Guide to Retiring in
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA
Learn more about how these things impact you in Jacksonville:
✔ Social Security
✔ Retirement Income
✔ Tax Strategies
✔ Local Guidance
Retirement Income Strategies in Jacksonville, Florida
Trying to figure out when to start Social Security, or whether your 401(k) will really carry you through a Jacksonville retirement? Those are exactly the questions we help residents work through every week. Summerlin Benefits Consulting builds retirement income strategies for Jacksonville, FL families from our Yulee office, with an appointment-only Jacksonville location at St. Johns Town Center for clients who’d rather meet closer to home. Founded in 2012 and still family-owned, SBC is led by Stacy Summerlin, who brings 29+ years of personal industry experience, and our team is licensed in both Florida and Georgia. Call 855-809-2894 to start the conversation — but first, it helps to know exactly who we typically work with here in Jacksonville.
Who Do We Help in Jacksonville?
Jacksonville is Florida’s largest city by land area and population, home to nearly a million residents spread across a metro that stretches from the Atlantic beaches to the bends of the St. Johns River downtown. Most of the pre-retirees and retirees we work with fall between ages 55 and 70, often holding $250,000 or more in a 401(k), TSP, or pension account, with real uncertainty about how to turn those savings into income that lasts.
A large share of our Jacksonville clients come from career backgrounds tied to the city’s biggest employers: Naval Air Station Jacksonville and Naval Station Mayport (active-duty and retired military), Baptist Health, Mayo Clinic, and UF Health in healthcare, Bank of America and Florida Blue in finance, and CSX Corporation, which is headquartered right here in Jacksonville. Each career path carries its own retirement wrinkles — military pensions and Survivor Benefit Plan elections, hospital-system 403(b) rollovers, or CSX pension lump-sum decisions.
We also regularly help clients weigh a 401(k) rollover after a Jacksonville-area retirement, decide how to handle a pension lump sum, figure out the right age to start Social Security, and compare a fixed annuity against a CD or bond ladder for guaranteed income. If any of that sounds familiar, you’re exactly who we built this practice to serve — and it’s a big part of why so many Jacksonville families choose a local team over a call-center advisor who’s never set foot in Duval County. That local, hands-on approach is really what sets us apart.
Why Do Jacksonville Residents Choose Summerlin Benefits Consulting?
Jacksonville sits about 25 minutes from our Yulee office up I-95, and we’ve spent years building relationships with families throughout Duval County — which is why we also keep an appointment-only office inside Jacksonville at St. Johns Town Center for clients who’d rather not make the drive north. We’re proud members of the Nassau County Chamber of Commerce, and our BBB accreditation, held since 2021, reflects the same standard of transparency we bring to every client conversation.
Stacy Summerlin founded the firm in 2012 and personally brings more than 29 years of experience in annuities and life insurance — in 2021, she was recognized among the top 1% of annuity and life insurance professionals nationwide. Keith Summerlin, Executive Vice President, is a retired U.S. Air Force veteran who focuses on tax-efficient insurance and legacy strategies, which resonates strongly with the sizable military retiree community around NAS Jacksonville and Naval Station Mayport. Learn more about our backgrounds on our meet our team page.
What Sets Us Apart:
- Founded in Yulee in 2012 — family-owned and locally headquartered
- Stacy Summerlin: 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.
What Florida Retirement Tax Advantages Do Yulee Residents Have?
One of the biggest reasons retirees relocate to — or stay in — Jacksonville is Florida’s tax treatment of retirement income. Florida has no state income tax, so Social Security benefits,pension payments, IRA and 401(k) withdrawals, and annuity income all pass to you without a state tax bill — a meaningful difference if you’re comparing Jacksonville to a state like Georgia or the Carolinas.
Homeownership carries its own advantages here. The Florida Homestead Exemption can reduce your primary residence’s assessed value by up to $50,000, and the Save Our Homes cap limits annual increases in assessed value to 3%, which helps protect long-time Jacksonville homeowners from being taxed out of a home that’s appreciated significantly. For 2025, Duval County’s finalized millage rate for the primary city taxing district (the former City of Jacksonville, or USD1) is 17.7412 mills; the 2026 rate typically isn’t finalized until September, so this figure should be reconfirmed once the new rate posts.
Florida also has no estate tax or inheritance tax, which matters when you’re thinking through how to pass retirement assets or a paid-off Jacksonville home to your kids or grandchildren. Between the lack of state income tax and these property tax protections, many of our Jacksonville clients find their retirement dollars stretch noticeably further than they did up north — and once the tax picture makes sense, the next question is usually which specific strategies fit your income and legacy goals best.
