A BENOWITZ WEALTH MANAGEMENT RESOURCE

Free FRS Retirement Checklists for Florida Public Employees

Choose the retirement checklist designed around your career, benefits, and planning questions. Florida public employees often face different retirement decisions depending on their career, benefit class, retirement timeline, and whether they are already retired.

Benowitz Wealth Management created these free educational checklists to help FRS members organize important questions involving pension benefits, DROP, retirement accounts, Medicare, healthcare, Social Security, beneficiaries, and retirement income planning.

Educational resources from an independent registered investment adviser. Benowitz Wealth Management is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Florida Retirement System or the State of Florida.

WHO THESE ARE FOR

Pick the Checklist Built Around Your Situation

Each checklist focuses on the planning questions most relevant to a specific group of Florida public employees or retirees. Match yourself to the right list — or request more than one in the form below.

For Florida Educators

Florida Teachers, School Employees, and Higher Education Professionals

For Law Enforcement

Florida Law Enforcement Officers and Special Risk Class Members

For First Responders

Florida Firefighters, EMTs, and Paramedics

For State And County Employees

Florida State and County Employees

For FRS Members In DROP

FRS Members Currently in DROP or Approaching Their DROP End Date

For FRS Retirees

Florida Public Employee Retirees Already Receiving Benefits

For Pre-Retirees

Florida Public Employees Within Five Years of Retirement

CHECKLIST LIBRARY

Select the Checklist That Best Fits Your Retirement Journey

Each checklist is designed to help organize questions commonly faced by a specific group of Florida public employees or retirees. These resources are educational only and do not provide individualized financial, investment, tax, insurance, or legal advice.

FOR FLORIDA EDUCATORS

Educator Retirement Checklist

Organize retirement questions involving pension timing, school-year retirement dates, 403(b) and 457(b) accounts, accumulated leave, Social Security, Medicare, and healthcare transitions.

✓FRS Pension Plan basics
✓End-of-school-year retirement timing
✓Sick leave and final paycheck questions
✓403(b) and 457(b) coordination
✓Social Security and Medicare planning topics

FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT

Law Enforcement Retirement Checklist

Organize retirement questions involving Special Risk pension considerations, DROP exit planning, unused leave, deferred compensation accounts, survivor options, and the healthcare gap before Medicare.

✓Special Risk pension considerations
✓DROP payout and exit questions
✓Unused leave and comp time review
✓457(b) deferred compensation accounts
✓Planning for the years before Medicare

FOR FIRST RESPONDERS

First Responder Retirement Checklist

Organize retirement questions involving Special Risk benefits, shift pay, overtime considerations, DROP planning, unused leave, secondary employment, and healthcare planning before Medicare.

✓Special Risk pension questions
✓DROP and final pay planning
✓Shift pay and overtime considerations
✓Unused leave and comp time
✓Medicare bridge and retirement income questions

FOR STATE AND COUNTY EMPLOYEES

State and County Employee Retirement Checklist

Organize retirement questions involving Pension Plan or Investment Plan participation, vesting, deferred compensation, Health Insurance Subsidy considerations, Social Security, and Medicare.

✓Pension Plan or Investment Plan review
✓Vesting and service credit questions
✓457(b) deferred compensation review
✓Health Insurance Subsidy considerations
✓Social Security and Medicare planning topics

FOR FRS MEMBERS IN DROP

DROP Exit Checklist

Organize the questions and decisions that often come up when leaving DROP — payout elections, rollover considerations, tax withholding, pension and survivor options, Social Security and Medicare timing, and coordinating 403(b), 457(b), and IRA accounts.

✓DROP timeline and employer termination paperwork
✓DROP payout vs. rollover considerations
✓Tax withholding on lump-sum payouts
✓Pension benefit and survivor option review
✓Social Security, Medicare, and HIS coordination

FOR FRS RETIREES

Already Retired? Annual Review Checklist

Organize annual review questions involving pension income, beneficiary details, required minimum distributions, Medicare coverage, withdrawal planning, taxes, and changing retirement needs.

✓Pension income review
✓Required minimum distribution questions
✓Medicare annual review topics
✓Beneficiary updates
✓Withdrawal and tax coordination considerations

FOR PRE-RETIREES

FRS Pre-Retirement 5-Year Countdown Checklist

Organize the questions and decisions that often arise as the retirement date approaches — pension projections, DROP eligibility, leave planning, debt review, healthcare transition, and retirement income strategy.

✓FRS pension projections and benefit option review
✓DROP eligibility and timing considerations
✓Leave, debt, and emergency fund review
✓Healthcare and Medicare bridge planning
✓Retirement income coordination and tax timing

More checklists coming soon

Additional FRS educational checklists are in development. Duplicate any card above to add a new resource when ready.

WHY IT MATTERS

An FRS retirement decision is rarely just one decision.

Pension elections, DROP timing, account decisions, Social Security, Medicare, and taxes often intersect. These checklists are designed to help you see how the pieces may relate — so you can take a more organized, less reactive approach to the choices ahead.

