Retirement readiness isn't measured by a single number. It is the result of thoughtful planning across many areas of life, from income and healthcare to taxes, investments and estate planning. National Estate Planning Awareness Week, observed each October, is an ideal time to review whether all the pieces of your plan are working together to support your goals.
At Renown Health, we are committed to saving lives, nurturing minds and caring for all people. That commitment extends to helping individuals and families confidently plan for their future.
As the region’s only not-for-profit academic health system, Renown works alongside patients and families every day and sees firsthand how planning can help individuals and families navigate times of medical uncertainty with greater confidence and security. We also understand the challenges that can arise when important healthcare and financial decisions have not been discussed or documented in advance.
Renown’s Legacy Giving team is here to help with free resources to give you a head start on your retirement readiness journey:
Taking steps now to communicate your wishes and organize important decisions can help reduce stress for loved ones and make it easier to navigate unexpected life events.
Retirement Readiness Checklist
As you prepare for retirement, consider the following questions:
Retirement Income Planning
How much income will I need during retirement?
How much income do I want during retirement?
Beyond paying for the necessities of life, how much additional income would I like to have for enrichment, leisure and other purposes?
What sources of income will I have during retirement (e.g. retirement account distributions, Social Security payments, pension, investment income, etc.)
Does my anticipated income during retirement match or exceed how much I will need?
Have I reviewed how inflation or a market downturn could affect my long-term financial picture?
Are my investment and withdrawal strategies aligned with my retirement goals?
Does my investment portfolio risk align with my current stage of life?
Healthcare and Long-Term Care Planning
Do I understand my health insurance options and enrollment decisions?
Have I estimated my healthcare costs during retirement?
Have I reviewed my options to pay for long-term care, if needed?
Have I documented my healthcare wishes and designated someone to make medical decisions on my behalf if I am unable to do so?
Have I shared my healthcare desires with my loved ones and healthcare team?
Have I provided my healthcare related legal documents to those who may need them?
Estate Planning
Do I have current estate planning documents, such as a will, trust and durable power of attorney, that reflect my wishes and designate the right decision-makers?
Do I fully understand the planning documents I have?
Do I need to meet with an attorney to prepare or review my planning documents?
Are my beneficiary designations on my retirement accounts and insurance policies up to date?
Have I shared my wishes with my loved ones and key decision-makers?
Legacy and Charitable Giving
For many individuals, retirement planning also includes considering the legacy they hope to leave through family, community involvement and charitable giving.
Have I identified the charitable causes I would like to support in the future?
Have I considered including a gift to Renown Health Foundation or other charities I feel passionate about in my estate plan?
Have I spoken with my attorney, financial advisor or tax professional about my legacy goals and to formalize my charitable intentions?
Tax Planning
Do I understand how my retirement income will be taxed (e.g. taxation of income from a Traditional IRA vs. a Roth IRA)?
Have I considered strategies to reduce my income taxes during retirement?
Do I have a taxable estate (an estate that exceeds $15 million per person)?
Have I considered the tax impact of an inheritance on my spouse and heirs?
Do I need to meet with an accountant to understand my potential taxes and to plan for income and/or estate taxes?
Coordinated Planning
Are my accountant, attorney and financial professional providing coordinated guidance for my future?
Are my retirement, tax, estate, investment and insurance strategies working together toward the same goals?
Your Legacy Matters
Estate planning is not just about preparing documents. It is about creating a plan that reflects your values, protects your family and supports the causes that have shaped your life. During National Estate Planning Awareness Week, take time to review your plans and ensure they still align with your goals.
A legacy gift to Renown Health Foundation can help advance exceptional healthcare for future generations while reflecting the values and causes that matter most to you. By planning today, you can provide confidence and reassurance for your loved ones, support the causes you care about and create a lasting impact that extends far beyond your lifetime.
If you would like to include Renown in your will or estate plan, we would be happy to talk to you about how your gift will make a difference for our mission and the many ways you can give. Please contact Abbey Stephenson at Abbey.Stephenson@renown.org. You can also find sample language to include Renown in your will here.
This information is not legal or tax advice; it is informational only. Please contact your attorney or tax consultant for advice. Renown disclaims any liability based on this information.
On Sept. 10, 2026, Renown Health shared a vision decades in the making: plans to build northern Nevada's first freestanding children's hospital, made possible by a transformative $40 million gift from philanthropist Tom Golisano and the Golisano Foundation, the largest philanthropic gift in Renown's history.
For many, the announcement was a celebration. For others, it was a moment of validation. Together, it was confirmation that the vision our caregivers, donors and this community have been building toward is not only possible, but already underway.
Sarah Carmona Zink didn’t know it then, but the days she spent in the NICU with her son Howie in 2016 would shape the rest of her life. He was born with gastroschisis, a condition where the intestines form outside the abdominal wall. At five days old, he underwent lifesaving surgery.
