Meet your financial planner
Hi, I’m Dedrick.
Navy veteran. Army spouse. Financial planner who believes your plan should fit the life you actually live.
I’m Dedrick Curtis, founder of Penny Earned Financial and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. I help military families and professionals connect their financial decisions, get organized, and move forward with purpose.
Dedrick Curtis, CFP®, ChFC®, AFC®
Let’s Get AcquaintedThe Person Behind the Plan
I’m Dedrick, a Navy veteran, Army spouse, and financial planner originally from Western North Carolina. My wife, Nicolle, serves in the Army, and military life has taken us all over the country but we currently call Northern Virginia home. Between my time in the Navy and life as a military spouse, I’ve experienced the moves, career decisions, and uncertainty that come with building a life around service.
Outside work, Nicolle and I enjoy traveling, hiking, and exploring somewhere new. We share our home with four dogs, so there’s usually someone who thinks it’s time for a walk. When Army plays Navy, household loyalty has its limits. Go Navy!
I started Penny Earned Financial after spending two decades helping people improve their lives. I wanted to build a practice where I could get to know people, understand what matters to them, and give honest advice without a sales agenda.
What interests me most is the life behind the financial questions. What would make a career change worth it? How much breathing room would help? What do you want more time for, and who do you want to spend it with? The numbers help us work through those questions, but your answers give the plan its purpose.
You don’t need to arrive with a polished spreadsheet or everything figured out. Bring your questions, the decisions you’ve been putting off, and whatever feels complicated. I’ll listen, ask questions, explain my thinking, and help you sort through the next steps without judgment.
That’s the relationship I want you to expect: someone who knows your name, remembers what matters to you, and helps you make financial decisions you understand.
Expertise with a human perspective.
Professional training matters. So does explaining your options in language you can use.
CFP®
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional
A comprehensive financial planning foundation, with a commitment to acting in your best interests.
ChFC®
Chartered Financial Consultant®
Additional financial planning education to help evaluate decisions in the context of your wider financial life.
AFC®
Accredited Financial Counselor®
A counseling perspective that supports practical decisions, financial understanding, and follow-through.
Advice built around you.
Your goals set the direction.
I work with military families, military medical professionals, LGBTQ+ families, and first-generation professionals. Shared experience can help us connect, but your plan begins with your priorities.
There’s space here for the life you’re building, the people you consider family, and the goals that matter to you.
Clear incentives. Clear roles.
You pay me directly for financial advice. I don’t receive commissions or manage investment accounts.
I can help evaluate investments and recommend changes. You retain your accounts and execute the transactions. We agree on the scope and fee before work begins.
My planning philosophy
Practical principles.
Personal decisions.
Debt needs a strategy.
A student loan, a VA mortgage, and credit card debt don’t call for the same response. We consider the cost, risks, and alternatives alongside your other goals. You don’t have to be debt-free to make progress.
Credit is a tool.
Your credit history can affect borrowing options and costs. It isn’t a verdict on your worth. We focus on understanding your situation and building habits that support your next steps.
Protection comes first.
Insurance decisions start with the risks your household needs to cover. Recommendations should reflect your needs, existing coverage, and budget.
Your people matter.
Estate planning is relevant well beyond the ultra-wealthy. Beneficiaries, family responsibilities, and your wishes deserve attention, including when the people you consider family aren’t related by birth or marriage.
Look ahead on taxes.
Tax planning considers how decisions today may affect future tax outcomes. We look at the bigger picture and coordinate with your tax professional when appropriate.
Invest with perspective.
I favor low-cost, diversified strategies and a long-term view. Your investments should support your goals, time horizon, and ability to take risk, with consistency taking priority over chasing headlines.
A plan you can understand.
A relationship you can use.
You should know what your planner recommends, why it matters, and what to do next.
We can work through a defined project or build an ongoing relationship with implementation support and plan updates. Either way, we start with a conversation about what you need and whether we’re a good fit.
Explore services and pricing →Let’s talk about what comes next.
Let’s TalkPrefer to reach out first? Email Dedrick or call (202) 240-8922.