Derrick Johnson
Independent, fee-only, and built for Florida’s public employees. Derrick started Benowitz Wealth Management because Florida’s public employees deserve a different kind of adviser: one who knows the FRS system inside and out, who answers questions in plain English, and who never tries to sell a product to solve a planning problem.
Why I built Benowitz.
The work is education-first by design. Most first conversations are spent listening, reading your FRS benefit statement together, and laying out the choices that are actually on the table. You shouldn’t have to translate your own pension just to get good advice. If you don’t understand the recommendation, I haven’t explained it well enough.
The first conversation is always free. It commits to nothing. It just starts with listening: we listen first, present options second, and there’s no pitch and no obligation.
We don’t have a preferred answer. Pension Plan or Investment Plan, DROP now or later, claim at 62 or 70: we model both and let the numbers make the case, and we’re comfortable saying when one option clearly fits better than the other. Sometimes good advice means leaving something exactly where it is. When it does, we say so.
The most important thing my mother taught me had nothing to do with money: when you’re in a position to help somebody, you help them. You don’t have to be wealthy to care about someone.
Start a ConversationI built this firm for people who spent their careers serving Florida, and deserve more than a generic retirement checklist.
Florida isn’t just where we do business. It’s home.
Florida’s public employees don’t stop serving the community when the workday ends. Neither does Derrick.
- Volunteer
- OCPS & SCPS education foundations
- Schools
- Reading to students & school book fairs
- Teach-In
- Teacher for a day
Millennium Middle School · Seminole County
On stage
Supporting the educators and families of a Seminole County Public Schools event.
Jones High School
Supply drive, delivered
Boxes of donated school supplies handed out to students and staff.
In the classroom
Teacher for a day
Supply drive · MetroWest
Partners who show up
Teacher Appreciation Week
Staff-room breakfast
Supply drive
Delivery day
Boxes loaded from the car and wheeled in to the school.
Showing up matters.
This is part of the community we’re fortunate to serve.
You don’t need to have everything figured out before we talk.
A first conversation is simply a chance to understand what decisions are in front of you. It costs nothing and commits to nothing. If we’re a fit, you’ll know. If we’re not, we’ll point you somewhere that is.
Educational only. Benowitz Wealth Management is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Florida Retirement System or the State of Florida. Full disclosures below.