Information for Journalists

The Defined Withdrawals strategy was developed by the father and son team of Roger and Kevin Katzenmaier.  In the early '90s the pair never planned to sell software.  Kevin an engineer, and Roger a CPA, were simply experimenting with some algorithms that Roger would later use with his clients.  The resulting software, originally titled the Investment Scenario Generator™ or ISG™, proved so helpful to Roger's clients that they licensed the algorithm to Brentmark Software.  It was made commercially available with an accompanying book in 1996.  The software has since undergone several upgrades and a couple of name changes!  For a while, in an attempt to better describe the investment income focus, it was called the Retirement Income Navigator™.  But by that time the ISG™ name had stuck.  So it was changed back to ISG™ but as the Income Strategy Generator™ rather then the Investment Scenario Generator™.

More important than the name is the gap that it fills in modern day retirement planning.  As we head into the second half of the "401(k) Experiment", we all want and need baby boomers to make the most of their financial resources, stay calm, and not panic when the market has it's usual downturns.  Yet there has been very little education or national dialogue about how to manage investments for steady and dependable income---while investing in financial markets that can be anything but steady and dependable.  We're asking a lot for people to become their own pension fund managers, and without proper education and plans, we could face another financial crisis equal to or worse than the recent mortgage crisis.

We invite you to explore the many free resources available on this website.  We're confident that you will find a compelling message that is different from other financial planning sites.  We also hope that you will consider mentioning us in your reporting and articles.  Journalist are in a particularly good position to help head off a "401(k) Phase 2 Crisis" because the fix is awareness and education.  We need your help to spread the message and to elevate the national conversation beyond Withdrawal Rate to Withdrawal Strategy.  If you would like more information, quotes, or to speak with the creators of the Defined Withdrawals strategy, send us a note at: info@isgplanning.com.