To be or not to be secure in retirement … Income planning is critical, and that means testing different strategies and products to get your best outcome.

It’s a mistake to think about retirement only in terms of your savings. I’ve written about this before, but many people — including a lot in the media — aren’t listening.

Recent articles bemoan the outlook for people who are serious about retirement — especially so-called late Boomers, who were born between 1955 and 1964. Blame the Great Recession and the pandemic.While savings are obviously relevant, the measure of a happy retirement also relies heavily on making post-retirement income planning a critical part of the decision process.

How you handle your pre-tax and after-tax accounts can make a big difference in your income in retirement and the legacy you leave.

As you formulate your plan for retirement, you may be pleased with the amount of money saved over your working life and now invested in your after-tax investment accounts, IRA/401(k) accounts and as equity in your house.

Yes, you can convert your savings to income in a variety of ways, but how you plan and allocate income among investments and annuities — and between accounts — can enhance your ability to take vacations, make gifts, provide health care and generally support your lifestyle for the rest of your retired life.