No. The Foundational Planning Phase is the first step of the Ongoing Retirement Planning Retainer. It establishes the framework for retirement income, investment structure, and tax decisions, and then transitions directly into ongoing planning and investment management.

Yes. Investment management is included across all of our service options. In the Foundational Planning Engagement, the primary focus is on designing the retirement income and tax framework that guides investment management.

Mark Sharp Retirement is a boutique financial planning firm focused on helping retirees and near-retirees make coordinated decisions about income, investments, and taxes.

The firm is intentionally structured around ongoing planning rather than one-time recommendations.

We work best with retirees and near-retirees who value clarity, coordination, and a long-term planning relationship.

Clients tend to be less interested in chasing maximum outcomes and more focused on understanding what their resources can realistically support.

Clients come to us at different points.

Some engage several years before retirement to gain clarity around spending, timing, and income sustainability. Others reach out after retiring, when income decisions and tax coordination become more immediate.

In both cases, the common thread is a desire for an ongoing, structured planning relationship rather than reactive, one-off decisions.

Mark Sharp Retirement is a virtual-only financial planning practice.

We work with clients nationwide using video meetings and secure digital tools. This model works best for clients comfortable using technology as part of an ongoing relationship.

Communication is designed to be clear, predictable, and efficient.

We primarily use scheduled video meetings, secure messaging, and shared planning materials. Meeting cadence is established in advance and adjusted as needed, with additional touchpoints when life or circumstances change.

No. While the firm is based in Oregon, we work with clients throughout the United States.

Because services are delivered virtually, location is less important than fit and comfort with remote collaboration.

Retirement planning decisions tend to unfold over time.

While clients may come to us around a specific decision, our work is structured around an ongoing planning relationship rather than standalone or hourly engagements.

Retirement income planning focuses on turning savings into a sustainable, reliable source of income.

It coordinates spending needs, investment structure, and tax considerations so your resources can support your lifestyle over time—not just early in retirement, but across decades as circumstances change.

Clients stay informed and engaged without needing to manage the details themselves.

Our role is to handle coordination and follow-through while keeping you involved at a level that feels appropriate and comfortable.

Retirement income coordination follows a structured annual rhythm that includes scheduled reviews, tax-planning checkpoints, and ongoing portfolio oversight.

Adjustments are made when they’re warranted—based on changes in your life, markets, tax rules, or priorities.

Continuity is an important part of a long-term advisory relationship.

Key decisions, assumptions, and the coordination framework guiding your retirement income are documented and maintained so support can continue if I’m temporarily unavailable. Arrangements are also in place to ensure clients remain supported should an unexpected situation arise.

The goal is stability and continuity—not disruption.

Success isn’t measured by short-term performance or market comparisons.

Instead, progress is defined by clarity, confidence, and sustainability—whether you understand your plan, feel comfortable with decisions, and can adapt thoughtfully as circumstances change.

As a boutique firm, clients work directly with the advisor responsible for their planning.

The focus is on depth, continuity, and thoughtful decision-making rather than scale or volume.

As assets, responsibilities, and life circumstances evolve, the planning relationship adapts with them.

The scope of coordination may change, but the planning approach and cadence remain consistent.

Tax decisions don’t happen once a year — they’re integrated into retirement income planning throughout the year.

We monitor withdrawals, Roth conversions, charitable strategies, and bracket utilization as part of your overall income strategy. After your tax return is completed, we review it together to ensure alignment with prior planning assumptions and to recalibrate projections for the year ahead.

While your CPA handles preparation and filing, we coordinate closely to ensure your tax reporting reflects deliberate retirement income decisions rather than reactive outcomes.

Beginning with the 2027 tax year, we no longer prepare and file tax returns directly. Instead, we provide integrated tax strategy, annual tax projections, and a structured review of your completed return to ensure alignment with your retirement income plan.

We coordinate closely with your CPA, so your filing reflects your broader retirement strategy.

Tax preparation focuses on reporting what already happened.

Tax planning focuses on influencing what happens next.

Our role is to coordinate retirement income, investment decisions, and tax strategy throughout the year—so your filing reflects intentional decisions rather than reactive outcomes.

Yes. If you do not already work with a CPA, we’re happy to provide referrals. We coordinate directly with your tax preparer to ensure communication is seamless.

We review your completed tax return and prior-year results to confirm bracket utilization, retirement distributions, Roth conversions, charitable strategies, and IRMAA exposure. We then recalibrate projections and make forward-looking adjustments for the current year.

This meeting is strategic—not mechanical.

No. The value of the Retainer lies in ongoing coordination—retirement income design, investment alignment, and tax strategy integration. Filing is operational; coordination is strategic.

We focus on retirement-focused tax coordination — including withdrawal sequencing, Roth conversions, IRMAA management, and charitable strategies. Business entity filings, multi-state business returns, and advanced estate filings are handled by your CPA. We coordinate closely to ensure those filings align with your broader retirement income strategy.

Retirement planning works best when strategy, monitoring, and time-sensitive decisions are separated throughout the year. Our annual rhythm ensures clarity, prevents overwhelm, and reduces reactive decision-making.

When appropriate, we coordinate with other professionals involved in your financial life.

Our role is to provide planning context so decisions across disciplines remain aligned and unintended consequences are reduced.

You don’t need to have everything perfectly organized before getting started.

We guide you through a structured onboarding process that typically includes recent account statements, tax returns, and basic information about income sources and goals.

Yes. Mark Sharp Retirement operates as a fiduciary.

This means advice is provided in your best interest, without commissions or product-driven incentives.

I hold several professional designations that support an integrated planning approach:

• CFP® — comprehensive financial planning and fiduciary standards

• RICP® — retirement income planning and long-term decision-making

• WMCP® — portfolio construction within a broader planning framework

• Enrolled Agent (EA) — advanced knowledge of federal tax law and retirement-related tax strategy

Together, these credentials allow income, investments, and taxes to be coordinated rather than handled in isolation.

Fee-only planning means advice is provided without commissions or product sales.

Clients pay directly for services, which helps reduce conflicts of interest.

Fees reflect the level of coordination and responsibility involved, with investable assets serving as the primary guide.

Specific pricing is discussed during the planning process to ensure clarity and transparency.

Start with a conversation to confirm fit.

We’ll discuss your situation, priorities, and questions, then decide together whether moving forward makes sense.