Buckeye Shield Assessment Questions
Evaluate your retirement plan across 10 key risks. Select the answer that best describes your situation for each risk area.
To receive your personalized assessment results, please provide your name, phone number, and email below. Your information is completely private and will never be sold or shared with third parties. It will only be used to deliver your results and support your retirement planning journey. When your results are copied, each of the ten risks will include the risk number, risk name, the full original question text, and the answer selected by the respondent.
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State
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Maryland
Virginia
North Carolina
South Carolina
Arkansas
Tennessee
Texas
Ohio
New Mexico
Name
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First Name
Last Name
Phone Number
*
Please enter a valid phone number.
Format: (000) 000-0000.
Email
*
example@example.com
RISK #1 · LONGEVITY RISK: If you live to age 95, will your retirement assets sustain that timeline?
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A - Yes — fully funded for 30+ years (10)
B - Probably, but I'm not certain (7)
C - Unlikely without major changes (3)
D - No — I have a serious funding gap (0)
RISK #2 · MARKET VOLATILITY RISK: If the market dropped 40% tomorrow, would your retirement plan stay intact?
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A - Fully protected — no market exposure on my income (10)
B - Partially protected with some income floor (7)
C - Mostly exposed but I could manage short-term (3)
D - Fully exposed — my plan would be seriously damaged (0)
RISK #3 · INFLATION RISK: Is your retirement income guaranteed to keep pace with inflation over time?
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A - Yes — my income is indexed to inflation (10)
B - Partially — some income increases over time (7)
C - Mostly fixed income with no real increases (3)
D - No inflation protection at all (0)
RISK #4 · TAX RISK (RMD / TAX TORPEDO): Do you have a strategy to minimize taxes on your retirement income and RMDs?
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A - Yes — full tax diversification strategy in place (10)
B - Partial strategy — working on it (7)
C - Limited planning done so far (3)
D - No strategy — everything will be fully taxable (0)
RISK #5 · SEQUENCE OF RETURNS RISK: If a major market drop hits in your first 3 years of retirement, is your income safe?
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A - Fully protected — guaranteed income covers all needs (10)
B - Partially protected with some buffer in place (7)
C - Minimal protection — I would be concerned (3)
D - No — I would have to sell investments at a loss (0)
RISK #6 · HEALTHCARE COST RISK: Do you have a plan for $315,000+ in estimated healthcare costs in retirement?
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A - Fully funded and accounted for in my plan (10)
B - Mostly covered with some gaps remaining (7)
C - Partially addressed — I know it's an issue (3)
D - No plan in place at all (0)
RISK #7 · LONG-TERM CARE RISK: If you needed nursing home care at $10,000/month, is your savings protected?
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A - Fully protected — I have LTC or a hybrid policy (10)
B - Partially covered — some protection in place (7)
C - Relying on family or Medicaid as my backup (3)
D - No protection whatsoever (0)
RISK #8 · INCOME GAP RISK: Does your guaranteed income (SS + pension) fully cover your monthly living needs?
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A - Yes — guaranteed income covers everything (10)
B - 75–99% covered — a small gap exists (7)
C - 50–74% covered — a meaningful gap (3)
D - Less than 50% covered — a major gap (0)
RISK #9 · LEGACY RISK: Will your estate transfer to your heirs efficiently — avoiding probate and excess taxes?
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A - Yes — fully planned with beneficiaries and trust (10)
B - Mostly planned — a few loose ends to address (7)
C - Partially addressed — I need to do more (3)
D - No plan — my heirs are at risk (0)
RISK #10 · LIQUIDITY RISK: Can you access 6+ months of living expenses immediately without penalties?
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A - Yes — a fully liquid reserve is set aside (10)
B - 3–5 months available in accessible accounts (7)
C - 1–2 months — tighter than I would like (3)
D - No liquid reserve — everything is tied up (0)
Manual Total Score
Your score is shown next to each answer you selected in parentheses. Add those numbers together and enter your total score in this box.
Whatever their total score is just above, this is the legend key below to let them know categorically if their retirement is fortified, vulnerable, or critical.
Show Total Score
A Score of 70-100 = Fortified (Strong protection in place. A brief review can fine-tune any remaining gaps).
A Score of 50-69 = Vulnerable (Gaps exist that need attention. Immediate planning can prevent serious damage to your retirement).
A Score of 50 or below = Critical (Risks are unaddressed. Immediate planning is needed to protect your retirement).
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