Stress-Free Future Planning
Local retirement planner helps people prepare
For most of us, planning for retirement can feel like trying to solve a puzzle with moving pieces—taxes, healthcare, income, and market swings all shifting at once. Local financial advisor Dan Morris has spent decades helping Volusia and Flagler County residents find clarity in that maze. His goal, he says, is simple: “Everyone should know what their income will be in retirement. Most people don’t, and that’s where stress comes from.”
At his firm, Tax-Free Wealth Advisors, Morris specializes in what he calls tax-smart income planning—the art of creating predictable cash flow without depleting savings. It’s a process that blends strategy with empathy. “I’m not here to sell products,” he explains. “I’m here to show people what they already have, where the gaps are, and how to fill them before it’s too late.”
A clear picture of tomorrow
Morris often begins with a complimentary “IRMA report,” named for the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount that can surprise retirees when Medicare premiums rise due to higher income. “Most people don’t realize their Medicare costs are tied to their tax bracket,” he says. “You can have more money than you think and still lose thousands a year just because you’re in the wrong bracket.”
By analyzing each client’s mix of Social Security, pensions, investments, and real estate income, Morris helps them forecast what they’ll actually keep after taxes. That clarity alone, he notes, is often life-changing. “Once you know your numbers, you can plan your life around them—travel, help your kids, or simply sleep better.”
Balancing growth and security
While some advisors focus heavily on growth, Morris takes a more balanced view. He encourages clients to protect principal while still generating income. That can mean blending dividend-paying stocks, high-quality bonds, and even ETFs that use covered-call strategies for enhanced yield. He also explores annuities for guaranteed income and Business Development Companies (BDCs) that can offer higher dividends, though with some risk.
His approach, he says, is always tailored to lifestyle and comfort level. “It’s not about chasing the next hot stock,” he adds. “It’s about creating a plan you can live with—one that pays your bills and lets you enjoy your life.”
Health, home, and hidden costs
Beyond investments, Morris spends time helping clients anticipate what he calls the “quiet threats” to retirement—rising healthcare costs and unexpected long-term-care needs. He guides clients through Medicare decisions and often integrates life-insurance policies with living benefits or high-cash-value coverage that can be tapped tax-free in an emergency. “I like policies that work like your own private bank,” he explains. “You can borrow from them when needed, and they’re still protected.”
Real estate also plays a role in many of his plans, though he cautions clients to think ahead before selling investment properties. “The capital gains from a sale can push you into a higher bracket and drive up your Medicare costs,” he notes. “Even decisions that look simple—like selling a rental—can have ripple effects.”
Starting early, staying steady
For readers still in their working years, Morris offers straightforward advice: start early, diversify, and pay attention to taxes now rather than later. Converting portions of traditional 401(k) or IRA funds into a Roth IRA, or pairing them with an annuity, can provide future flexibility. “You can’t control the government,” he says with a smile, “but you can control how much of your retirement the government gets.”
He encourages clients to think of retirement as a long runway, not a finish line. “If you’re 50, you still have 15 years to make great choices,” he says. “The key is to act before those choices disappear.”
Planning with peace of mind
At its core, Morris’s message is one of reassurance. Retirement, he says, doesn’t have to be complicated—it just has to be intentional. “Once people see the plan, the stress melts away,” he says. “They realize it’s not too late. They can live comfortably, take care of their family, and still have money left for the fun stuff.”
For Dan Morris, that peace of mind is the real measure of success. “A good plan,” he adds, “means you can finally stop worrying about money and start enjoying the life you worked for.”
"Everyone should know what their income will be in retirement. Most people don’t—and that’s where stress comes from.”