From Pre-Retirement Planning to Your Retirement Years
Comprehensive financial guidance for every stage of your retirement journey, whether you're 10 years out or already enjoying life after work.
Retirement Is Not a Single Event
It's a Journey That Requires Different Strategies at Different Stages.
Most people think of retirement as a finish line. But the reality is more complex. The decisions you make five years before retirement look very different from the strategies you need in your first year of retirement, which are different still from managing your money at age 75.
We Guide You Through Every Phase.
For over For over 25 years, we've helped Michigan's university and state employees navigate the complete retirement transition. From optimizing your final working years to managing required minimum distributions decades into retirement, we're with you every step of the way.
Who We've Helped
Five Years from Retirement: The Planner
Who They Are:
A 58-year-old professional with strong retirement savings but no clear plan for the next phase. They wanted to understand exactly what retirement would look like financially and what steps to take in their final working years.
Problem They Faced:
They had been saving diligently but had never created a comprehensive retirement projection. They weren't sure if they had enough, when to claim Social Security, how to optimize their final years of contributions, or how to transition their investment strategy as retirement approached.
Questions We Helped Answer:
- Do I have enough saved to retire at 63, or should I work longer?
- How can I maximize my retirement contributions and tax benefits in my final working years?
- What investment changes should I make as I approach retirement?
- When should I start Social Security, and how does that timing affect my overall plan?
Who We've Helped
Already Retired: The New Retiree
Who They Are:
A 64-year-old who retired six months ago and is navigating the transition from accumulation to distribution. They needed help creating a sustainable withdrawal strategy and adjusting to their new financial reality.
Problem They Faced:
After decades of saving, they suddenly needed to start spending their retirement accounts. They weren't sure how much they could safely withdraw each year, how to coordinate income from multiple sources, or how to adjust their portfolio now that they were no longer earning a paycheck.
Questions We Helped Answer:
- How much can I safely withdraw from my accounts each year without running out of money?
- How do I coordinate income from my pension, Social Security, and retirement accounts?
- Should I adjust my investment allocation now that I'm retired?
- What happens when required minimum distributions start at age 73?
- How do I plan for healthcare costs, including the transition to Medicare?
Why Retirees Choose Us
Not at all. The earlier you start planning, the more options you have. Many of our best outcomes come from working with people well before retirement to optimize their final working years.
Absolutely. We work with many people who are already retired and need help creating sustainable withdrawal strategies, managing taxes, or adjusting their plans for this new phase of life.
We're fee-only fiduciaries. We're compensated through a percentage of assets under management and through planning fees. We never earn commissions, which means our advice is always unbiased.
Yes. While we specialize in university and state employee benefits, we work with anyone navigating the transition to and through retirement who wants comprehensive financial planning.
Ready to Create Your Retirement Roadmap?
Whether you're preparing for retirement or already living it, we can help you create a plan that gives you confidence and clarity for the journey ahead.