Not All Wealth is Created Equal
The Client is a high-achieving professional. They’ve built a successful business or career and have saved diligently — amassing over a million dollars in a traditional retirement account like a 401(k) or IRA. By all appearances, they’ve won the retirement game.
But beneath the surface lies a looming challenge: taxes. Unlike after-tax savings, every dollar in that tax-deferred account is still owed to Uncle Sam. Withdrawals will be taxed as ordinary income — possibly pushing the Client into a higher tax bracket during retirement than they ever anticipated. And once they turn 73, Required Minimum Distributions will force them to start drawing money whether they need it or not.
That means less flexibility, less control, and often, a lot less money.
When Traditional Plans Work Against You
The traditional retirement playbook often falls short for successful individuals. What once felt like a safe and smart way to save turns into a tax burden. Every withdrawal increases taxable income, which can impact Social Security benefits, raise Medicare premiums, and eliminate any chance of long-term tax planning. Worse still, the larger the retirement account grows, the more severe the tax consequences become.
There’s also the timing risk. The Client could be forced to take distributions during a market downturn, effectively locking in losses. And because there’s little flexibility in how or when funds are accessed, their ability to adapt their retirement strategy diminishes with every passing year.
This is not what financial freedom was supposed to feel like.
A Smarter Strategy Emerges
Recognizing this problem, Wilson Hand developed a strategy that flips the script. The Accelerated Retirement Plan (ARP) is designed specifically for Clients with seven-figure tax-deferred accounts who want to reduce their lifetime tax burden and maximize long-term, tax-advantaged cash flow.
The ARP helps Clients shift retirement funds out of their traditional accounts into a carefully structured financial product that offers tax-free growth and distributions. Over a five-year period, a portion of the retirement account is rolled into the plan each year. Then, in year six, the financial product is distributed, triggering a taxable event. But instead of paying those taxes out of pocket, the Client uses a policy loan to cover the tax liability.
The result? The Client now owns an asset they can borrow from tax-free for the rest of their life — without touching the original retirement account or exposing themselves to future tax hikes.
How It Works: Without the Jargon
Here’s what makes this strategy so effective: it uses life insurance — but not in the way most people think. The plan is built around a custom-designed, cash-value policy that’s engineered for growth, liquidity, and long-term tax advantages.
In the first five years, the Client makes annual transfers from their retirement account to fund the plan. During that time, policy expenses are front-loaded, which reduces the policy’s fair market value when it’s distributed in year six. That means the Client only pays tax on a fraction of what they’ve contributed — often just 50–60% of the total. Then, using a loan secured by the policy’s growing cash value, they cover the tax bill without taking a dollar out of their pocket.
From there, the policy continues to grow tax-deferred, and the Client can access the cash value at any time through additional loans or withdrawals. Because these distributions aren’t counted as income, they don’t trigger taxes, don’t raise Medicare premiums, and don’t affect Social Security benefits.
This isn’t a loophole. It’s an intentional, legal use of the tax code to restructure retirement income more efficiently and flexibly.
A Lifetime of Advantages
The benefits of the ARP are strategic. The client regains control over when and how they use their money. Their retirement savings become a tool for opportunity, not a ticking time bomb of tax liability.
They no longer have to worry about Required Minimum Distributions or paying higher taxes in the future. Market downturns can’t erase their retirement security, and unexpected health issues can be addressed through the policy’s built-in chronic illness riders. For those thinking about legacy, the tax-free death benefit becomes a powerful estate planning asset — passing wealth to heirs without the complications of probate or tax erosion.
Most importantly, the Client replaces a static, taxable retirement account with a dynamic, tax-advantaged financial vehicle — one that gives them the freedom to live the way they want in retirement.
The Journey to Freedom
The ARP is best suited for high-earning individuals with at least $1 million in traditional retirement savings. It’s a multi-year strategy, but one with clear, measurable benefits starting from day one.
The process begins with a consultation. We evaluate the Client’s retirement accounts, tax exposure, and long-term goals. From there, we design a customized plan for transitioning funds over a five-year period. By year six, the Client receives the financial product and uses a policy loan to offset taxes. They can also begin accessing their new retirement asset, all while preserving the integrity of their original wealth.
It’s a simple, elegant, and proven way to reduce taxes, increase flexibility, and create more security in retirement.
Retire Smarter, Not Just Richer
At Wilson Hand, we believe the best retirement plan isn’t just the one that helps you save, it’s the one that helps you keep more of what you’ve saved. The Accelerated Retirement Plan was designed for Clients like yours: high achievers who want to protect their legacy, minimize their tax exposure, and live on their own terms.
The rules may be complicated. But the strategy doesn’t have to be.
Let’s rewrite the retirement story — one that’s not defined by taxes, but by freedom.
