A Case Study of the Johnson Family
- INTEGFI
- Jul 23, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 22, 2025
Real Financial Planning in Action
Introduction and Family Profile
Meet Bill and Carol Johnson, a dual-income couple in their mid-40s with two young children. Bill, born in 1980, is a senior engineer earning $150,000 annually. Carol, also born in 1980, is a licensed therapist who has worked hard to build her private practice, which she launched in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her practice has since grown significantly, and she now earns nearly $250,000 per year.
Their children, Troy (born 2011) and Megan (born 2015), are both bright and active, with future college funding already on their minds. Their target schools are estimated to cost $50,000 annually in today’s dollars.
In 2022, the Johnsons purchased their family home with a 30-year mortgage. They plan to stay long-term and eventually pass it on to their children. Family travel is one of their cherished traditions, and they hope to continue taking one major trip per year—even in retirement.
Their long-term goals include:
Maintaining a stable, comfortable lifestyle
Funding college for both kids
Achieving retirement in their 60s
Building a legacy for future generations
The Johnsons engaged INTEGFI to evaluate their current trajectory and see whether there are overlooked opportunities for tax savings, investment efficiency, lifestyle flexibility, and protection against life’s unknowns.
INTEGFI developed two comprehensive financial models:
Baseline Plan – their current path based on present behaviors and account structures.
INTEGFI Plan – a holistic strategy with 12 customized recommendations integrated into the plan.
Design. Model. Compare. Deliver.
The first step in the Johnsons’ journey was building a clear picture of their current financial path. INTEGFI modeled their Baseline Plan, reflecting current savings habits, income streams, account structures, and goal timelines. This gave them a realistic view of where they were headed if nothing changed.
Next, INTEGFI introduced 12 personalized recommendations — ranging from better tax positioning and risk protection to optimizing account usage and legacy planning. These changes were integrated into the model to create the INTEGFI Plan.
Then came the side-by-side comparison. The results were transformative — not because the Johnsons earned more or saved more, but because the structure of their plan worked smarter for their goals.
The difference between the two plans is striking. Under their original trajectory, the Johnsons’ portfolio plateaus in retirement, eventually drawing down with limited flexibility or surplus. In contrast, the INTEGFI Plan creates ongoing portfolio growth - even during retirement - ultimately resulting in nearly three times larger portfolio by the end of life.
More importantly, a significant portion of that wealth is tax-free and highly liquid, giving them greater control, peace of mind, and the ability to support future generations or charitable goals without compromise.
Stress-Testing the Strategy, Planning for Life’s What-Ifs
Life doesn’t always go according to plan — and a great financial strategy must account for that. Once the INTEGFI plan was built, it was tested under three challenging but realistic stress scenarios to evaluate its durability. Each scenario was modeled under both the Baseline Plan and the INTEGFI Plan.
1. Social Security Benefit Reduction by 50%
If benefits are reduced by half - a real possibility that the USA aging population may face in as early as 2030s - the Johnsons’ Baseline Plan runs out of liquid assets if they live past age 95. Statistically, that’s a real risk. Under the INTEGFI Plan, not only does the portfolio stay intact, but it leaves nearly $10 million in total wealth, even with reduced government support.
2. Carol Loses Income Due to Health Issues at Age 55
If Carol becomes unable to work after age 55, the Baseline Plan collapses before retirement, forcing drastic life changes - including selling the home and extending Bill’s working years. With the INTEGFI Plan, disability protection ensures the family maintains their lifestyle, retirement stays on track, and education goals remain funded.
3. Bill Passes Away Prematurely at Age 55
Under the Baseline Plan, this tragic event leads to immediate financial strain. Retirement goals and legacy planning are at risk. The INTEGFI Plan, however, uses targeted insurance strategies to ensure the family’s goals are still met - with flexibility, dignity, and financial security.
To evaluate the robustness of both plans, INTEGFI also ran a Monte Carlo simulation with 1,000 market scenarios, accounting for variability in investment returns, inflation, and timing. While the Baseline Plan showed a high probability of shortfall in later retirement years, the INTEGFI Plan demonstrated a significantly higher success rate — consistently supporting the Johnsons’ goals across a wide range of market conditions. This adds another layer of confidence that the proposed plan can weather both predictable and unpredictable challenges.
Ready to See How This Framework Can Work for You?
We invite you to schedule a complimentary consultation where we’ll walk you through our planning and investment framework in action — using real-life examples and sample work. Whether you’re navigating a transition, thinking about the future, or just want a second opinion, this is a chance to explore what’s possible with a personalized, structured approach.
