Do you have highly compensated employees looking to reduce their taxable income or set aside additional money for retirement? With a nonqualified deferred compensation (NQDC) plan, you can help these clients accomplish both goals. Keep in mind, however, that there is some measure of risk to consider—unlike with other types of retirement plans, the money they’ve saved is dependent on the financial solvency of the employer. 

When it comes to planning for the future, clients will (understandably) have questions and concerns. As their advisor, you are in a position to guide them through the retirement planning process, helping them to make the best decisions for their specific needs and retirement goals.

But what will your clients want to know? How can you ensure that you are giving them the most relevant and valuable information? These six critical retirement questions are ones every financial advisor should prepare for (and every client should ask).

We’ve all been there—we make a decision we wish we could take back, or we go down one road when we should’ve taken another. Sometimes there’s no going back, but when it comes to Medicare, you may be able to offer your clients a solution. If your clients enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan last year and have doubts about whether it’s the right health insurance for them, you can help them facilitate a Medicare do-over during the new open enrollment period—but you’ll have to act fast, as the window isn’t open for long.

When it comes to social security, the biggest decision clients need to make is whether to claim at age 62, full retirement age (FRA), or age 70, right? It certainly can be that simple, but there are many next-level nuances to consider. To become your clients’ go-to resource for their social security planning needs, start by mastering the foundational rules—then, you’ll be prepared to address the more complex aspects of their situation, too.

Clients newly enrolled in Medicare may not understand the connection between income and Medicare premiums. The IRS, the Social Security Administration (SSA), and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services all play a part in the income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA) that’s tacked on to Medicare premiums and recalculated every year. The higher an individual’s or couple’s modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), the higher their premiums will be for prescription drugs and doctor visits.