Navigating Retirement in a Shaky Market: The Investment Strategies We’re Using at Delco Financial Partners

Welcome to the first post in our Investment Strategies series — a Monday tradition where we’ll break down market outlooks, portfolio allocations, risk management techniques, and long-term growth strategies. Whether you’re newly retired like me or preparing for your own journey, I hope you’ll follow along and contribute your own insights.

Let’s be real — this journey is starting during one of the most volatile markets in the past 25 years. The S&P 500 (SPY) is closing in on bear market territory, down nearly 18% from its recent highs. Not exactly the “ideal” time to retire — but perhaps the perfect time to talk about strategy.

Our Portfolio Snapshot

Here’s how our portfolio currently breaks down:

• 76%: Taxable 401(k) accounts
  These will serve as our primary source of income in the early years of retirement.
• 9%: Roth 401(k)s and Roth IRAs
  These will help us manage taxable income in later years.
• Other Accounts: Traditional IRA, brokerage account, cryptocurrency holdings, and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)
  We’ll dive deeper into these over time in our Income and Planning Tuesday segments.

But for today, let’s focus on how we’re actively managing our IRA with the goal of building long-term, passive income.

Our Current IRA Investment Strategies

This IRA account is set up as a growth and income engine. The goal? Build consistent, passive income over the next five years. Here’s how we’re doing it:

1. SPY ITM Strategy (62% of IRA)

We follow a technical approach using In The Money (ITM) SPY options.

• Buy Signal: When the 10-day moving average crosses above the 200-day average (Golden Cross)
• Sell Signal: When the 10-day falls below the 200-day (Death Cross)

We exited the position on March 14, 2025, when the death cross was triggered, and have since moved funds into a 4.3% yielding cash position while we wait for re-entry.

2. Weekly Option Selling

We sell weekly or monthly options on a mix of 4–6 growth and dividend stocks.

• Some of these stocks have been hit hard in the recent downturn — and I’ll be learning alongside you as we navigate this part of the strategy.

3. Long-Term & Speculative Holdings

The remainder of the account is invested in:

• Individual stocks I believe in long-term
• A few small, speculative positions for high-risk, high-reward exposure

Looking Ahead

I’m excited to continue sharing how we at Delco Financial Partners manage these strategies and how they evolve over time. I’m just as excited to hear from you — whether you’re curious, cautious, or ready to try similar strategies in your own portfolio.

Next Monday, we’ll take a deeper dive into how we select option plays and evaluate technical entry and exit points.

Until then, feel free to reach out or comment with your own thoughts. Let’s build this journey together.

– Delco Financial Partners