JACKSONVILLE LOCAL INSIGHT
Homeowner Tip: Save Our Homes Portability
If you’re relocating to Jacksonville from another homesteaded property in Florida, you may be able to “port” some or all of your Save Our Homes tax savings to your new home under Florida’s homestead portability rules. This can lower your new home’s assessed value from day one instead of starting the 3% cap over from scratch — worth asking your closing team or the county property appraiser about before you finalize a move within the state.
Our Services for Jacksonville Retirees
That’s exactly what our core services are built around. Once we understand your situation, we typically point Jacksonville clients toward a combination of the following, always tailored to your specific goals and timeline.
Annuities: For Jacksonville retirees who want income they can’t outlive, our retirement income strategies center on fixed and fixed index annuities that provide predictable payments regardless of what the market does. We’ll walk through how these compare to keeping funds in a 401(k) or IRA exposed to market risk.
Life Insurance: Our life insurance solutions help protect a surviving spouse’s income, cover final expenses, or pass along a legacy — particularly relevant for Jacksonville clients balancing a mortgage, grandchildren’s education, or a blended family’s needs.
Educational Seminars: Many Jacksonville-area clients first meet us at one of our educational retirement seminars, held at fine dining restaurants like Maggiano’s Little Italy and Chophouse Thirteen, with a complimentary gourmet meal included. These sessions cover Social Security timing, required minimum distributions, tax-efficient withdrawal strategies, and the green-line strategy, all without any pressure to sign up for anything. Check our current schedule to see what’s coming up near Jacksonville.
We intentionally keep our services focused on insurance-based retirement income protection rather than trying to be everything to everyone — it’s what allows our team to go deep on annuities and life insurance instead of spreading thin. Once you understand your options, the natural next question is simply how to get started.
How Do I Get Started?
Getting started is simple. Call our office at 855-809-2894 or fill out the contact form to request an appointment or ask about an upcoming seminar near Jacksonville. Many Jacksonville clients prefer to start with a seminar — a low-pressure way to learn the basics over a complimentary gourmet dinner before ever discussing your personal numbers.
When you’re ready for a one-on-one conversation, we’ll meet you in person — either at our Yulee office (57 Homegrown Way, Unit 301, Yulee, FL 32097) or our appointment-only Jacksonville location at St. Johns Town Center — or by phone if that’s more convenient. We don’t do online or video meetings; every conversation happens with an actual person, in person or on the phone. Once you’ve reached out, most of the questions people still have are ones we hear all the time — so before you call, it’s worth scanning a few of the most common ones.
Retirement Questions We Often Hear from Jacksonville Residents
Where is Summerlin Benefits Consulting’s office located relative to Jacksonville?
Our main office is at 57 Homegrown Way, Unit 301, Yulee, FL 32097, about 24 miles (roughly 25–30 minutes) north of downtown Jacksonville via I-95.
We also keep an appointment-only satellite office inside Jacksonville itself, at the Regus location at St. Johns Town Center, 10752 Deerwood Park Blvd., Suite 100, for clients who’d rather meet closer to home.
Does Florida tax retirement income for Jacksonville residents?
No. Florida has no state income tax, so Social Security benefits, pension income, IRA and 401(k) withdrawals, and annuity payments are not taxed at the state level for Jacksonville residents.
You’ll still owe federal taxes where applicable, but Florida itself takes no cut of your retirement income.
How much do I need to retire in Jacksonville?
It depends on your lifestyle, housing costs, and how you plan to generate income, but many of our Jacksonville clients begin serious retirement planning with $250,000 or more in savings. The better question is usually whether your income sources — Social Security, pensions, and savings — can reliably cover your expenses; that’s exactly what we help you figure out.
What is the cost of living in Jacksonville compared to the national average?
Jacksonville’s cost of living runs about 4% below the national average, according to BestPlaces data, driven largely by housing costs that remain more affordable than many other Florida metros. Combined with no state income tax, that makes Jacksonville an attractive base for
retirement dollars to go further.
Is there any cost or obligation to meet with your team?
No. Meeting with our team, including attending one of our educational seminars, comes at no cost and with no obligation. (And we even provide you with a complimentary gourmet meal at the seminars!) We’d rather you leave with useful information than feel pressured
into a decision that isn’t right for you.
Do you work with clients who live outside Jacksonville?
