Retirement Income Strategies in
FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA
Learn more about how these things impact you in Fernandina Beach:
✔ Social Security
✔ Retirement Income
✔ Tax Strategies
✔ Local Guidance
Planning Your Retirement Income in Fernandina Beach
Planning for retirement in Fernandina Beach means preparing for a lifestyle that's as rewarding as it is unique. Located on the northern end of Amelia Island, Fernandina Beach combines historic charm, coastal beauty, and a relaxed pace of life that attracts retirees from across the country. Whether you've lived here for years or recently made Amelia Island your home, having a trusted local financial professional can help you make informed decisions with confidence.
Enjoying everything retirement on Amelia Island has to offer starts with knowing your financial future is secure. After spending years building your savings, the goal isn't simply to retire—it's to retire with confidence, knowing your income can support the lifestyle you've worked so hard to achieve.
If you've spent years building a life in Fernandina Beach and on Amelia Island, the question that keeps you up at night probably isn't whether you'll retire—it's whether your savings will actually last once the paychecks stop. Between market ups and downs, rising insurance costs, and the simple fear of running out of money too soon, it's the concern nearly every Fernandina Beach retiree brings to their first conversation with us. Summerlin Benefits Consulting has been helping Northeast Florida families protect their retirement income since 2012, and founder Stacy Summerlin brings more than 29 years of personal experience in the industry to every relationship we build. We're licensed in both Florida and Georgia, with our office located at 57 Homegrown Way, Unit 301 in Yulee—a short drive from anywhere on the island. Call us at 855-809-2894 to start the conversation.
LOCAL INSIGHT
Many people use "Fernandina Beach" and "Amelia Island" interchangeably, but they're not exactly the same. Fernandina Beach is the historic city located on the northern end of Amelia Island. Because residents often identify with both names, you'll hear them used together throughout Northeast Florida. Whether you call it Fernandina Beach or Amelia Island, you'll find the same welcoming coastal community that has made this area one of Florida's most desirable places to retire.
Who Do We Help in Fernandina Beach?
Fernandina Beach skews older than most Florida cities, and it shows in who walks through our door. The median age here is 58.6, and well over a third of residents are 65 or older — a reflection of just how many people choose the area as the place to spend retirement, whether they've lived here for decades or moved from Atlanta, Ohio, or the Northeast to enjoy the coast. Median household income sits close to $98,000, which tells us most of the people we work with have built real savings and want a plan that protects it rather than gambles with it.
Many of our Fernandina Beach clients spent their careers with Rayonier Advanced Materials, in Nassau County's healthcare and hospitality sector at places like Baptist Medical Center Nassau, or commuted into Jacksonville before settling on the island for retirement. What they have in common are the same handful of decisions: what to do with an old 401(k) once they've left an employer, whether to take a pension as a lump sum or a monthly check, when to start Social Security, and whether an annuity or a CD and bond ladder makes more sense for guaranteed income. If you're 55 to 70 with $250,000 or more in retirement accounts and you're facing any of these questions, you're exactly who we built this practice to serve.
Why Fernandina Beach Residents Choose Us?
Once you know the kinds of decisions Fernandina Beach and the surrounding Amelia Island retirees are wrestling with, the next question is naturally who you trust to help you make them. We've been serving Nassau County families since 2012, and our office in Yulee is a genuine local presence, not a call center or a name on a national directory. We're proud members of the Nassau County Chamber of Commerce, and Summerlin Benefits Consulting has been BBB-accredited since 2021.
Stacy Summerlin founded the firm in 2012 and brings more than 29 years of personal experience in retirement income planning to every client meeting — you can read more about her background on our About Us page. Keith Summerlin serves as Executive Vice President and is a retired U.S. Air Force veteran, which shapes the discipline and attention to detail he brings to every case. Many of our Fernandina Beach clients first heard about us through a former Rayonier colleague, a neighbor in an Amelia Island community, or a friend from a Baptist Health career — word of mouth still matters most in a town this size.
