Shortfall
Shortfall is taking shape as the next book in the Durso collection — a working framework that asks readers to start their retirement planning with the truth before the strategy. The early outline treats shortfall not as a math problem to hide from, but as a diagnosis: the honest gap between what a retirement plan covers and what a life actually costs. From there the book moves toward surplus — the point where dividends, structure, and stewardship begin producing the kind of margin that turns ordinary planning into a real source of peace. The third part is reserved for the strategies most planning books open with: taxes, income, long-term care, legacy, giving. The intended reader is the investor at or near retirement, carrying the questions that keep good savers awake, who would rather face the hard math early than be surprised by it later.
"A way to face the gap in your retirement plan honestly, then close it with structure instead of guesswork."
"Shortfall is built on a simple conviction: most retirement plans fail because they start with strategy before truth. Paul Durso is shaping this book around the honest gap between what life will cost and what a plan can actually support, then the surplus that grows when income, stewardship, and structure begin working together. The goal is clarity first, then confident decisions and peace."
—Paul L. DursoWho is this book for?
Pre-retirees who suspect their plan has a gap they have not yet measured
Retirees navigating Social Security, Roth, and long-term care decisions
Couples wanting an honest, shared picture of their financial future
Readers carrying late-career anxiety about income and stewardship
Investors who want a structured way to move from worry to clarity
What problem does this book solve?
Carrying retirement questions — Roth, Social Security, taxes, long-term care — without a place to put them in order
Suspecting a shortfall but never quite naming it
Confusing portfolio size with retirement readiness
Wanting to give and leave a legacy without first knowing what enough looks like
Feeling pressed to optimize before stabilizing
Hesitating to face the hard numbers because no framework feels trustworthy
What are the key takeaways for readers?
Diagnosis before prescription: Looks at why most retirement plans fail at the foundation rather than the strategy layer.
Shortfall as honesty: Explores the idea that naming the gap is the first step toward closing it, and toward peace.
Surplus as the bridge: Considers surplus not as excess but as the working margin that makes legacy, generosity, and tax planning possible.
Strategy earned, not assumed: Treats advanced retirement strategy as the last step rather than the first — a reward for stewardship.
Dependable income over market predictions: Continues Paul Durso's case for income built from dividends rather than forecasts.
Planning as peace: Frames the planning process itself as a source of calm, not the size of the balance on the statement.