Retirement Planning & Financial Advisor in Aliso Viejo, CA
Sentient Financial, LLC is a California-registered investment adviser based in Laguna Niguel, serving Aliso Viejo and South Orange County. Patrick Thompson, AWMA®, helps professionals five to ten years from retirement coordinate income, equity compensation, taxes, and Medicare. Every strategy involves trade-offs, which are described in Form ADV Part 2A.
Information on this page reflects information as of October 2026 and is educational only.
Retirement planning in Aliso Viejo
Aliso Viejo has a younger age mix than the national figure. Many households may still be in their highest-earning years, which is when retirement planning has more room to shape the outcome and when equity compensation, taxes, and savings choices can carry significant weight.
Aliso Viejo at a glance
- Estimated population: 49,844 (July 1, 2025)
- Residents age 65 or older: 11.8% (United States: 18.9%)
- Owner-occupied housing unit rate: 56.7%
- Median value of owner-occupied homes: $917,900
Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Aliso Viejo city. Population is the July 1, 2025 estimate; other figures are 2020-2024 estimates. These figures describe the whole city. They are not statements about Sentient Financial's clients or about your own situation.
Planning five to ten years before retirement
The Census Bureau reports that 11.8% of Aliso Viejo residents are 65 or older, compared with 18.9% nationally. That suggests many households here are still building toward retirement. Starting early may create more choices, such as how to split savings between pre-tax and Roth accounts, though it does not guarantee a better result.
If part of your pay comes as stock awards or options, income can swing from year to year. A high-income year may push you into a higher tax bracket and, two years later, raise Medicare premiums. A low-income year after leaving work may be a window to consider Roth conversions, which add taxable income now in exchange for tax-free withdrawals later under current rules.
- Roth conversion planning guide
- Tax planning before and during retirement
- Retirement readiness checkpoint
20 minutes. No pressure. Just a conversation.
How Sentient Financial helps
Sentient Financial brings retirement income planning, tax planning, and investment management together in one plan, using The Sentient System™. Each service involves trade-offs and costs, and investing involves risk, including loss of principal. Read how we work and the current IRMAA brackets.
Nearby communities we serve
We also serve Laguna Niguel, San Clemente, Dana Point, Mission Viejo, San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Hills.
Office location
Sentient Financial, LLC
28202 Cabot Road, Suite 300
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
Phone: 949.305.5836
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Frequently asked questions
Starting five to ten years before retirement gives time to review savings, taxes, and benefit choices. Aliso Viejo has a younger age mix than the nation, with 11.8 percent of residents age 65 or older, so many households may still be building. Earlier planning may create options but guarantees nothing.
Stock awards and options can create uneven income, which may change your tax bracket in the year they vest or are exercised. That income can also affect Medicare premiums two years later. Planning may spread decisions across years, though waiting carries market risk. Review your award terms and tax situation before acting.
Many people start five to ten years before retirement, while choices about savings, Roth conversions, and Social Security timing still have room to change. Starting earlier may create more options, but it does not guarantee a better outcome. A 20-minute Fit Call can help you see where you stand.
A Roth conversion adds taxable income in the year it happens. Medicare IRMAA surcharges use income from two years earlier, so a conversion could raise Part B and Part D premiums later. Spreading conversions over several years may soften that effect, though it may also change your tax bracket.
Ongoing clients pay an annual asset-based advisory fee that declines in tiers, as described in Form ADV Part 2A. Planning-only clients pay a one-time project fee, estimated in advance at $300 per hour and billed in 15-minute increments, with no asset minimum. Each fee model has trade-offs, so compare both.
A no-pressure conversation to see whether working together makes sense.
Sentient Financial, LLC is a California-registered investment adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. This page is for educational purposes only and is not individualized investment, tax, or legal advice. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal, and no strategy guarantees a profit or protects against loss. Review Form ADV Part 2A for services, fees, and conflicts, and see our disclosures.
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