Your retirement hinges on a number
no one ever told you.
If you're 44 to 59 and the word "retirement" makes your stomach tighten, this page is for you. The fix isn't more worrying. It's knowing your number.
The worry is normal. Staying in it is optional.
A 2026 Allianz Life study found a record-high 67% of Americans worry more about running out of money in retirement than about dying — and the fear peaks for Gen Xers (73%), the people closest to the finish line with the least time to adjust.
Here's the part almost nobody says out loud: most of that worry comes from not knowing. Not knowing what retirement costs. Not knowing if the 401(k) is enough. Not knowing whether Social Security will cover the gap. Allianz's research also finds fewer than half of Americans — about 44% — currently work with a financial professional, and that share has been trending down, not up. The worry is common. The plan that quiets it is what most people still don't have.
Stop guessing. Find your FIN.
Your FIN — Financial Independence Number — is the amount your money needs to reach so it can pay for your life without a paycheck. It's personal: a Grandview homeowner with a paid-off house needs a very different number than a renter in Overland Park.
There's no universal amount. Your number depends on what your lifestyle costs, when you plan to stop working, and what income sources you'll have — which is exactly why generic headlines ("You need $1.26 million!") create fear instead of clarity. Calculate yours instead.
No — and this myth does real damage. Your 40s and 50s often hold your highest-earning years, and tax rules allow catch-up contributions younger savers don't get. Later beats never by a wide margin.
Find your number this week — free
Willie Norman III · Financial Representative
Willie helps Grandview families find their FIN through a free, no-obligation Financial Needs Analysis at his Main Street office — licensed in Missouri and Kansas. Start with his free How Money Works report, or go straight to a strategy session.
Whoever you talk to, ask these first
Any financial professional worth your time welcomes these questions: What are your credentials and licenses, and where can I verify them? How are you compensated? What happens in the first meeting, and what does it cost? Will you put recommendations in writing?
Our full guide to choosing a financial professional walks through each one — including how to check any securities professional's public record on FINRA BrokerCheck in about two minutes, and what the different credentials and fee models mean.
Grandview has local financial professionals who offer retirement-focused help, some with a free initial consultation. Before choosing one, learn what to ask about credentials, fees, and approach — the same vetting steps you'd use for any financial professional.
Retire without panic.
You don't have to be one of the 67%. Knowing your number puts you back in control.
Find your number — free reportImportant: This page is educational and informational only — it is not financial, investment, or tax advice, and it is not a solicitation or offer of any product or service. Consult a licensed professional about your personal situation. Willie Albert Norman III is a licensed independent financial representative; securities offered by PFS Investments Inc., member FINRA. Statistics: 2026 Allianz Life Annual Retirement Study.