DOWNLOAD

Get Your Free FRS Retirement Checklist(s)

Share a few details and we’ll send the checklist(s) to your inbox. It’s free and educational — no advice is provided through this form. You can request more than one checklist if you’d like.

✓ Pick one checklist or several
✓ Delivered straight to your inbox
✓ Educational, plain-English content
✓ No obligation, no advice through this form

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

Phone Number (optional)

Which Checklist(s) Would You Like? (select all that apply)

Educator Retirement Checklist Law Enforcement Retirement Checklist First Responder Retirement Checklist State and County Employee Retirement Checklist DROP Exit Checklist Already Retired Annual Review Checklist FRS Pre-Retirement 5-Year Countdown Checklist

Employer Type (optional)

Retirement Timeframe

Are You Currently in DROP?

ABOUT

Why FRS Members Trust Benowitz Wealth Management

Benowitz Wealth Management is an independent registered investment adviser that helps Florida public employees, FRS members, retirees, and families think through pension, DROP, investment account, Social Security, Medicare, and tax decisions together — not in isolation.

Independent & Fiduciary

Independent registered investment adviser. We are not affiliated with FRS, the State of Florida, or any government agency.

FRS-Focused Education

Our resources are built around the questions FRS members actually face — pension, DROP, Special Risk, HIS, and account coordination.

Guidance, Not Pressure

These checklists are educational. There is no obligation, no sales pressure, and no advice provided through this form.

Plain-English Conversations

When you're ready to talk, we keep things in plain English — no jargon, no rush, no scripted pitch.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Common Questions About the Free FRS Retirement Checklists

What free retirement checklists are available?

Benowitz Wealth Management offers free educational retirement checklists for Florida educators, law enforcement officers, first responders, state and county employees, FRS members currently in DROP, public employees within five years of retirement, and public employee retirees already receiving benefits.

Can I request more than one checklist at a time?

Yes. The download form lets you select as many checklists as you’d like. Each one will be sent to the email address you provide.

Which checklist should I download?

Select the checklist that best matches your current profession or retirement stage. Those still working may choose by employer or benefit class, those in DROP may find the DROP Exit Checklist most useful, and those already receiving benefits may find the annual review checklist more relevant.

Are these checklists only for FRS members?

The checklists are primarily designed for Florida public employees and retirees whose planning may involve FRS benefits, but some organizational topics — such as Social Security, Medicare, beneficiaries, and tax coordination — may also be helpful to others.

Does the educator checklist discuss 403(b) accounts?

Yes. The educator checklist includes educational questions involving pension timing, accumulated leave, 403(b), 457(b), Social Security, Medicare, and retirement transitions.

Does the law enforcement checklist include Special Risk and DROP topics?

Yes. It includes educational questions involving Special Risk pension considerations, DROP exit planning, unused leave, deferred compensation, and healthcare planning before Medicare.

Is there a checklist for firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics?

Yes. The First Responder Retirement Checklist is designed for Florida firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics and includes topics such as Special Risk benefits, shift pay, DROP, unused leave, secondary employment, and healthcare planning.

Is there a checklist specifically for FRS members in DROP?

Yes. The DROP Exit Checklist helps FRS members organize the questions and decisions that often come up when leaving DROP, including payout vs. rollover options, tax withholding, pension and survivor elections, and Social Security, Medicare, and HIS coordination.

Is there a checklist for people who are already retired?

Yes. The Already Retired Annual Review Checklist helps retirees organize annual questions involving pension income, RMDs, Medicare coverage, beneficiaries, withdrawals, and tax coordination topics.

Do these checklists provide personalized financial advice?

No. The checklists are educational resources only and are not individualized financial, investment, tax, insurance, or legal advice. Please consult qualified professionals about your specific situation.

Is Benowitz Wealth Management affiliated with FRS or the State of Florida?

No. Benowitz Wealth Management is an independent registered investment adviser and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Florida Retirement System, the State of Florida, or any government agency.

Can I speak with someone after downloading a checklist?

Yes. You may schedule a conversation with Benowitz Wealth Management if you would like help discussing retirement planning considerations related to your goals and circumstances.

NEXT STEP

Want help reviewing your retirement decisions?

After working through a checklist, you may still have questions about how your choices fit together. If you would like help reviewing your FRS benefits, DROP decisions, retirement income strategy, or investment plan, you can schedule a conversation with our team.

Disclaimer: Benowitz Wealth Management is an independent registered investment adviser. These checklists and all related content are for educational purposes only and should not be considered personalized investment, tax, insurance, or legal advice. Benowitz Wealth Management is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Florida Retirement System, the State of Florida, any county government, city government, school district, public employer, public safety agency, or public agency. FRS rules, benefits, retirement options, Medicare rules, tax laws, and related planning considerations may change. Please consult the appropriate agency, tax professional, insurance professional, or legal professional before making decisions regarding your benefits or retirement plan.