Business Details
48 Years
experience
Your Trusted Partner for Financial Planning and Retirement Solutions
Since 1978, Ferguson Johnson Wealth Management has served retirees, pre-retirees, and government employees across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. As a fee-only registered investment advisory firm, we specialize in personalized investment management, retirement planning, tax strategies, and comprehensive financial guidance tailored to clients' unique goals. Our fiduciary commitment ensures all decisions prioritize clients' best interests, free from conflicts tied to big financial institutions.Grounded in 40+ years of experience, our approach combines disciplined research, Nobel Prize-backed investment principles, and a client-centered ethos emphasizing integrity and teamwork. We provide transparent, commission-free advice, leveraging Dimensional Funds and tax-efficient strategies to optimize long-term outcomes. Our holistic process begins with deep financial assessments, evolves into customized planning, and maintains ongoing support to adapt to life's changes.
Services
Financial Planning
Investment Management
Retirement Planning
Tax Planning
Wealth Management
Estate Planning
Portfolio Management
Risk Management
Social Security Optimization
Charitable Giving Strategies
Details
- Year established: 1978
Highlights and features
- We've provided fee-only fiduciary advice for over 40 years without product commissions
- Our investment strategies are grounded in Nobel Prize-winning research through Dimensional Funds
- We coordinate directly with your accountants and tax professionals for comprehensive planning
- Our client-centered approach tailors portfolios to individual risk tolerance and retirement timelines
- We implement tax-loss harvesting and bracket management strategies to minimize lifetime tax burden
Associations and certifications
- NAPFA
- Registered Investment Advisor
Services
Financial Planning
Our comprehensive financial planning service creates personalized roadmaps for clients' financial futures. We analyze cash flow, risk tolerance, and long-term goals to develop strategies spanning retirement, education funding, and estate planning. Using proprietary tools and Nobel Prize-backed research, we optimize asset allocation while maintaining tax efficiency across different account types. Our ongoing monitoring ensures plans adapt to changing life circumstances and market conditions.
Investment Management
We implement globally diversified portfolios through Dimensional Funds tailored to individual risk profiles. Our evidence-based approach combines market efficiency principles with tax-conscious strategies like loss harvesting. We balance equities, fixed income, and cash equivalents while maintaining cost discipline. Regular portfolio rebalancing and performance reviews ensure alignment with clients' evolving financial objectives and market environments.
Retirement Planning
Our retirement planning service addresses pre-retirement income needs and post-retirement income generation. We optimize Social Security benefits timing, coordinate tax-efficient withdrawals, and structure portfolios for sustainable income. The service includes longevity planning, required minimum distribution management, and legacy strategies to ensure financial security throughout retirement while minimizing tax liabilities.
Tax Planning
This service develops tax-efficient strategies for asset location, charitable giving, and Roth conversions. We analyze tax returns to identify savings opportunities and coordinate with CPAs for comprehensive tax strategies. Our approach minimizes lifetime tax burden through bracket management, harvest strategies, and legislative adaptation, ensuring compliance while maximizing after-tax returns across taxable and retirement accounts.
Wealth Management
Our wealth management integrates financial, investment, and tax planning with estate and risk management. We coordinate with legal and accounting professionals to address complex needs like multi-generational wealth transfer and business succession planning. The service includes insurance analysis, liquidity management, and customized reporting to create cohesive strategies that align with clients' values and long-term objectives.
People
Derek Johnson
Principal and Director
Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor with 23 years at Ferguson-Johnson, bringing extensive retirement planning expertise. Former presenter at AAII events, he holds a University of Maryland finance degree and specializes in asset allocation strategies for federal employees.
Jon Powell
Financial Planner and Portfolio Manager
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER with 11 years of experience creating personalized plans and managing portfolios. Virginia Tech graduate active in fiduciary education, he focuses on tax-efficient retirement strategies and investment implementation for pre-retirees and retirees.
Jen Whalen
Operations Manager
20+ years in financial services with 15+ managing operations at Ferguson-Johnson. She oversees client account handling, disbursements, and office workflow while managing client communications and supporting the advisory team's service delivery.
Questions
What makes you a fiduciary advisor?
We operate under the strictest fiduciary standards, never accepting commissions or product incentives. Our compensation comes solely from transparent advisory fees, ensuring unbiased recommendations that prioritize client interests in all retirement, investment, and tax planning decisions.
How do you handle tax planning?
We implement tax-loss harvesting, bracket management, and Roth conversion strategies while coordinating with CPAs. Our approach optimizes asset location across taxable and retirement accounts to minimize lifetime tax liabilities through proactive, legislation-aware planning.
What's your investment philosophy?
Our evidence-based approach follows market efficiency principles, global diversification, and disciplined long-term investing. We utilize Dimensional Funds to target specific return dimensions while maintaining cost efficiency and tax-conscious portfolio construction aligned with Nobel Prize-winning research.
How does retirement planning work?
We analyze income sources, create withdrawal strategies, and optimize Social Security timing. The process includes longevity planning, RMD management, and legacy strategies through personalized simulations that project financial sustainability under various market scenarios.
Do you work with government employees?
Yes, we specialize in federal employee benefits including TSP optimization, pension planning, and FERS-related retirement strategies. Our proximity to Washington D.C. provides extensive experience navigating government worker retirement complexities and unique tax situations.
