Teach and Retire Rich

Part 2 of our wide ranging interview with one of the most influential personal finance writers in the country, Scott Burns. A longtime columnist for the Dallas Morning News and the father of the "Couch Potato Portfolio" investing style, Scott is a longtime champion of teachers, and K-12 403(b) reform. Scott Burns Learned by Being Burned — teachers share how they were burned by sales agents and "tr...

Wide ranging interview with one of the most influential personal finance writers in the country, Scott Burns. A longtime columnist for the Dallas Morning News and the father of the "Couch Potato Portfolio" investing style, Scott is a longtime champion of teachers, and K-12 403(b) reform (part 1 of 2). Scott Burns Learned by Being Burned — teachers share how they were burned by sales agents and "tr...

  School counselor from Connecticut gets taken for an expensive ride. It could happen to you.  Fraud Is Flourishing on Zelle. The Bank's Say It Is Not Their Problem. Stuck in AXA (First pod with Adam) Learned by Being Burned — teachers share how they were burned by sales agents and "trusted" advisors and how they got wise to the 403(b) plan Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

Private equity is everywhere: emergency rooms, nursing homes, veterinarians, your favorite retailers, and maybe some day your retirement plan. Yet, according to our guest Brendan Ballou, author of Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America , few understand what these firms are or how they work. Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America  Learned by Being Burned (teachers share how th...

Buffer annuities — sometimes called Structured Investment Options - are pitched as a no-cost investment. Sounds good, right?  The Risk of Buffer and Floor Strategies SEC Warning   Learned by Being Burned (teachers share how they were burned by sales agents and "trusted" advisors and how they got wise to the 403(b) plan) Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

Massachusetts 5th grade teacher Brian Kramer, who describes himself as an Aspiring Financial Literacy Advocate, discusses teaching, how he and his wife got out of Equitable, term life insurance, saving in a Roth IRA, and perhaps earning the CFP® designation.   Northborough School District 403(b) Plan Learned by Being Burned (teachers share how they were burned by sales agents and "trusted" advisor...

Former teacher, current financial planner, and 24-7 student loan forgiveness guru, David Gourley returns to make sense of where student loan forgiveness stands in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling, and the recent Biden Administration announcement of a seemingly new program. David has a message for public sector borrowers: there is a lot to be optimistic about.   Contact David studentaid.gov Bid...

We talk to a real doctor — not a phony one like Dan — who after being burned by salespeople, started the White Coat Investor, the most widely-read, physician-specific personal finance and investing website in the world. White Coat Investor Learned by Being Burned (teachers share how they were burned by sales agents and "trusted" advisors and how they got wise to the 403(b) plan) Meridian Wealth Ma...

Former professional baseball player and current Florida high school teacher, Ole Sheldon, discusses his new book The Impact of Fees on Retirement Investing: Written by a Teacher for Teachers which grew out of his doctoral dissertation on this topic.  The Impact of Fees on Retirement Investing: Written by a Teacher for Teachers Learned by Being Burned (teachers share how they were burned by sales a...

Yanely Espinal is the author of Mind Your Money and the Director of Educational Outreach at our favorite non-profit, Next Gen Personal Finance. To her 58,000 youtube followers she is known as MissBeHelpful, a fin lit channel she founded in 2015 that has racked up more than 4 million views. Yanely also hosts the Financially Inclined , a podcast about "all the money lessons we wish we learned earlie...

Yanely Espinal is the author of Mind Your Money and the Director of Educational Outreach at our favorite non-profit, Next Gen Personal Finance. To her 58,000 youtube followers she is known as MissBeHelpful, a fin lit channel she founded in 2015 that has racked up more than 4 million views. Yanely also hosts the Financially Inclined , a podcast about "all the money lessons we wish we learned earlie...

Auto Enrollment has led to a massive increase in saving for retirement participation, especially among the young. We discuss data from new Vanguard 401(k) report, and what it could mean for the 403(b) and 457(b). We also talk a little travel hacking at beginning of podcast.  Report: Generational Changes in 401(k) Behaviors Learned by Being Burned (teachers share how they were burned by sales agent...

Micah Hauptman, the director of investor protection at the Consumer Federation of America, talks about his job and the fight to implement a fiduciary standard.  Consumer Federation of America Learned by Being Burned (teachers share how they were burned by sales agents and "trusted" advisors and how they got wise to the 403(b) plan) Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

Teacher Tim Whelan of Illinois succinctly describes the many benefits of having a single vendor 403(b) plan. 

Illinois math teacher Tim Whelan discusses his career, family, effort to earn a CFP®, and his fight to stop NTSA-backed legislation that would deny Illinois school district's the ability to offer a single vendor 457(b) plan. He also makes a strong case for why single vendor 403(b) and 457(b) plans are best. Mr. Whelan Financial Illinois Education Association SB 0734 Learned by Being Burned  (teach...

Listening to the education and advocacy podcast series Learned by Being Burned: Teachers and the K-12 403(b) motivated South Carolina high school teacher to advocate for and get better 403(b) investment choices in his South Carolina school district.  York 3 vendor list Learned by Being Burned  (teachers share 403(b) horror stories) Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

After their own missteps, New York music teachers Hana and her husband James are helping colleagues get wise to the 403(b). Hana may have the best story ever for how and where she first signed up for a 403(b).  Episode begins with Dan talking about his current living arrangement.  Learned by Being Burned (teachers share 403(b) horror stories) Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

Scott calls them the "boring administrative sh*t" but investment committees can be game changers in ensuring quality 403(b) and 457(b) plans. What are they? How do they work? And why you should consider starting or serving on one.  New York State laws on Deferred Compensation Committee Learned by Being Burned (teachers share 403(b) horror stories) Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

NTSA pushing bill to ban single vendor 457(b) plans in Illinois. But only for K-12 institutions. Not police plans. Not firefighter plans. Not government employee plans.  Bad New Jersey 403(b) legislation is on the move despite sponsors telling teachers it was dead.  SB 1233 (Illinois) Senator Michael W. Halpin (D) 36th District Representative Stephanie A. Kifowit (D) 84th District Bill A1974 (New...

We talk about our recent talk with CalSTRS, and take another look at how to access 403(b) money. Accessing 403(b) Money Learned by Being Burned (short pod series that explains why the K-12 403(b) is so bad and what teachers are doing to fix it) Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

We dig into the two advising services firm offers: 1) Vanguard Digital Advisor; and 2) Vanguard Personal Advisor. NerdWallet Ratings Learned by Being Burned (short pod series that explains why the K-12 403(b) is so bad and what teachers are doing to fix it) Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

We go over the insurance policies every educator should consider having.  Learned by Being Burned (short pod series that explains why the K-12 403(b) is so bad and what teachers are doing to fix it) Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

Taylor Swift is amazing for so many reasons: talented singer-songwriter, role model, activist. But did you know that she has written 10 songs about the K-12 403(b)?  Learned by Being Burned (short pod series that explains why the K-12 403(b) is so bad and what teachers are doing to fix it) Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

SB 263 — which could be a model for other states — will decrease the number of sales of life insurance and annuities to consumers that are not in consumers' best interests by prohibiting insurance producers from receiving incentives beyond allowable commissions or fees (such as prizes, rent reimbursement, etc.) for their sales and also prohibiting producers from making sales when they do not know...

If only Congress had adopted a 2003 Bush Administration plan to drastically simplify saving for retirement. We interview William Sweetnam the Benefits Tax Counsel at the Treasury Department from 2001-2005. 2003 ERSA/LSA/RSA Plan Learned by Being Burned (short pod series that explains why the K-12 403(b) is so bad and what teachers are doing to fix it) Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org