Smart Money Milestone #9 is called Legacy Mode — and reaching it is a true accomplishment.

Legacy Mode represents a shift from simply building wealth to deploying surplus intentionally. At this point in the journey, your financial foundation is strong, your core goals are funded, and you have the capacity to think beyond accumulation toward long-term impact, optionality, and legacy.

What It Means to Be in Legacy Mode

If you’re at Milestone 9, you’ve already done the heavy lifting.

You have:

• Maxed out retirement accounts

• Fully utilized special accounts like Roth IRAs and HSAs

• Completed or stabilized major Boomerang goals

• Established savings for your children’s future

• Built liquidity and flexibility across your financial life

In other words, the typical “next best place” for dollars has already been addressed.

Legacy Mode exists for this exact moment — when the question is no longer whether you’re saving enough, but how intentionally you’re deploying excess capital.

The Legacy Mode Benchmark

At Apriem, we generally define Legacy Mode as saving and investing approximately 25% of gross household income.

This benchmark is intentionally set using gross income because it:

• Applies across a wide range of income levels

• Accounts for different tax situations

• Reflects total financial capacity rather than take-home pay

For some households, 25% may feel aspirational. For others, it may be necessary — and in certain situations, even higher savings rates may be appropriate depending on goals, timelines, and complexity.

This milestone isn’t about perfection. It’s about direction and discipline.

Why Milestone 9 Is So Difficult — and So Meaningful

What makes Legacy Mode special isn’t just the number.

Reaching this milestone often requires:

• Strong earning power

• Intentional lifestyle choices

• Long-term thinking

• Consistent savings discipline

It’s rarely driven by income alone or frugality alone. More often, it’s the combination of both — growing income while maintaining control over spending.

That balance is difficult, which is why Milestone 9 often becomes a point of pride for those who reach it.

Where Legacy Dollars Go

At Milestone 9, the goal is not simply to funnel more money into traditional retirement accounts — those avenues are already maximized.

Instead, Legacy Mode focuses on making additional dollars productive.

That may include:

• Taxable investment accounts

• Real estate

• Private investments

• Alternative assets

• Business interests

• Other long-term strategies aligned with your goals

From a planning perspective, the specific vehicle matters less than the intentional deployment of capital.

There is no single “correct” destination for these dollars — only choices that should align with:

• Risk tolerance

• Liquidity needs

• Time horizon

• Family priorities

• Long-term objectives

Complexity Increases at This Stage

With greater resources comes greater complexity.

Legacy Mode often introduces considerations around:

• Portfolio structure and diversification

• Tax efficiency across account types

• Asset location

• Long-term planning and coordination

• Balancing growth, access, and control

This is where thoughtful planning becomes especially valuable. Decisions at this level tend to be interconnected, and small misalignments can compound over time.

The Purpose of Legacy Mode

Despite the name, Legacy Mode isn’t just about what you leave behind.

It’s about:

• Creating long-term flexibility

• Increasing choice and optionality

• Supporting family goals without sacrificing your own security

• Aligning money with values

For many families, this milestone marks the transition from accumulation to intentional stewardship.

The Bottom Line

Milestone 9 represents a level of financial strength that allows you to think beyond the basics.

You’ve done the work.
You’ve built the structure.
Now, you’re deciding how your money works for you — and for those you care about — over the long run.

If you’re approaching Legacy Mode or already there, we’re happy to help you think through how best to structure and deploy these additional dollars in a way that aligns with your goals.

Allow me to help you reach or even surpass Legacy Mode. Reach out to me below!