Business Spotlight

BY ROB MORRIS ADDRESS: 914 SW 107th, Suite A, Oklahoma City, OK 73170 PHONE: 405-703-3858

WEBSITE: RETIREMENTINCOMEOK.COM

Retirement Income Strategies – Mark Rose

After 17 years working for an oil company, a change in the economy led Mark Rose down a new career path. "I was doing the work with roughnecks out in the field when oil prices bottomed out in 2015," said Rose. "I had a longtime friend who gave me the opportunity to come and work in his business."

As Rose explored the world of financial planning, he found himself passionately drawn to the challenge of helping people with the critical task of helping people with income planning, investments, and retirement.

"Changing careers is always an interesting step," said Rose. "What I discovered over the first two years was how much I enjoyed building relationships and trust with my clients. It didn't matter if they were coming to meet an insurance need or build a retirement portfolio. The great thing for me was getting to know them personally and helping them figure out plans would work for them over the next 25 or 30 years or so."

Retirement Income Strategies is an independent financial planning firm focusing on creating income plans and operating as fiduciaries for clients. Rose and his partner, Rhett Woods, offer insurance investments through Retirement Income Stategies, LLC and securities through Investment Strategies LLC.

Rose says that being a local and independent agent allows him to craft strategies and plans based more on each client's individual needs as opposed to being locked into products offered by one company. Being an independent agent also allows him to provide a variety of options.

"There are a lot of advisors for those companies who work well and do a good job," said Rose, "But there are also a lot of people who want to be able to sit down across the table from someone they know and trust, not just someone on the other end of an 800-number. You can develop trust and track record as you go year after year. I think that's a better way of doing it when people ask these important questions about their financial future."

Rose says it's always a great idea to begin early when it comes to investing.

"I would say to the young investors, those folks coming out of college or maybe in their 30's, compound interest will be your best friend over the years," said Rose. "If you wait ten years to get started, that's ten years you've missed building your retirement portfolio."

But even if you're late to the game, he says there's still plenty you can do to help secure a healthy financial future.

"I hear it at least 20 times a week, 'Man, I should have done this five years ago,'" said Rose. "My response is, 'Sure, maybe. But the great thing is that you're doing it now.' It doesn't matter where you are in life or your career; today is a great day to create that income plan and look at the lifestyle you want in retirement."

Whether you're decades away from retirement or five years away, Rose says he's always standing by to help folks create an effective plan and direct them to a place where they have the discipline to "work that plan."

"I think folks are best served by coming and talking to an independent agent who can offer them various options and are not captive to maybe one particular company," said Rose. "I do a good job of digging into and researching the client and their needs to put them in the best possible situation as they work through and into retirement."