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the complete guide to living a tax-free retirement
meet
chris clayton
Chris is the co–founder of Cornerstone Financial in Mandeville, Louisiana. The firm is now approaching 30 years old has several hundred clients. Chris obtained his thorough business knowledge from his previous career as a manufacturing representative for a Fortune 500 company. He honed his client acquisition skills over the years and was responsible for bringing on 14 Fortune 500 companies as clients.
Cornerstone Financial offers the full spectrum of financial services to residents in the New Orleans area. Chris and his staff specialize in financial planning with an emphasis toward retirement planning. Their goal is to have all aspects of a client’s portfolio working in unison and, when that is achieved, they notice people almost always feel better about their financial future.
“Our clients say they trust us and that we give them peace of mind,” said Chris. “And that is the biggest measure of our success at Cornerstone Financial. Our clients must always come first.” Chris served on the Ohio National Financial Services field advisory board as marketing chair, vice chairman, and then president when Ohio National had 12,000 agents across the United States and Canada. For 14 years, he served as secretary and vice president for the Northlake Christian School Board, and was very involved in fundraising and enterprise development, including the building of a football field, second gymnasium and several new classrooms. Chris is an Eagle Scout and assumed a leadership position in the waterfront at Boy Scout camp with no incidents. He has been married for 36 years and has three grown children and two grandchildren.
Away from the office, he enjoys travel, open–water swimming, competitive masters and senior track and field, movies, and books.
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tax-free retirement review
In this review, you’ll discover…
The best options for selecting the right Retirement Savings Vehicles.
Defer taxes as your accumulated cash value grows.
How to keep more of what you make.
All of your options to make your money work for you.
How to provide tax-free death benefits for the people who depend on you.
tax-free retirement review
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complimentary
ebook
In this eBook you will learn…
How long your money will last if you stop working today.
The appropriate spending rate for your retirement savings.
The pre-retirement income needed to maintain your current standing of living.
How longevity affects funding your retirement.
And much, much more!
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Contact Info
AdDress: 801 Asbury Dr.
Mandeville, LA 70471
phone: (985) 626-7574
How Do I Make Sure I Don’t Run Out of Money in Retirement?
We help you build reliable lifetime income, supported by diversified growth and risk‑management strategies. Our one‑page financial model shows your full retirement picture, and we align investments to your risk tolerance. We also use market‑linked strategies designed to reduce exposure to market downturns.
How Do I Reduce Taxes in Retirement and Avoid Overpaying?
We review your taxable, tax‑deferred, and tax‑free accounts, evaluate Roth conversions, explain RMDs, and sequence withdrawals to help lower taxes and IRMAA. We coordinate with your CPA and apply retirement tax‑planning strategies refined over decades.
What Should I Do with My Money After Selling My Business?
A business sale is a significant financial event. We help you understand tax implications, diversify proceeds, replace business income with dependable retirement income, update estate planning, and address lost key‑man coverage. Our team guides business owners through a structured retirement plan tailored to their goals.
Is a 1% Financial Advisor Fee Really Worth It?
Our 1% financial advisor fee includes comprehensive planning, investment management, tax coordination, insurance review, long‑term care guidance, and ongoing support. With a 97% retention rate, clients stay because they find value in our approach. The greater risk often comes from insufficient planning or missed tax‑saving opportunities.
How Do I Create Guaranteed Income for Life in Retirement?
Longevity is one of the biggest retirement risks. We help you build dependable lifetime income using Social Security, pensions, and carefully selected annuities structured to provide predictable monthly income. When essential expenses are covered by guaranteed income, retirees often experience greater confidence and stability.
What’s the Difference Between Fee‑Only and Commission‑
Based Advisors?
Fee‑only advisors charge fees; commission‑only advisors earn from products. Our hybrid model combines fee‑based investment management with commission‑based insurance solutions, offering a broader range of options without single‑product bias. As fiduciaries, we put your interests first and use no‑load insurance products where commissions do not reduce your benefits.
How Much Money Do I Need to Retire With $200K+ in Annual Income?
Your retirement number depends on taxes, inflation, longevity, risk tolerance, and lifestyle. While 4% withdrawals are a common guideline, coordinated strategies using private pensions and alternative investments may support different withdrawal levels. We calculate a personalized retirement number based on your income, assets, and goals.
Do I Really Need Long Term Care Insurance as I Get Older?
Do I Really Need Long Term Care Insurance as I Get Older? With 70% of people needing care and Louisiana nursing home costs rising, long‑term care is a major financial risk. We offer modern LTC contracts with tax‑free cost‑recovery features, fixed premiums, and paid‑up options. Self‑funding may work for short claims, but extended care often becomes costly, making risk‑transfer an important consideration.