5 Common DIY Retirement Income Mistakes — What to Watch Out For

DIY retirement income often fails not because of market drops—but because emotional selling, poor tax planning, and wrong withdrawal timing silently drain your savings.

For many DIY retirees, the fatal five are market corrections, shifting from accumulation to income without a strategy, lack of access to durable income instruments, mismanaged tax implications, and uncertainty about whether their money will last through retirement.

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CD Financial — where health meets wealth. We help near-retirees and retirees (including many Federal Employees, FERS & TSP participants) build reliable retirement income through evidence-based planning, tax-smart withdrawals, and risk management. Subscribe for weekly strategies that turn savings into sustainable paychecks for life.

⏱ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Intro — Should you DIY investing in retirement?
1:06 #1 Market Corrections & Emotion Traps (why panic selling crushes long-term returns)
3:44 #2 Accumulation vs. Decumulation (the rules change when paychecks stop)
7:17 #3 Access to Income Instruments (what DIY often can’t buy or evaluate)
10:04 Bond Funds ≠ “Safe Money” (understanding rate risk when taking income)
13:29 #4 Tax Planning That Pays You Back (Roth conversions, brackets, and timing)
16:03 How to Start: One Small Step (text your name/email to 949-359-5100)
17:12 #5 Will Your Money Last? (stress-testing with a Written Retirement Income Plan)
19:16 Planning Mindset (why clarity = confidence in spending)
24:01 Action Items & Next Steps (how to get your Charted Retirement Course™)

Advisory services are offered through CD Financial LLC dba CD Financial, an Investment Advisor in the State of California. Insurance products and services are offered through CD Financial & Insurance Services LLC, an affiliated company.
Opinions expressed herein are solely those of CD Financial and our editorial staff. The information contained in this material has been derived from sources believed to be reliable but is not guaranteed as to accuracy and completeness and does not purport to be a complete analysis of the materials discussed. All information and ideas should be discussed in detail with your individual adviser prior to implementation.

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