Investing isn’t one-size-fits-all. At Gatewood Wealth Solutions, we’ve built a tailored approach—The Gatewood Glide—designed to support investors through each stage of their financial journey, from early accumulation to meaningful legacy-building.
Phase 1: Cultivating – The Habit-Builder
Persona: Early-career professional (entry-level), often single, establishing money habits.
Primary Goals:
- Develop solid financial habits.
- Avoid debt; build credit responsibly.
- Start investing and saving consistently.
Recommended Allocation:
Account Type |
Allocation |
401(k) |
100% equities |
Emergency Fund |
3–6 months (cash in hub account) |
Bonds |
0% |
Alternatives |
0% |
Planning Tips:
- Embrace volatility. You have decades to ride out market fluctuations.
- Prioritize aggressive growth potential (e.g., Total Market Index).
- No fixed income needed yet—keep it simple and growth-oriented.
Phase 2: Building – The Growth-Engine Household
Persona: Dual-income couples, high earners, on track to wealth accumulation.
Primary Goals:
- Maximize contributions to tax-advantaged retirement accounts.
- Fund goals: home purchase, family, education.
- Explore early wealth transfer or entrepreneurial opportunities.
Recommended Allocation:
Account Type |
Allocation |
401(k) |
100% equities (maximize contributions) |
Emergency Fund |
6 months (dual-income) or 12 months (single-income) |
Bonds |
0% |
Alternatives |
0% |
Planning Tips:
- Continue aggressive accumulation—bonds aren’t beneficial yet.
- Use Roth conversions and prioritize tax advantages.
- Maintain liquidity for near-term goals without sacrificing growth.
Phase 3: Activating – The Glide Begins (10 Years Pre-Retirement)
Persona: Peak-earning years, retirement horizon in sight.
Primary Goals:
- Gradually reduce risk exposure without sacrificing growth.
- Establish liquidity buffers.
- Maintain purchasing power.
Recommended Allocation:
Account Type |
Baseline Allocation |
Range |
Equities |
80% |
70–90% |
Fixed Income |
20% |
10–30% |
Alternatives |
0% (default), up to 10% |
0–10% |
Cash |
12–24 months (gradually increase toward retirement) |
|
Planning Tips:
- Initiate the Gatewood Glide: gradually shifting equities from ~100% down to ~65% over ten years.
- Bonds and cash to cover initial 5–7 years of retirement spending.
- Consider alternatives based on eligibility and appetite for diversification.
- Align risk tolerance and financial goals clearly—differentiate from traditional target-date funds.
Phase 4: Enjoying – The Confident Retiree
Persona: Retired, financially independent individuals.
Primary Goals:
- Sustain spending comfortably.
- Mitigate sequence-of-returns risk.
- Minimize tax drag and financial anxiety.
Recommended Allocation:
Account Type |
Baseline Allocation |
Range |
Equities |
65% |
55–75% |
Fixed Income |
30% |
20–40% |
Alternatives |
5% (up to 15%) |
0–15% |
Cash |
24 months of expenses (cash-flow strategy) |
|
Planning Tips:
- Equities seek to ensure long-term growth, seeking inflation protection.
- Bonds secure spending needs for 5–10 years, offering stability during downturns.
- Alts enhance diversification (private credit, real estate, private equity).
- Tail-risk scenarios (1970s stagflation, 2000s Dotcom) built into strategic planning.
Phase 5: Giving – The Legacy Builder
Persona: Ultra-high-net-worth retirees, philanthropically inclined.
Primary Goals:
- Create lasting legacies through strategic philanthropy.
- Optimize institutional-level investment efficiency.
- Maintain liquidity and simplicity in complex financial environments.
Recommended Allocation:
Account Type |
Allocation |
Notes |
Equities |
~65% |
Potentially higher if longevity risk is minimal |
Fixed Income |
~30% |
5–10 years of projected spending |
Alternatives |
5–15% |
Greater access to institutional strategies |
Cash |
24+ months (flexible) |
Dependent on philanthropic activities |
Planning Tips:
- Aggressively utilize alts if liquidity allows.
- Prioritize tax-efficient giving (Donor-Advised Funds, Charitable Remainder Trusts, foundations).
- Balance preservation, growth, and gifting efficiency carefully.
What Sets Gatewood Glide Apart?
The Gatewood Glidepath significantly diverges from traditional target-date funds. Here’s how:
- Aggressive early equity exposure: Starting nearly fully invested in stocks (98%) seeking to maximize growth early on.
- Higher equity at retirement: Maintains ~70% equity at retirement, significantly higher than the industry average (~50%), seeking to ensure ongoing portfolio growth potential.
- Long-term growth-oriented approach: Treating retirement not as the end of growth, but as the start of a new investment horizon.
Final Thoughts: Why Gatewood Glide Matters
At Gatewood Wealth Solutions, our Glidepath isn’t just about reaching retirement—it’s about confidently soaring through it. By prioritizing growth through higher equity allocations, our goal is to enable our clients not just to retire, but to retire well—maintaining their lifestyles, preserving their purchasing power, and pursuing meaningful legacies.
In short, the Gatewood Glide is designed not just for longevity, but for prosperity.
Because retirement shouldn’t mean slowing down; it should mean continuing your ascent.
Ready to Glide?
Connect with our team to start your personalized journey toward financial clarity and confidence.
Important Disclosures:
The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.
Investing involves risk including loss of principal. No strategy assures success or protects against loss.
This information is not intended to be a substitute for individualized tax advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax situation with a qualified tax advisor.
There is no guarantee that a diversified portfolio will enhance overall returns or outperform a non-diversified portfolio. Diversification does not protect against market risk.
Alternative investments may not be suitable for all investors and should be considered as an investment for the risk capital portion of the investor’s portfolio. The strategies employed in the management of alternative investments may accelerate the velocity of potential losses.
Bonds are subject to market and interest rate risk if sold prior to maturity. Bond values will decline as interest rates rise. Bonds are subject to availability, change in price, call features and credit risk
The principal value of a target fund is not guaranteed at any time, including at the target date.