What Sets Us Apart:
- Founded in 2012 and family-owned, with deep roots in Nassau County
- Stacy Summerlin brings 29+ years of personal industry experience
- Licensed in both Florida and Georgia
- BBB-A+ accredited since 2021
- Active member, Nassau County Chamber of Commerce
- Keith Summerlin, Executive Vice President, is a retired U.S. Air Force veteran
Educational retirement seminars help Jacksonville-area residents understand their options in a relaxed, no-pressure environment.
Florida Retirement Tax Advantages for Fernandina Beach Residents
Understanding who we are matters, but for most Fernandina Beach retirees, the bigger question is how far their money will actually stretch — and that's where Florida's tax structure works heavily in your favor. Florida has no state income tax, which means your Social Security benefits, pension income, IRA and 401(k) withdrawals, and annuity payments are never taxed at the state level. For retirees moving from states like Georgia, New York, or Ohio, that alone can mean thousands of dollars a year staying in your pocket.
Homeowners also benefit from Florida's Homestead Exemption, which can reduce the assessed value of a primary residence by up to $50,000, and the Save Our Homes cap, which limits annual increases in assessed value to 3% for homesteaded properties — a meaningful protection given how much home values on Amelia Island have climbed in recent years. For 2025-26, Nassau County's tentatively adopted millage rate is 6.7457 mills, the fifth consecutive year the county has lowered it; this figure should be reconfirmed once the rate is finalized each September. Finally, Florida imposes no state estate tax or inheritance tax, which simplifies passing assets on to the people you care about.
Amelia Island Retirement Tip
Amelia Island flood zone maps and older, historic housing stock mean homeowners' insurance often costs more here than in inland Nassau County. When we build a retirement income plan for Amelia Island clients, we factor in these higher, sometimes unpredictable insurance premiums right alongside taxes and healthcare costs — because a plan that only accounts for Florida's tax advantages isn't a complete plan.
Image Provided by Local Artist, Ivan's Eye Photography
Our Services for Fernandina Beach Retirees
Florida's tax advantages only matter if the income behind them is actually reliable, which is exactly the problem our services are built to solve. We offer a small, focused set of solutions rather than trying to be everything to everyone.
Annuities can provide a guaranteed stream of retirement income that doesn't depend on how the stock market performs in any given year — explore our retirement income protection strategies to see how they might fit into your plan. Life insurance solutions help protect a spouse or family from financial disruption and can also play a role in leaving a legacy behind. And our
educational seminars, held at fine dining locations like David's Restaurant in Fernandina Beach with a complimentary gourmet meal included, walk attendees through topics like Social Security timing, required minimum distributions, and the Green Line Strategy —
check our current seminar schedule for an upcoming date near Fernandina Beach.
How to Get Started
Getting started is simple, and for most Fernandina Beach residents it begins with one of our complimentary dinner seminars — held at a fine dining restaurant with a gourmet meal included, no obligation attached.
• Call our office at 855-809-2894, or reach out through our contact form to ask about our next seminar or request an appointment.
• Attend a complimentary educational seminar, or schedule a one-on-one meeting directly.
• Meet with our team in person at 57 Homegrown Way, Unit 301 in Yulee, or by phone — whichever is easiest for you.
• Walk through your specific situation: rollovers, pensions, Social Security timing, and income strategy.
• Leave with a clear, personalized plan — with no pressure to act before you're ready.
Fernandina Beach, FL Retirement Planning FAQs
Where is Summerlin Benefits Consulting's office located relative to Fernandina Beach?
Summerlin Benefits Consulting's main office is at 57 Homegrown Way, Unit 301 in Yulee, FL — about 12 miles and a 17-minute drive from downtown Fernandina Beach via A1A and SR 200. We also meet clients by appointment at satellite locations in Jacksonville, Orange Park, and St. Simons Island, Georgia, so a trip to Yulee isn't your only option.
Does Florida tax retirement income for Fernandina Beach residents?
No. Florida has no state income tax, so Social Security benefits, pension income, IRA and 401(k) withdrawals, and annuity payments aren't taxed by the state. For Fernandina Beach retirees, especially those relocating from higher-tax states, this is one of the most significant financial advantages of retiring on Amelia Island.
How does living on the coast affect my retirement plan in Fernandina Beach?
