Marcus & Denise T.
Ages 48 & 46 — Atlanta, GA
The Challenge
Marcus and Denise were ten years from retirement with less than $80,000 saved. Both worked demanding careers, but mounting debt, a college tuition bill on the horizon, and no clear plan left them anxious about whether they could ever stop working. They felt behind — and they were right to be concerned.
The Strategy
Working with Horizon Wealth, the couple restructured their household budget, eliminated high-interest debt within 18 months, and redirected those freed-up dollars into a diversified retirement portfolio. A tax-advantaged savings strategy combined with indexed universal life insurance created both growth potential and downside protection. College funding was addressed separately through a 529 plan, keeping retirement savings intact.
The Result
Within five years, Marcus and Denise grew their retirement assets to over $310,000 — nearly quadrupling their starting balance. Their debt was eliminated, their son's college fund was on track, and they had a written retirement income plan projecting financial independence at age 62.