Glide Into Retirement: How Matt DelPriore Helps Clients Achieve a Soft Landing

Retirement isn’t just a milestone—it’s a transformation. For Matt DelPriore, Director of Financial Planning, helping clients glide into retirement is about more than helping to ensure the numbers work. It’s about guiding people into one of life’s biggest transitions with clarity, confidence, and the peace of mind of knowing that they are prepared.

A Career Built on Curiosity and Care

Matt’s path to becoming a leader in retirement planning was shaped early in his career. Supporting senior advisors who worked primarily with retirees, he found himself captivated by their stories.

“I was always drawn to learning about their journeys—their experiences, their wisdom,” Matt reflects. “Helping them navigate that next phase of life felt meaningful and intellectually engaging. I thrive on being challenged, and retirement planning presents a unique mix of financial complexity and personal depth.”

That sense of purpose ultimately led him to specialize in retirement, where he now oversees the planning process as Director, blending strategic insight with human connection.

What a “Soft Landing” Really Means

The phrase “soft landing” may sound familiar from financial news, especially around the Federal Reserve’s attempts to slow inflation without triggering a recession. But for Matt, it has personal meaning in the retirement space.

“It’s about controlling what you can,” he says. “There’s so much outside of our control—market movements, interest rates, unexpected life events. But when clients work with us, we can help them create their own version of a soft landing using thoughtful planning and well-designed strategies.”

Planning for the Mind and the Money

As Director of Financial Planning, Matt ensures that both emotional and financial readiness are central to every client conversation.

“To me, the financial part has become the easy part. Emotionally… that is where the challenge lies. Every day in retirement is Saturday. Your daily routine of 30+ years is now over, and we have to encourage our clients to seriously consider the social and emotional aspects in retirement,” he says. “Who are the people, what are the places, passions, and new routines to lean into?”

To support clients through this shift, Matt and his team created a retirement workbook designed to spark reflection and intentionality. It’s a tool clients can use to help envision the next chapter of their lives—not just financially, but personally. “It’s not just about what you’re retiring from—it’s about what you’re retiring to.”

Correcting Common Misconceptions

One of the most frequent missteps Matt sees is underestimating the length of retirement—and overemphasizing the short term.

“Many clients think they don’t have time for long-term strategies,” he says. “But a 65-year-old couple today has a 50% chance that one will live to age 92—and a 25% chance one makes it past 95. That’s potentially 30 years without a paycheck.¹”

That kind of longevity requires more than a portfolio—it demands a plan built to adapt and last.

A Personalized Planning Journey

Matt’s retirement planning process is deeply personal, grounded in a framework of Advice, Access, and Accountability. It all begins with a comprehensive financial plan—but his approach goes far beyond spreadsheets.

“My fact-finding process is more of a ‘feel-find,’” he says. “I want to understand what truly matters to each client—their goals, values, legacy. That stays at the forefront of every decision we make.”

That attention to personal history also informs how he tailors strategies to different types of clients. For instance, business owners often have more emotional hurdles to overcome.

“A business owner’s identity is often tied to their company,” he explains. “It’s not just about selling a business—it’s about letting go of a part of themselves. That’s a much different emotional journey than a corporate employee who may feel little attachment to their organization.”

Keeping the Focus on the Big Picture

In a world filled with 24-hour news cycles and financial noise, Matt and his team work hard to keep clients focused on the long-term.

“We stay in communication,” he says. “Quarterly market webinars, educational sessions on topics like Social Security and healthcare, newsletters, client reviews, and appreciation events—all of it is designed to help build trust and perspective.”

When volatility hits, Matt is proactive with commentary and reassurance. “We remind clients that our planning is built for the long haul—and that short-term turbulence doesn’t change the destination.”

Starting the Journey the Right Way

For those just beginning to think about retirement, Matt has one key piece of advice: start early and stay curious.

“Reach out to a trusted financial professional three to five years before your expected retirement date,” he says. “It’s not just about whether you can retire—it’s whether you can stay comfortably retired for decades. That takes time, intention, and the right relationship.

Matthew DelPriore is a registered representative of and offers securities and investment advisory services through MML Investors Services, LLC. Member SIPC. www.SIPC.org. 420 Lexington Ave 25^th Fl, Suite 2510, New York, NY 10170. (212) 578-0300. CA Insurance License No: 0F06252. Neither MML Investors Services, LLC nor any of its subsidiaries, employees or representatives are authorized to give legal or tax advice.  Consult your own personal attorney legal or tax counsel for advice on specific legal and tax matters. CRN202804-8602649

¹https://longevity.stanford.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Understanding-Longevity-2.pdf

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