In 2010, I moved my family to Florida's Emerald Coast. Two sons with autism. A career in institutional finance. Everything had to be sequenced: the tax transition, the benefit transfers, the estate plan updates, the insurance restructuring. None of it was simple, and none of it could wait until after the moving truck arrived.
That is the same planning discipline we bring to every family considering a move to Florida.
Florida has no state income tax. For high-earning families, that headline number can be substantial. But a relocation involves financial complexity that a tax calculator cannot capture.
Those numbers get attention. But the families who relocate successfully are the ones who also plan for the things that do not make the brochure: Florida's coastal insurance costs ($4,000 to $10,000+ annually, before flood and windstorm riders), the domicile establishment requirements that must be met to the letter, the estate plan that was drafted under another state's laws and may not align with Florida's homestead protections, and the timing of capital gains, Roth conversions, and deferred compensation around the move date.
For families with a special needs dependent, the complexity multiplies. Medicaid waivers do not transfer between states. You cannot assume the services your family relies on will be available on the other side without re-application, new waitlists, and careful benefit preservation planning.
This is what we do. Not because we read about it. Because we lived it. For a comprehensive walkthrough of every financial consideration, read our complete Florida relocation planning guide.
Every relocation corridor has different tax implications, benefit structures, and planning priorities. Select your city for a planning overview specific to your transition.
Corporate HQ relocations, I-85 corridor, Georgia Medicaid waivers (NOW/COMP) to Florida iBudget coordination.
Save 5.49% state income taxHealthcare industry compensation, no tax delta but property tax and insurance dynamics shift meaningfully.
No income tax in either stateDefense and aerospace (Redstone Arsenal), FERS/TSP optimization, Alabama ID Waiver to Florida iBudget.
Save up to 5% state income taxHealthcare and financial sector, Alabama Medicaid waivers, estate plan and real estate coordination.
Save up to 5% state income taxMore cities coming: Boston, Denver, Washington DC, Salt Lake City, Raleigh-Durham, Dallas, Houston. Use our calculator to estimate the impact from any of these cities today.
Todd Sensing, CFA, CFP®, CEPA®, ChSNC®, spent two decades in institutional finance before moving his family to the Emerald Coast in 2010. He manages portfolios with the same discipline he brought to a $120M equity REIT portfolio and $10B+ in fixed-income hedging, but for families instead of institutions.
As the father of two sons with autism, Todd holds the Chartered Special Needs Consultant designation. This is not a service line added for marketing. It is personal. For families navigating disability planning alongside a relocation, we bring an understanding that most advisors cannot.
FamilyVest operates through Farther, combining personal advisory relationships with institutional-grade technology and compliance. We are 100% fee-only. No commissions. No product sales. Our office is at Destin Commons, and we know the Emerald Coast from the inside: the real estate market, the school districts, the healthcare networks, and the financial landscape families step into when they arrive.
Meet the team →Medicaid waivers do not transfer between states. ABLE accounts may need to be re-established. SSI eligibility continues, but Medicaid must be re-applied for. Special needs trusts remain valid but may need structural updates for Florida-specific considerations.
We help families navigate every layer of this. The benefit transfer timeline, the waitlist realities, the trust amendments, the letter of intent updates, and the service provider transition. For families relocating from states with strong disability services (Massachusetts, Washington, Colorado), we are honest about what Florida offers and what it does not, so you can make an informed decision.
Read more about our special needs planning approach, or explore the Autism Resource Navigator to see what services are available in Florida and your current state.
Each of these covers a specific dimension of relocation planning in depth.
Taxes, domicile, homestead, insurance, retirement income, estate updates, snowbird strategy, and a moving checklist.
How ENSO cycles affect hurricane seasons and what that means for insurance planning and emergency liquidity.
Insurance, liability exposure, and asset protection strategies including Florida's homestead provisions.
ABLE accounts, special needs trusts, Medicaid coordination, and lifetime care funding for Florida families.
Why estate plans drafted under another state's law need review when you establish Florida domicile.
Interactive tool comparing taxes, cost of living, special needs programs, and lifestyle between your city and the Emerald Coast.
The best time to plan a relocation is 12 to 24 months before it happens. One conversation will tell you where you stand and what needs to happen before the move.