep expertise in developing comprehensive investment strategies. A Wealth Management Certified Professional (WMCP®) focuses on investment planning and management, assisting retirees in creating goal-oriented investment plans while managing behavioral challenges, wealth transfers, and assets to optimize financial outcomes. To learn more about the path to becoming a WMCP® professional, click here

What is the Enrolled Agent credential?

An Enrolled Agent is a federally licensed tax practitioner, authorized by the IRS, with expertise in tax law, tax preparation, and tax planning. It is the highest credential awarded by the IRS. To learn more about what it takes to become an Enrolled Agent, click here

Are you a member of any other organizations?

Additionally, we belong to the Fee-Only Network, a group of financial planners vetted to meet NAPFA’s rigorous standards for fee-only compensation and ethical responsibility.

We are also part of the Garrett Planning Network, a community of advisors providing accessible financial advice to people from all walks of life—without minimum account requirements, commissions, or long-term commitments. As fiduciaries, we are committed to always putting our clients’ best interests first.

I'm interested in working with a fee-only financial planner like you. What's the next step?

Great! Schedule a discovery call here. We look forward to speaking with you!