Financial Independence vs. Retirement Income Planning - What's the Difference?

My clients and those of you who have visited my firm, Financial Design Center's website are familiar with the firm's mission statement that is prominently displayed on the bottom of each page of the website: Planning, Managing, and Protecting Your Financial Independence™. In addition to emphasizing our comprehensive approach to the financial planning process, i.e., planning, managing, and protecting, it clearly states the endgame - financial independence. This is our raison d'etre and is the focus of everything that we do for our clients.

You may be wondering, "What's the difference between financial independence planning and retirement income planning and why are you writing a blog about the latter instead of the former?" For those of you who are actually thinking this, great question!