Upticks: Organize Your Retirement in 30 Days—Actionable Steps
By Luke Sullivan on December 11, 2025
Unlock a step-by-step plan to organize your retirement in just 30 days! Jake and Cory reveal actionable strategies for gathering documents, building your master list, consolidating accounts, and setting up systems that can keep you on track.
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Retirement planning can feel overwhelming, especially when accounts and documents are scattered and there’s no clear system in place. The good news? With a focused, step-by-step approach, you can organize your retirement in just 30 days. Drawing from the experience of Jake and Cory, this guide outlines actionable steps to help you gain clarity and confidence—no matter where you are on your retirement journey.
Week One—Gather All Your Documents
The first step toward retirement organization is simply gathering everything in one place. “You’re not putting anything in order, just gather all of your retirement accounts and key documents,” Jake explains. This includes 401(k) statements, Social Security statements, health and life insurance, wills, trusts, IRAs, brokerage accounts, and checking accounts. Many people still have paper statements, but digital access is increasingly common.
Cory recommends, “Make sure you have all the logins to your accounts so you can gather the documents that you need. It’s two-factor authentication everywhere.” For digital organization, create a secure folder on your computer or device and download the latest statements for each account. For those who prefer paper, use a locked, secure box. The key is to centralize everything—whether digitally or physically.
Don’t forget to include your most recent tax return. “That you only need to do once a year, hopefully,” Jake notes. By the end of week one, you can have a complete set of documents, making the next steps easier and help reduce anxiety from the start.
Week Two—Build Your Master List
With your documents gathered, week two is about creating a master list of your assets, liabilities, and income sources. At Falcon Wealth Advisors, this is called a “signature plan.” Jake shares, “We pay for software that we utilize for our clients that not only creates this master list, it starts spitting out projections and analysis. However, if you’re a do-it-yourselfer, use Excel.”
List all assets—homes, vehicles, investment accounts—then subtract liabilities like mortgages, student loans, and credit cards to calculate your net worth. Add income sources such as salaries, Social Security projections, and pensions. “A lot of anxiety that people have about planning for retirement starts to dissipate once you pull all of this together,” Cory observes. “Without a plan, you’re flying blind.”
This process often reveals that clients are in a better position than they thought. “I’ve had people come in my office, think that they don’t have nearly enough for retirement. And then we start adding everything up and we’re like, no, you’ve got $3 million here,” Jake recalls. Seeing the full picture brings clarity and confidence.
Week Three—Consolidate and Simplify
Week three focuses on identifying inefficiencies and consolidating accounts where appropriate. “You’re going to start to realize that you’ve got some inefficiencies in your master list that perhaps now it’s time to consolidate some accounts,” Jake says. For example, having multiple Roth IRAs at different institutions may not provide additional safety or diversification.
Jake clarifies, “Diversification is not having multiple accounts. If you have 10 Roth IRAs, that’s no safer than having one.” Multiple advisors can also create confusion and potentially higher fees. “If you put two million with one advisor, you actually pay less in fees,” he notes. The goal is to streamline your plan, close unused or inefficient accounts, and help ensure your investments align with your overall strategy.
However, there may be valid reasons for keeping certain accounts or advisors, such as separating investment management from planning. The key is to make intentional decisions and provide all professionals you work with access to the necessary information.
Week Four—Set Up Systems and Reminders
Once your accounts are consolidated, it’s time to establish systems that keep you organized going forward. “These would be calendar reminders, digital folders, or advisor check-ins,” Jake explains. Set reminders for key milestones—such as three months before turning 62 for Social Security, 65 for Medicare, or before required minimum distributions begin.
Regular advisor check-ins are crucial. “We don’t charge per meeting. If a client wants to meet once a month as they’re leading up to retirement, we encourage that,” Jake says. Meeting with your accountant and attorney is also important to address tax and estate planning. By automating reminders and scheduling regular reviews, you can lower anxiety and help make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
Many Americans never take these steps, leading to uncertainty and fear about retirement. “Doing this and meeting with a fiduciary advisor, you can solve this problem. This is a solvable problem in America,” Jake emphasizes.
The Power of Having a Plan
A recurring theme is the empowerment that comes from having a plan. “If you don’t have a plan, you’re just drifting,” Cory observes. Life is unpredictable, but having a plan allows you to adapt and pivot as circumstances change. “You can better handle whatever comes for the future if you have a plan. Yes, you may need to pivot that plan, but without a plan at all, you’re just waiting to see what happens.”
Jake and Cory share stories of clients who gained some clarity simply by seeing their trajectory mapped out. “The information should be free. But the implementation is what costs money,” Jake notes. Regular check-ins help your plan stay current as life evolves—whether it’s a new home, a child, or other major milestones.
Ultimately, organizing your retirement in 30 days is about taking ownership, being intentional, and giving your future self the flexibility to make informed decisions. “Take 30 minutes a year at least,” Cory urges. “Shine a light on it. Make sure your investments are aligned. That’s very important.”
Organizing your retirement doesn’t have to be daunting. By following these steps—gathering documents, building a master list, consolidating accounts, and setting up systems—you can gain clarity and help set yourself up for long-term success. Your path to wealth is within reach, and Jake, Cory, and team are here to guide you every step of the way.
Thank you for tuning in, we hope you have a great week!
