T R E E O N E
Now Tree
Year 1 + Permanent Emergency Fund
Cash & money market funds. Always liquid, always available, immune to market volatility. This is the year you're living right now.
Three Trees Retirement Partners
Plan for the Life You've Worked Hard to Achieve
Tax-efficient retirement income planning for Ann Arbor-area pre-retirees and retirees with $1M to $3M in savings.
Michael & Stephanie CooleyCHFC® RICP® NSSA® | M.ED.
About Us
Planning Today, Preparing for Tomorrow, Prospering the Future
At ThreeTrees Retirement Partners, we believe retirement is about more than just having enough money, it's about living the life you've been working toward for decades.
We help people transition into and through retirement with both financial confidence and personal clarity. Whether you're five years from retirement or already enjoying it, we guide you through the financial decisions AND the life decisions that make retirement meaningful
Most of our clients are between 55 and 70, have saved $1-3 million, and want to know their money will last while living purposefully and fully in this next chapter.
Framework
The Three Trees Framework
A structured approach to retirement income — so you always know where your next paycheck is coming from.
Most retirement plans treat your savings as a single pile of money to draw from. We organize yours into three distinct time horizons — three trees — each with its own purpose, its own asset type, and its own role in producing reliable income
T R E E T W O
Soon Tree
Years 2 – 10
A laddered foundation built to deliver dependable income for the next decade — designed to participate in market upside while protecting your principal from market downturns. The result: a stable income foundation that doesn't sacrifice long-term growth.
T R E E T H R E E
Later Tree
Years 11 – 40+
Tactical growth investments that have time to weather market cycles. Manages long-term wealth and refills the Soon Tree at favorable market moments.
SHIELD 1 · MARKET RISK
How Much Risk Is Hiding in Your Portfolio?
Most people are carrying more downside than they realize. Get your personalized Risk Score in about five minutes — a clear number showing how your investments might hold up when the market turns.
GET YOUR RISK SCORE →
Free · No obligation · About five minutes
Credentials
Built for Retirement Income
The credentials behind ThreeTrees were chosen specifically for this work. Michael holds three designations from The American College of Financial Services — each focused on the planning challenges that matter once you stop earning a paycheck.
ChFC® — Chartered Financial Consultant
RICP® — Retirement Income Certified Professional
NSSA® — National Social Security Advisor
This is a different toolkit than the generalist CFP credential. It's purpose-built for the question most retirement advisors don't fully solve: how to turn what you've saved into reliable, tax-efficient income that lasts.
Who We Serve
Who We Serve
Most of our clients are between 55 and 70, have saved $1 million to $3 million, and want clear answers to three questions:
When can I retire?
Will my money last?
How do I keep more of what I've earned from going to taxes?
Meet Michael Cooley ChFC®, RICP®, NSSA®
Meet Michael Cooley ChFC®, RICP®, NSSA®
Michael is the founder and lead advisor at ThreeTrees Retirement Partners. He brings advanced retirement income credentials and a structured framework that helps clients see exactly how their financial life works — both today and over the decades ahead.
Schedule a MeetingTake the First Step
Ready to See What Your Retirement Plan Should Look Like?
Schedule a complimentary consultation to explore how the Three Trees framework applies to your specific situation. Most first conversations take 30 minutes.
Schedule a Consultation