Independent, fiduciary retirement-income planning — serving Royal Oak and Oakland County, MI. Book a free Retirement Check-Up with Dan Casey, in person or on Zoom.
Royal Oak skews younger than the classic retirement demographic — it's one of Oakland County's most walkable, restaurant-dense cities, and it draws dual-income professionals from GM, Ford, Henry Ford Health, and a cluster of downtown Detroit employers. Our Royal Oak clients are usually 50–65, often refinanced their first home when rates were near 3%, and have meaningful 401(k) balances they're just starting to think about converting into income.
Royal Oak's 48067 zip (downtown/Main Street area) and 48073 (north of 13 Mile) have different client profiles — downtown tends to be condo-dwellers planning to age in place, while 48073 skews family-household with larger retirement balances. The planning playbook differs accordingly: downtown is more about withdrawal-rate optimization, 48073 is more about Roth conversions and legacy.
Royal Oak households with a low-rate mortgage have a real strategic asset. Keeping the mortgage for tax deduction purposes is usually a losing play post-2017 tax reform — but the <em>cash-flow leverage</em> of a 3% mortgage against 5%+ safe yields on new money changes how we think about cash reserves and bond allocations. Most DIY plans don't catch that.
Every plan is written, not pitched. We start with a 30–60 minute discovery conversation — no product talk, no pressure, no cost. From there, if we're a mutual fit, we build a comprehensive plan covering guaranteed-income design, tax-efficient withdrawals, Social Security filing strategy, Medicare, long-term-care exposure, and legacy planning. Every piece is optional. You implement only what you agree with, and we review it all free, every year, for life.
Our primary office is in Bloomfield Hills, roughly 15–25 minutes from most Royal Oak neighborhoods. You can also meet us:
National press — local client base
I have been working with Dan Casey of Panic Proof Retirement for quite a few years now. Being someone who is not that great at understanding finances, it has been very valuable to have him guiding me into feeling comfortable in my financial readiness for retirement. He is always available to talk to me and answer all my questions. Thank you, Dan!
Dan was very easy to work with in helping us plan for retirement. We discussed all our options and now feel much more confident for the upcoming retirement years knowing that the money will be there when we need it. We developed a plan that will provide a steady stream of income so we can continue living as we are accustomed to.
Dan is following our agreement completely. We have been working with him for 4 years. He is able to answer all our questions with great skill and guidance. He has a great sense of humor. It is a joy to work with him.
Book a free Retirement Check-Up and walk away with a clear picture of where you stand — in person, on Zoom, or over the phone. Whichever works for you.