Coastal living brings real financial variables that inland retirement plans don't need to consider — higher homeowners' insurance, flood zone requirements, and home values that have climbed steadily in recent years. We build these Amelia Island-specific costs directly into your retirement income plan so your projected income reflects your actual cost of living.
Is Fernandina Beach's tourism economy a good source of part-time retirement income?
Fernandina Beach's tourism and hospitality economy does create part-time and seasonal work opportunities for retirees who want supplemental income, but we generally recommend building your core retirement income plan around guaranteed sources like Social Security, pensions, and annuities first. Part-time work can then be a bonus rather than something your plan depends on.
How has Nassau County's growth affected retirement planning in Fernandina Beach?
Nassau County has grown steadily over the past decade, and that growth has pushed home values — and property tax bills — higher across Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island. We factor current millage rates and realistic home value trends into every retirement income plan so rising local costs don't catch our clients off guard.
Do you work with clients who live outside Fernandina Beach?
Yes. While our main office is in Yulee, we regularly work with clients throughout Northeast Florida and coastal Georgia. We also meet by appointment at satellite offices in Jacksonville, Orange Park, and St. Simons Island, Georgia, so wherever you live, there's likely a convenient option for meeting with our team in person.
Is there any cost or obligation to meet with Summerlin Benefits Consulting?
No. Our initial consultation is complimentary and comes with no obligation to purchase anything or become a client. Most people find it helpful simply to sit down, ask questions, and get a clear picture of their options before deciding whether to move forward with Summerlin Benefits Consulting.
What is the typical first meeting like?
Your first meeting is a conversation, not a sales pitch. We'll ask about your income sources, retirement goals, and concerns, review any statements you'd like to bring, and explain your options in plain language. Meetings happen in person at our Yulee office or by phone — never online or by video.
How are your services paid for?
We're compensated through insurance commissions paid by the carriers whose annuity or life insurance products you choose, not through fees you pay directly. There's no cost to meet with us, and you'll always know upfront how a particular product works before you decide whether it's right for you.
What is the Green Line Strategy© discussed at your educational seminars?
The Green Line Strategy© is an educational concept we teach at our seminars that illustrates how certain retirement income tools are designed to protect your principal from market downturns while still offering growth potential. It's one of the core ideas we walk through in detail during our complimentary seminars, using real numbers and visual charts.
Where Is Your Office Located?
Once your questions are answered, the last practical detail is simply knowing how to find us.
Main Office: 57 Homegrown Way, Unit 301, Yulee, FL 32097
Phone: 855-809-2894
Hours:
Monday–Thursday 8:30 AM–4:30 PM (closed 12:00–12:30 PM for lunch)
Friday 8:30 AM–1:30 PM
Closed Saturday and Sunday
Directions: From downtown Fernandina Beach, take SR 200/A1A west toward Yulee; the drive is about 12 miles and takes roughly 17 minutes door to door.
What Our Clients Say
Of course, don't just take our word for what working with us is like — here's what a few of our Fernandina Beach-area clients have shared.
"Very informative, very structured, and very clear explanation of the benefits, and guidance of the policy. Meetings were fast and not drawn out, and yet all information was covered in great detail. This investment will help my family into the far future, and I am grateful for their help, and feel my money is secure."
~ Christopher Hamilton
"I was turned on to Summerlin by my brother. The experience made me feel like I was their priority. As a person that's been around, I really am thankful for the help and attention. You are explained everything through the process of having them represent you."
~ Elrick St. Clair
"It was a godsend we found financial planning that walked us through knowledge about the GREEN LINE and how our money is working to be there when we need it, also how to make sure we provide for our families after we are no longer here."
~ Glory Gresham
Start Planning Your Fernandina Beach Retirement Today
Whether you've called Fernandina Beach home for forty years or you're just now settling into life on Amelia Island, our goal is the same: helping you move into retirement with more confidence, clarity, and peace of mind about the years ahead.
Ready to Protect Your Retirement Income in Fernandina Beach or surrounding Amelia Island?
Call 855-809-2894 to schedule a free retirement strategy session, or reach out through our contact form. Our office is located at 57 Homegrown Way, Unit 301, Yulee, FL 32097.
