However, if you want to have a continuous descent and reach a point at a certain altitude, configuration and speed without adding more thrust than necessary, well... then you have to do some planning!
ATC will take you down to a certain level, like FL070. Absolutely no planning required.
They will keep you there to a certain point, where they are allowed to let you descend further.
What the original poster is asking about, is how to manage his deceleration / configuration - while continuing to go down.