About Us
TRIANGLE FINANCIAL STRATEGIES
From the Research Triangle to Retirees Nationwide
Triangle Financial Strategies was born in North Carolina’s Research Triangle—one of the nation’s leading hubs for innovation and technology—serving one of the country’s most educated and sophisticated communities. That environment pushed us to build retirement income strategies that are transparent, rigorously tested, and easy to understand.
Today, we bring that same pioneering, research‑driven approach to pre‑retirees and retirees nationwide. We specialize in a simple triangle framework focused on three key retirement risks: market risk, tax risk, and long‑term care risk, helping adults roughly 55 to 75 turn savings into reliable, tax‑smart income while planning for the realities of health and longevity.
Research‑Driven, Not Rule‑of‑Thumb Advice
Our recommendations are not just personal preferences or product illustrations. They are grounded in leading retirement income research and stress‑tested modeling drawn from work by top academics and Nobel‑winning economists in areas such as income sustainability, sequence‑of‑returns risk, and retirement decision‑making.
We translate that research into practical strategies—combining income modeling, Roth conversions, Social Security timing, and long‑term care planning—so you can see how each decision affects your income, taxes, and legacy.
Why Clients Choose Us
Many advisors can help you invest. Far fewer specialize in what happens next: turning a lifetime of savings into income you can rely on, while protecting against the risks that can quietly undo an otherwise strong retirement plan.
At Triangle Financial Strategies, our work is centered on three key retirement risks: market risk, tax risk, and long‑term care risk. We help pre‑retirees and retirees, generally ages 55 to 75, understand how these risks interact—and how a decision in one area can create consequences in another.
That means we are not just asking whether a portfolio can grow, or whether one product looks better than another. We are asking deeper questions: Will your income hold up if markets disappoint early in retirement? Will future RMDs, IRMAA, or Roth timing create avoidable tax drag? If care is needed later, will your spouse and family have a plan—or a problem?
Our recommendations are built on leading retirement income research and stress‑tested modeling, not personal preference or sales scripts. The goal is to help you make informed decisions with a plan that is mathematically sound, easier to understand, and more resilient than simply doing nothing or relying on piecemeal advice.
Who We Work With
We primarily work with pre‑retirees and retirees, generally between ages 55 and 75, who want a clear, coordinated plan for turning savings into reliable income while addressing market risk, tax risk, and long‑term care risk. Many of our clients are professionals, educators, and business owners who value a thoughtful process and want to understand the ‘why’ behind each recommendation.
Whether you’re five to ten years from retirement or already drawing income, we help you answer core questions: Will my income last? How much will taxes take? What happens if I or my spouse need care? Our triangle‑of‑risks framework keeps these issues front and center.
About Sean Ruehl
Sean Ruehl
Certified Financial Planner
Sean Ruehl is a Certified Financial Planner™ professional and fiduciary advisor with over 31 years of experience in retirement planning, tax strategy, and long term care solutions. Based in the Research Triangle region of North Carolina, Sean has helped individuals and families navigate the transition from accumulation to decumulation with clarity and confidence.
Sean’s work focuses on retirement income planning, tax planning and Roth conversions, long term care planning and fixed income alternatives. His goal is to help you build a plan that is mathematically sound, easy to understand, and aligned with your values.
Married to his wife Ally for 22 years, Sean enjoys outdoor activities like sailing, skiing, and camping. He is actively involved with his church and community.
