Four Planners Who Get It: Tom Belisari

A representative of Royal Alliance and a CFP, Belisari estimates that about half of his business is devoted exclusively to retirement planning, although he wishes it were more. “Unfortunately people get serious about their retirements too late,” he says.

Belisari has increased the life expectancy he uses in plans for his clients to 95. “We use very, very conservative estimates,” he says. “But I say, ‘Hey, if you can tell me the exact day you are going to die, I’ll make sure that’s the day you spend your last nickel.’”

About one-third of Belisari’s clients are in the distribution phase of their retirements and Belisari is noticing a more liberal approach to their investing than in years past. “Twenty or so years ago, people didn’t know what an international fund was,” he says. “A lot of older investors would say, ‘I fought these guys in World War II, why invest in their country?’ Nowadays, it’s easier for the older generation to see investing as a global issue.”

Belisari is concerned, however, that the retirees of the next generation will need to battle rising medical costs and, in some cases, will need to add an unwanted element to their retirement plans. “Working longer,” he says.–Ryan G. Murphy