Yes. We support clients throughout Northeast Florida and Coastal Georgia. In addition to our appointment-only Jacksonville satellite office at St. Johns Town Center, we also meet clients at satellite locations in Orange Park and St. Simons Island, Georgia, or at our main Yulee office. All meetings are in person or by phone, whichever is more convenient for you.
What is the typical first meeting like?
Your first meeting is a relaxed, no-pressure conversation about your current savings, income sources, and retirement goals. We’ll ask questions, explain your options in plain language, and only recommend a strategy if it genuinely fits your situation — there’s never an expectation that you’ll commit to anything on the spot.
How are your services paid for?
Our insurance-based services are paid for through insurance commissions built into the annuity or life insurance product itself, not through separate advisory fees charged to you. You’ll always know upfront how a recommendation works before you decide whether to move forward.
Can you help me roll over a 401(k) from a Jacksonville-area employer?
Yes. We regularly help clients roll over 401(k) and 403(b) accounts from Jacksonville-area employers like Baptist Health, Mayo Clinic, Bank of America, and CSX into IRAs or annuities that better match their retirement income goals. We’ll walk through your options and explain the
tax implications before you make any moves.
What’s the best way to claim Social Security if I live in Jacksonville?
The right claiming age depends on your health, other income sources, and whether you’re still working, so there’s no single best answer. We look at your full financial picture — pensions, savings, and spouse’s benefits included — to help you decide whether claiming early, at full retirement age, or delaying to 70 makes the most sense.
I’m a retired service member from NAS Jacksonville or Naval Station Mayport — can you help with my military pension or TSP?
Yes. Keith Summerlin, our Executive Vice President, is himself a retired U.S. Air Force veteran and works closely with military retirees on Survivor Benefit Plan elections, Thrift Savings Plan rollovers, and turning a military pension into a broader retirement income strategy alongside Social Security and any civilian savings.
Do you help with pension decisions for CSX or other Jacksonville-based employers?
Yes. Pension lump-sum versus annuity decisions are some of the most consequential choices Jacksonville retirees make, and we regularly help clients from CSX and other local employers weigh a lump-sum payout against ongoing pension income to see which better supports a lasting retirement paycheck.
Our Office and Jacksonville Meeting Location
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 Jacksonville, take I-95 N to the Yulee/A1A exit — it’s about a 25–30 minute drive.
For Jacksonville clients who’d prefer not to make that drive, we also meet by appointment at our Jacksonville satellite office: Regus at St. Johns Town Center, 10752 Deerwood Park Blvd., Suite 100, Jacksonville, FL 32256. This location isn’t staffed full-time, so appointments are required — call 855-809-2894 to schedule.
Client Reviews from the Area
Of course, don’t just take our word for what that visit is like — here’s what some of our clients have said instead.
I’m beyond satisfied with Summerlin Benefits Consulting. The relationship feels personal, which is something I never had with my previous planner. They truly treat you like a person, not a number, and tailor everything to your needs. I also love how accessible they are! No long waits or random associates, just a small team, with a proven track record, that aims to know you and your needs!
~ Tiara Pollard
I had a great experience working with Summerlin Benefits Consulting for my annuity planning. From the start, they were knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely focused on helping me understand my options rather than pushing a quick decision. They took the time to explain how annuities work, the different types available, and how each option could fit into my long-term financial goals.
What really stood out was their professionalism and transparency. Every question I had was answered clearly, and I never felt rushed or pressured. They made what can be a confusing process feel straightforward and manageable.
I also appreciated their attention to detail and personalized approach. They didn’t offer a one-size-fits-all solution—instead, they tailored their recommendations to my specific needs and comfort level.
Overall, I would highly recommend Summerlin...
~ Darlene Miller
Everybody at Summerlin Benefits consulting has been very professional and kind. The seminars we attended prior to signing up with them were enlightening, educational and helpful in making our final decision.
My husband and I signed up for our first product with them over a year ago. Now in 2025 we added 2 other products to our portfolio with them. We are Extremely pleased with their services. Their seminars are very helpful to understand the products they have to offer. I would recommend Summerlin Benefits Consulting to anyone interested in improving or adding more value to their portfolio.
~ Connie Bruckner
Ready to Protect Your Retirement Income?
Whether you’ve lived in Jacksonville your entire life or you’re planning to retire here from somewhere else, our goal is the same: to help you move into retirement with greater confidence, clarity, and peace of mind.
Schedule a free retirement strategy session by calling 855-809-2894, or reach out through our contact form. You can also stop by our Yulee office at 57 Homegrown Way, Unit 301, Yulee, FL 32097, or check our educational seminar schedule for an upcoming session near Jacksonville
— dinner’s on us.
