Retirement transition self-assessment

See how prepared you are for the road into retirement.

This short quiz is built for thoughtful pre-retirees who want more clarity around income, taxes, Medicare, investment structure, and withdrawal strategy.

It is designed in the same spirit as the Sentient Financial brand: calm, practical, direct, and grounded. The goal is not to overwhelm you. The goal is to help you quickly see whether your current plan feels coordinated or still a bit uncertain.

Question 1 of 10

How clear is your picture of monthly retirement spending?

Choose the answer that fits best.Very clearI have a detailed estimate and review it regularly.Somewhat clearI have a rough idea, but it is not documented or regularly reviewed.Still vagueIt is mostly a guess at this point.

Question 2 of 10

Do you know where your retirement “paycheck” will come from each month?

Think about Social Security, pensions, cash reserves, and portfolio withdrawals.YesI have a clear written income plan.PartlyI have a general idea, but not a coordinated plan.Not reallyI expect to figure that out closer to retirement.

Question 3 of 10

How confident are you in your Social Security claiming decision?

Consider whether you have evaluated different claiming ages and trade-offs.ConfidentI have compared multiple claiming strategies and understand the trade-offs.Partly confidentI have an age in mind but have not run a deeper analysis.UnclearI have not looked at this in much detail yet.

Question 4 of 10

How well do you understand Medicare premiums and IRMAA surcharges?

Think about how income can affect future Medicare costs.I understand it wellI know how income decisions can affect Medicare premiums and surcharges.I know a littleI have heard of IRMAA but do not fully understand how it works.I am unfamiliarI do not yet understand how Medicare premiums are determined.

Question 5 of 10

Do you have a strategy for using different tax buckets in retirement?

Think about taxable accounts, pre-tax accounts, and Roth or tax-free accounts.YesI have a mix of accounts and a strategy for how to use them.PartlyI have different account types, but no clear withdrawal strategy yet.Not yetMost of my money is in one type of account or I have not thought much about this.

Question 6 of 10

How prepared are you for required minimum distributions (RMDs)?

Consider whether you know when they begin and how they may affect taxes.PreparedI know when RMDs begin and how they may affect my future tax picture.Somewhat preparedI know they exist, but I have not planned around them.UnpreparedI am not sure what RMDs are or how they work.

Question 7 of 10

How intentionally is your retirement portfolio structured?

Think about cash, bonds, stocks, and how they line up with when the money may be needed.IntentionalMy portfolio is structured around specific goals and time horizons.Somewhat intentionalI have a decent mix, but not a clearly defined framework.UnclearMy portfolio has mostly evolved over time without a clear retirement structure.

Question 8 of 10

Do you know which investments belong in which accounts for tax efficiency?

Consider whether taxable, pre-tax, and Roth accounts each hold investments intentionally.YesI intentionally place certain assets in specific accounts based on tax treatment.SomewhatSome of my account placement is thoughtful, but some is accidental.NoMy investments are mostly where they ended up over time.

Question 9 of 10

How well do you understand how your investments are taxed?

Think about interest, dividends, capital gains, and distributions.I understand it wellI have a good handle on how different investments create different tax consequences.I understand some of itI know the basics, but not enough to make confident decisions.I am unclearI do not really know how the tax treatment differs.

Question 10 of 10

Do you have a tax-efficient withdrawal plan across accounts?

Consider whether you know which accounts you would draw from first and why.YesI have a withdrawal strategy that considers taxes over time.PartlyI have a rough idea, but no written strategy.NoI expect to decide withdrawals year by year.

Your result

Your readiness result

Complete the quiz to see your score and interpretation.

0/20

What this score is really for

This score is meant to help you understand whether a more thoughtful planning conversation could bring greater clarity and peace of mind.

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