March 16, 2026 Building a Retirement Plan That Works in Any Market

Over the past couple of years, markets have delivered strong returns. When that happens, it’s natural to look at different parts of your portfolio and compare how they’ve performed. Growth investments are designed to participate in strong markets. When stocks are up, those positions should lead the way. That’s what they’re built for.

At the same time, not every part of a retirement plan is meant to maximize upside. Some investment strategies are positioned to provide stability or predictable income, especially during periods when markets are down.

One important distinction in retirement planning is the difference between investing while you’re working and withdrawing income in retirement. When you’re contributing to your accounts, market downturns can be uncomfortable, but you’re still adding money and allowing time to work in your favor. In retirement, however, you may be taking income from those accounts. If withdrawals happen during a market decline, more shares may need to be sold at lower prices. That can reduce what’s left to recover when markets rebound.

For that reason, many retirement income plans are structured, so essential income isn’t fully dependent on market performance.

Another factor worth noting is today’s higher interest rate environment. After many years of low rates, certain income-focused strategies - including bonds and insurance-based solutions - may offer more competitive terms than they did in the past.

That doesn’t mean changes are automatically necessary. In many cases, staying disciplined is the right decision. But as conditions shift, it’s important to periodically review how your retirement income is structured and whether adjustments could improve long-term stability.

When annuities are used within a plan, they are not intended to replace growth investments. They may serve as one piece of a broader strategy, particularly when the goal is to create dependable income or reduce reliance on market withdrawals.

Retirement planning isn’t about chasing returns in strong years. It’s about building a plan that can hold up in different environments.

If you’d like to review how your income plan is structured or discuss how today’s interest rate environment might impact your plan, give us a call at
801-465-6990. We’re happy to walk through it with you

-Scott B. Wharton