Derrick Lewis, AIF®, WMS

Throughout his 20 years in the industry, Derrick has steadfastly built up his practice by providing top-notch service and customized financial planning to clients. He has developed a specialty in serving business owners, designing investment strategies that allow them to pursue a “work optional” lifestyle. Charting an exit plan that helps an entrepreneur make the most of their life’s work is his highest priority.

The first thing you’ll notice about Derrick is his ability to make anyone feel at ease. He prides himself on being an approachable sounding board for any financial matters his clients are facing. Integrity is also important to Derrick, and he shares the client-first values of his firm.

A student of the industry, Derrick began his career in finance at 19 as an intern with A.G. Edwards. He started full time in 2002 after graduating from the University of Georgia with a finance degree, moving back to his hometown. He then joined Morgan Keegan in 2004, which became Raymond James in 2012.

He received Chairman’s Council* honors from the firm in 2019 and 2021, and has earned the AIF® and Wealth Management Specialist designations. Derrick has been recognized by On Wall Street’s Top Regional Advisors Under 40 for several years. Derrick was named to the 2021 edition of the Forbes list of Best-In-State Wealth Advisors^†.

Derrick stays connected to his community, volunteering his time as chair and trustee for Gordon State College and board member for the Henry County Soccer Complex. He looks out for his neighbors as a recreation coach and Salvation Army volunteer, and has held leadership positions with the local Girl Scouts and Kiwanis.

Derrick grew up in Zebulon, Georgia, and currently lives in McDonough with his wife, Lauren. They have four children: Elizabeth, Layla, Josiah and Charlotte. Derrick and his family are very involved in their local church. When he’s away from the office, you’ll find Derrick hanging out with family, coaching sports or fishing.

*Membership is based mainly on assets under management, education, credentials and fiscal year production. Requalification is required annually. The ranking may not be representative of any one client’s experience, is not an endorsement, and is not indicative of advisor’s future performance. No fee is paid in exchange for this award/rating.

^† The Forbes ranking of Best-In-State Wealth Advisors, developed by SHOOK Research, is based on an algorithm of qualitative criteria, mostly gained through telephone and in-person due diligence interviews, and quantitative data. Those advisors that are considered have a minimum of seven years of experience, and the algorithm weights factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and those that encompass best practices in their practices and approach to working with clients. Portfolio performance is not a criteria due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Out of approximately 32,725 nominations, more than 5,000 advisors received the award. This ranking is not indicative of advisor's future performance, is not an endorsement, and may not be representative of individual clients' experience. Neither Raymond James nor any of its Financial Advisors or RIA firms pay a fee in exchange for this award/rating. Raymond James is not affiliated with Forbes or Shook Research, LLC. Please visit https://www.forbes.com/best-in-state-wealth-advisors for more info.