Retirement
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Retirement Health Savings (RHS) Plan Change to Empower
Effective March 6, 2026 the Oakland County RHS Plan transitioned from Optum Financial to Empower. To view Empower's transition guide that walks through what you can expect going forward and how Empower can support your savings and healthcare spending goals, view that documents below.
Active Employees (not claims eligible)
Separated/Retired Employees (claims eligible with at least 6 years service credit)
RHS Informational Webinars (Recording):
Missed attending the live webinars? Access the recorded webinars below:
Active Employees (not claims eligible)
Separated/Retired (claims eligible)
No matter where you are on your retirement journey, just getting started or eagerly counting down, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Through Empower, you’ll find a wide range of tools and resources designed to help you plan confidently. You also have access to our dedicated retirement counselor, Thomas May, known for his helpful guidance and approachable style.
We offer Lunch 'n' Learns on various retirement topics, with the flexibility to participate in person or join a webinar whenever it fits your schedule. If you’re interested in personalized investment advice, our partners at Graystone are available to assist. And of course, our team is always here as your friendly point of contact, ready to answer questions and advocate for your needs.
Thinking about retiring and not sure where to start?
If you have questions about your retirement eligibility or need help with the application process, email retirement@oakgov.com. We’ll send you a personalized summary and the forms you need.
Please reach out 30–60 days before your planned last day working for the County.
Contact Our Team
For retirement eligibility inquiries and general questions, please email retirement@oakgov.com.
Carly Webster
Retirement Administrator and Secretary to the Retirement & Deferred Compensation and VEBA Boards
Email: websterc@oakgov.com
Phone: (248) 858-5215
Kelly Pena
Retirement Specialist Lead and Assistant Secretary to the Retirement & VEBA Boards
Email: penak@oakgov.com
Phone: (248) 858-2043
Lisa Villella
401(a) Defined Contribution Plan, 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plans and Retirement Health Savings (RHS) Plan
Email: villellal@oakgov.com
Phone: (248) 892-2855
LaKenya Keyes
Retirement Resources
Empower
Thomas May
Dedicated Retirement Counselor
Email: Thomas.May@empower.com
Phone: (248) 846-3289
Graystone
Erik Burger
Financial Advisor
Email: Erik.Burger@morganstanley.com
Phone: (248) 740-7160
Retirement FAQs
You are eligible if you are age 55 with 25 years of service or age 60 with 8 years of service. There are unique requirements for deputies in the Sheriff’s Office that allow for retirement after 25 years regardless of age. Please email retirement@oakgov.com 30 days (if possible) before your retirement date We will then send you a retirement summary with your retirement information, including the necessary paperwork to fill out and return for processing You can also schedule an appointment to meet with one of our team members with any questions.
- 833-OAK-GOV1 (833-625-4681), which provides a toll-free phone system 24 hours a day, seven days a week, plus Empower representatives available Monday through Friday from 8am-10pm Eastern time There are also Empower representatives available on Saturday from 9am-5:30pm Eastern time
- Online at empower.com/oaklandcounty 24 hours a day, seven days a week (unless there is system maintenance or an unplanned outage).
- If you’re a new user, you will need your Social Security number, birthdate, and ZIP code to create a PIN and a user ID
- Thomas May, the County’s Dedicated Retirement Counselor, is available for one-on-one consultations in person or online He can be reached at Thomas.May@Empower.com or 248-846-3289
Please visit empower.com/oaklandcounty https://oaklandcounty.empower-retirement.com/ or use the Empower app.
- Click on Register
- Choose I do not have a PIN
Follow the prompts to create a username and password You will need to enter the following:
- Your Social Security number
- Your ZIP code
- Your last name (If your name has a suffix such as Jr., or III, please include it).
- Your date of birth
The next time you access your account, simply choose Sign In
Follow these forgot password instructions.
Graystone Consulting, which is part of Morgan Stanley, can assist with things from personal finance to investing for your future This free tool allows you to have questions answered by a financial professional with the best options suitable for you One-on-one consultations are available by calling Erik Burger at 248-740-7160.
Empower and Graystone Consulting provide monthly webinars that can be found on the County’s website under Retirement-Retirement Education & Awareness Program (REAP).
After attending a webinar or scheduling a one-on-one consultation with either Empower or Graystone, your name will be placed into a drawing for a $50 Bucketlist gift card and 8 winners will be announced at the Retirement & Deferred Compensation Board meeting every quarter.
Please contact our Benefits team at benefits@oakgov.com.