Teach and Retire Rich

Districts are responding to our 403(b) Plan Rating Project. We recently heard from two school districts asking us to upgrade their D-rated plans because of improvements they had made. School Districts Who Are Improving Their 403(b) Plans Learned by Being Burned Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

New RMD rule changes proposed for the 403(b)/457(b); AIG works on its core; Aspire follows Vanguard model.  Track Proposed RMD Change Learned by Being Burned Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

Our guest today is a fee-only, advice-only CPF®  and fiduciary who specializes in providing hourly advice to do-it-yourself investors. He's a long-time advocate of simple, low-cost investing. He isn't all about work though. How can you be when you live in sunny San Diego? In 2019, he and his wife, Lien, dedicated one full year to travel. Jon Luskin Jon Luskin Blog Learned by Being Burned Meridian...

North Carolina teachers Dave and Brandon help colleagues and students get wise to saving for retirement (updated with correct audio track).  Financial Independent Teachers podcast Learned by Being Burned Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

Southern California high school math teacher gets a Fidelity 457(b) added to his vendor list.   Chaffey Joint Union High Learned by Being Burned Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

One of our favorite guests, teacher/travel hacker Justin Garritt talks about his decision to leave the classroom to become a full-time fiduciary advisor. We also talk travel hacking and carrying a "whole ham" on a flight.  Garritt Financial Solutions Learned by Being Burned Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

In the wake of the SEC's settlement with Equitable Financial we are getting a lot of inquiries about how to find the right kind of financial advice.  SEC Settlement Announcement Learned by Being Burned Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

Fifty million more reasons to hate Equitable Financial after the Securities and Exchange Commission fined the firm $50 million for "materially misleading statements and omissions concerning investor fees." We discuss settlement and ask the question: Why would any school district continue to let this firm sell financial products to its employees? SEC Settlement Announcement Learned by Being Burned...

Student loan expert (and former teacher) David Gourley discussed a time-sensitive student loan provision that could save borrowers thousands of dollars. Prior to event he asked for volunteers to share their loan data sets. He analyzed three submissions. During the event he announced that these three educators would save $14,000, $23,000, and $50,000  respectively. David also answered lots of stude...

Educators in several states have access to a 401(k). We discuss the similarities and differences between the 403(b) and 401(k), and we ask the question: Should all educators have access to a 401(k)? ERSA (Bush II-era Retirement Plan Proposal NGPF co-founder Tim Ranzetta on The Long View Learned by Being Burned Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

In language eerily similar to Pennsylvania's Act 5, which prevents school districts from going single vendor, proposed New Jersey legislation would require large school districts to have at least three 403(b) vendors. We speak with "Izzy" Tannenbaum, partner at Withum, a tax advisory and public accounting firm. Izzy supports the intent of the bill but acknowledges it contains flaws. Sponsors of Bi...

Recently retired 49-year old LAUSD veteran talks teaching, saving for an early retirement, and what's next.  Delia Fernandez, CFP® Joe Manchin and the A.C.A. Learned by Being Burned Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

Security Benefit releases dubious "study" that to the surprise of no one supports its sales-agent based approach.  "Study" Press Release How to Find the Right Kind of Advisor Learned by Being Burned Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

Vendors like AXA/Equitable and National Life Group sell high-cost products to educators but make excellent low-cost retirement plans available to their employees. We look at these firm's 401(k) plans.   Form 5500 Search Blog: National Life Group Hypocrisy Learned by Being Burned Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

Part 2 of interview with former AXA/Equitable vice president for business development. Topics covered include: firm's feelings toward 403bwise.org; company name change; importance of ASBO; key markets; where firm will be in 10 years.   Part 1 Equitable Bermuda Triangle Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

Former AXA/Equitable vice president for business development dishes on firm that dominates the K-12 403(b) market in terms of market share and participant anger (part 1 of 2).  Equitable Bermuda Triangle Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

Former teacher teaches executive function techniques to middle school, high school and college students.  EF Specialists City Year Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

Student loan experts David Gourley and Mychal Eagleson, CFP® discuss a time-sensitive student loan provision that could save borrowers thousands of dollars.  Contact Mychal and David Federal Student Aid PSLF Waiver Info An Exceptional Life Financial Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

At what price point does it make sense to invest in a taxable brokerage account over a pre-tax 403(b)? Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

Terry Slack is a Superintendent (known as District Administrator in Wisconsin) who gets the importance of offering a low-cost 403(b). His district's A-rated single vendor plan has a 75% participation rate. We talk with Terry about why and how he prioritizes employee wellness. Wisconsin-Dells A-rated 403(b) Plan   Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org  

The market is off close to 13% year-to-date. We discuss why this might not be such a bad thing.   Risk Tolerance Questionnaire Asset Allocation Information   Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

iBonds are paying eye-popping rates. We discuss.  Treasury Direct Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

We profile teacher Barb Besal who narrated Learned by Being Burned: Teachers and the K-12 403(b) , and veteran journalist Steve Buel who researched, reported and wrote the series. Barb Besal's November 2020 pod interview

Teacher and member of state task force on financial literacy, Michele Bentivegna, talks teaching financial literacy.  Arizona Financial Literacy Task Force on Fin Lit ngpf.org Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

Retirement plan bill that passed the House on a 414-5 vote and is expected to be signed into law brings significant changes to retirement plans. We discuss.    CIT Pod What is a CIT? Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org