Explore Cameron & Eli's story.*
See how Schwab Wealth Advisory™ could potentially help investors like Cameron and Eli generate reliable income in retirement, support a child with long-term health needs, and put the right legacy and insurance plans in place for their family's future.
About Cameron & Eli
Meet Cameron and Eli,* a married couple in their early 70s living in the Pacific Northwest. Eli was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and their adult son Matt requires ongoing care for complex health needs. With Cameron now managing the family's finances, she wanted clarity around how to stretch their resources, plan for what's ahead, and create a stable foundation for both Matt and Grace—Eli's daughter from a previous marriage.
Their questions included:
- How can we generate steady income in retirement without taking on too much risk?
- What's the best way to structure our estate so Matt is supported?
- If I ever need care myself, will we have enough set aside?
- How can we ensure Grace is included in a way that feels fair?
To help bring clarity and structure to their planning, we worked closely with Cameron and Eli to understand their full financial picture, then brought in the right Schwab specialists to explore a variety of options that matched their goals.
*These scenarios are for illustrative purposes only, are not the experience of any specific clients, and are no guarantee of future performance or success.
NOTE: Certain services may be provided by affiliated professionals and third-party firms. Schwab Wealth Advisory does not provide specific individualized legal or tax advice. Please consult a qualified legal or tax advisor where such advice is necessary or appropriate.
Retirement income
With both Cameron and Eli* retired, they needed a strategy that could support daily expenses, caregiving needs, and unplanned costs—while still preserving long-term assets for their family.
How Schwab Wealth Advisory helped
We began with an in-depth conversation to understand Cameron's priorities—especially how she defined "too much risk."
- We helped educate her on available strategies aiming to support caregiving, daily expenses, and long-term goals.
- From there, we clarified near- and long-term needs with the goal of balancing cash flow with growth potential.
We restructured their taxable accounts to generate income in a more tax-efficient way by incorporating a mix of treasuries, dividend-focused investments, and money market positions. Their IRAs, meanwhile, followed a total return approach that aligned with required minimum distributions (RMDs), helping to support their broader cash flow needs.
To manage potential large, unexpected caregiving costs, we introduced a Schwab Bank Specialist who modeled a bridge loan—giving Cameron access to liquidity on a moment's notice without disrupting their long-term investment strategy or triggering taxable events.
Together, these updates gave Cameron a sustainable monthly budget and the reassurance that her plan could support both current needs and future goals.
*These scenarios are for illustrative purposes only, are not the experience of any specific clients, and are no guarantee of future performance or success.
Contact your Schwab Financial Consultant or connect with us to learn more.
Legacy planning
With Matt's ongoing health needs top of mind, Cameron* wanted to ensure he'd be supported over the long term—without overlooking Eli's daughter, Grace, or creating future tension.
How Schwab Wealth Advisory helped
We worked closely with Cameron to define her goals, then collaborated with a Schwab Tax, Trust, and Estate Specialist to explore thoughtful ways to structure the estate.
- Given Eli's diagnosis, Cameron was especially concerned about who would take over responsibilities if she could no longer act on his behalf.
- The team reviewed their trust structure and worked through potential updates to successor roles, powers of attorney, and health care proxies.
- To ensure Grace was included in a meaningful and predictable way, Cameron purchased a life insurance policy on her own life, naming Grace as the beneficiary. At the same time, the trust was structured to prioritize Matt's care through a special-needs trust.
Finally, the family worked with their estate attorney to revise trust language to reflect their current wishes and values—giving Cameron peace of mind that her intentions would be honored.
*These scenarios are for illustrative purposes only, are not the experience of any specific clients, and are no guarantee of future performance or success.
Employees of Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. are not estate planning attorneys and cannot offer tax or legal advice, or create and prepare legal documents associated with such plans. Where such advice is necessary or appropriate, please consult a qualified legal or tax advisor.
Insurance and caregiving
Cameron* was committed to caregiving for Eli and Matt but also wanted a plan in place in case her own health changed.
How Schwab Wealth Advisory helped
We introduced Cameron to a Schwab Insurance Specialist who helped her evaluate long-term care options.
- Together, they compared traditional "use-it-or-lose-it" policies with newer hybrid solutions, weighing the pros and cons of each based on her personal goals.
- We also incorporated potential health care and caregiving costs into her broader financial plan, so she could better understand how those scenarios might affect the family's long-term outlook.
With these steps in place, Cameron had the confidence that she—and those she cares for—would remain supported.
*These scenarios are for illustrative purposes only, are not the experience of any specific clients, and are no guarantee of future performance or success.
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