Bryan Haggard CFP®, CFA
Bryan Haggard CFP®, CFA is the founder and CEO of RetireMitten Financial, LLC. RetireMitten is a fee-only financial planning firm located in Milford, Michigan that specializes in helping families live a stress-free retirement. Bryan is a CFP® and CFA and a graduate from the University of Michigan with an economics degree. Bryan Haggard also is an expert in cross-border financial planning. Specifically helping families understand the complicated financial and tax planning strategies that result in working in both the U.S. and Canada.
My Story
Early in my career, I was working at Charles Schwab. It was 2008 and a woman, Carol Johnson, called in tears. Carol had retired just over a year ago. She was managing her own money and had lost over 50% of her investments. It was the depth of the financial crisis and she didn’t know what to do. Go back to work? Pull everything out? She hadn’t slept in days as she spent every waking moment watching financial networks for clues on what will happen next. Needless to say, this wasn’t how she pictured retirement. I was determined to help people like Carol live a better retirement.
Education
I knew to help people live a better retirement, I needed more education. The University of Michigan gave me a solid foundation in the stock market, the economy, and investing. However, retirement planning is much more than just analyzing the stock market.
The Certified Financial Planner (CFP) is known as the most prestigious financial planning designation available to financial planners. In 2010, after studying for a little over a year, I earned the CFP certification.
Investment Management is also a huge part in creating a stress-free retirement. I want to ensure that I deliver the best investment advice available to retirees. The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) is a master’s-level designation that focuses on Investment Management. After nearly three years, a thousand hours of studying, and a very understanding wife, I received my CFA designation in August 2016.
Experience
I began my career at Charles Schwab over 15 years ago, during the midst of the Great Recession. I immediately realized the stress that many people felt during retirement with money, especially when the financial markets crashed. I left Charles Schwab to work with one of the Big 4 accounting firms, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). This provided me with a tax background to help clients maximize their income while minimizing taxes. Helping families analyze and plan for long-term tax strategies is one of the best ways I can support them in achieving a more fulfilling retirement. I also worked for over 6 years at one of the largest independent financial advisors in Michigan. There, I had the opportunity to work with hundreds of families to reach their goal of a stress-free retirement.
My Family
I was born and raised in Michigan, and outside of an eight-year “ski trip” to Colorado, I have spent my whole life here. I met my wife in Colorado, and after getting married and deciding to start a family, we moved back to Michigan to be closer to family. We have a young son who constantly keeps us laughing.
When not at the office, you will find us on the golf course, ski hill, or slowly cruising by on the pontoon boat.
That’s my story, and I’d love to hear yours. Schedule a meeting at the button below so that we can help you live a stress-free retirement.
Michael Brasza CFP®
Michael Brasza is a Certified Financial Planner who received his Finance degree from Oakland University. His career spans 23 years, helping individuals and families plan for retirement and accomplish specific financial goals. Michael’s career began with Smith Barney (now Morgan Stanley) where he worked with a team of advisors providing comprehensive financial guidance and management to high-net-worth families. He then worked for Fidelity Investments as a Financial Planning Consultant in Farmington Hills, Michigan.
Mike determined along this career path that it was in his and his client’s best interest that he be able to work as a true fiduciary to his clients, free of any conflicts, which eventually led him to Retiremitten Financial.
Michael and his wife, Sandy, met in elementary school and have lived in the metro Detroit area their entire lives. They, along with their children, spend much of their free time in northern Michigan doing a variety of activities such as boating, skiing, golfing, or relaxing on the beach.
Schedule Meeting with Mike: Schedule Meeting
Greg Neino CFP®
Greg Neino is a Certified Financial Planner with over 20 years of experience helping families reach their financial goals. He graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a degree in finance. Before joining RetireMitten Financial, Greg worked for nearly 18 years at Charles Schwab, helping high-net-worth families navigate all stages of their financial lives.
Greg met his wife, Jennifer, in college, and they have two daughters. They enjoy traveling the world with their kids in tow. Greg is an avid Detroit sports fan. You’ll likely find him on the golf course when he’s not working or traveling with his family.
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Brian Hamel CFP®, CWS
Brian Hamel is a Certified Financial Planner & Certified Wealth Strategist. He has over 40 years of experience in the industry and had spent the last 12.5 years at Charles Schwab/Schwab Wealth Advisory.
At Charles Schwab, Brian worked as a Wealth Advisor, managing a portfolio of over $300 million in client assets for a wide variety of high-net-worth family accounts. Before joining Charles Schwab, Brian spent the majority of his career on the institutional side of the money management business, working with multi-billion-dollar pension funds & 401k plan sponsors, including the institutional consultant marketplace. He also served in leadership roles, heading up several national efforts & teams.
Brian met his wife in New York City, and they have three children, including two daughters and one son. When not working, Brian and his family like to travel the world, spend time at their cabin in the North Georgia mountains, or go skiing in Vail, CO. Brian is also an active coach and has coached over 100 CYO & other youth league teams to date, including wrestling, soccer, basketball & baseball teams. Mentoring and striving to be a solid role model for the kids he coaches has become a lifelong passion of his.
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Amanda Oliver
Amanda is RetireMitten Financial’s “Chief Everything Officer.” She helps with compliance, account openings, transfers, withdrawals, and all things operations. As her title implies, she does a little bit of everything.
Amanda joined RetireMitten in 2024 and brings a wealth of experience. Previously, she honed her skills at another Registered Investment Advisor, tackling a wide range of day-to-day operational tasks. Amanda’s ambition goes beyond just the next puzzle—she’s actively pursuing her Series 65 license to further her expertise.
On a personal note, Amanda and her husband Jake call Corunna, MI, home, along with their two children, Iris and Barrett. When she’s not working, you can find her enjoying the outdoors with her family or pushing her limits at a CrossFit competition.