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Retirement Planning,
Clearly.
A practical, two-step guide to retirement planning — written by fiduciary advisors, in plain English. Whether you're just starting or already in the middle of it, this is the walkthrough most people wish they'd had ten years earlier.
The four questions that decide when you can actually afford to retire
How to plan for an income that lasts — and keeps up with inflation
What "the right investment plan" actually looks like for your situation
A Powerful 2-Step Guide
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What's Inside
A two-step framework for thinking about retirement — without the jargon.
We've boiled retirement planning down to the two questions that matter most: can you afford to retire? and are you on track to get there? Inside, we walk through each one in detail.
The First Step — Can you afford to retire?
We start with the four sub-questions that determine when retirement actually becomes possible. Most people answer them once, by feel. We'll walk you through each one with a method.
- What income do I need during retirement?
- How long should the income last?
- Can my income keep up with inflation?
- What's the most efficient investment plan for me?
The Next Step — Are you on track?
Once you know what you want to achieve, the next step is figuring out if you're actually heading there — and what to adjust if you're not.
- How to read your own retirement trajectory
- Levers to pull when you're off-track (and which not to touch)
- Why checking your plan regularly matters more than the plan itself
- When it's worth hiring a fiduciary advisor — and when it isn't
Plus pro tips throughout — small adjustments most people miss, like adding ten years to your own life-expectancy estimate when you plan your income.
Who It's For
Built for the questions you're already asking.
You're already saving
You've been contributing for years and you think you're doing it right — but you've never had anyone confirm whether your strategy actually fits the retirement you want.
You're nearing retirement
The finish line is close enough to see, and you're starting to wonder if it's really close enough. You want a clear-eyed read on what you have versus what you'll need.
You're just getting started
Retirement feels far off, but you'd rather not look up at 55 and wish you'd started earlier. You want the foundation — without wading through a textbook.
Why Download It From Us
A guide from people whose job is to know.
Black Diamond is Delaware's independent fiduciary firm. We've been writing plans for retirees, near-retirees, and savers since 2008 — and this guide is the conversation we have with new clients before any paperwork ever comes out.
Fiduciary by law
We're legally required to put your interests first. Not 'suitable' — best.
CFP® professionals
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professionals with the training to back the plan, not just the recommendation.
Independent since 2008
Paid only by the clients we work for. Never by a product, a fund family, or a quota.
No pitch, just education
No newsletter spam. No phone calls you didn't ask for. The guide is genuinely free.
Ready When You Are
Get the guide. Take it at your own pace.
Eighteen pages, plain English, no email follow-ups you didn't ask for. Just the framework we'd walk you through if you sat down with us.