How American Fidelity Exploits Section 125 Plans (#413)
Teach and Retire Rich
Section 125 plans are a great way to save money for health care, dependent care, dental care and disability insurance on a pre-tax basis. American Fidelity, which sells high-cost 403(b) products, runs many of these plans for school districts. In many cases educators must meet with an AF rep in order to get the pre-tax benefit. During these meetings AF sales reps try to sell a blizzard of services. We discuss what employees and employers should do. (short pod series about K-12 403(b) issues)
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What I Learned Trying to Leave an Employer-Sponsored Medicare Advantage Plan
Teach and Retire Rich
Many teachers are offered a subsidized Medicare plan from their school district when they retire. They are told this is a great benefit that they have contributed to their whole career. Sounds great, right? Most don’t realize that what they are being offered is not traditional Medicare. It is a more restrictive form of healthcare called Medicare Advantage. They also don’t realize that the choice they make at 65 can affect their healthcare options for the rest of their lives. As they get older and require more healthcare, they may not be able to switch to original Medicare. We speak...
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What is a Deadbox and Should You Have One? (#411)
Teach and Retire Rich
Jeremy Schneider, a founder of Nectarine, an innovative advice-only service that provides access to a fiduciary advisor on an hourly basis, explains what a "deadbox" is and why you might want one. (short pod series about K-12 403(b) issues) Nothing presented or discussed is to be construed as investment or tax advice. This can be secured from a vetted Certified Financial Planner (CFP®).
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This Advisor is Out on the K-12 403(b) Market (#410)
Teach and Retire Rich
Ken Ford of Ford Wealth Management, who we first interviewed in 2015, shares why he is done with the K-12 403(b) market. (short pod series about K-12 403(b) issues) Nothing presented or discussed is to be construed as investment or tax advice. This can be secured from a vetted Certified Financial Planner (CFP®).
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Nectarine Has Gotten Even Sweeter (#409)
Teach and Retire Rich
We catch up with Jeremy Schneider, a founder of Nectarine, an innovative advice-only service that provides access to a fiduciary advisor on an hourly basis. He updates us on the growth and the new services being offered. (short pod series about K-12 403(b) issues) Nothing presented or discussed is to be construed as investment or tax advice. This can be secured from a vetted Certified Financial Planner (CFP®).
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403(B)/457(b) Basics: The Salary Reduction Agreement
Teach and Retire Rich
What is it? How to use it to change contribution amount. We also talk new 2026 contribution limits. (short pod series about K-12 403(b) issues) Nothing presented or discussed is to be construed as investment or tax advice. This can be secured from a vetted Certified Financial Planner (CFP®).
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Financial Resolutions + Some Favorite 2025 Things (#407)
Teach and Retire Rich
Scott and Dan share their financial resolutions and discuss their favorite book, movie and TV show from 2025. They also discuss the penny's lucrative goodbye. (short pod series about K-12 403(b) issues) Nothing presented or discussed is to be construed as investment or tax advice. This can be secured from a vetted Certified Financial Planner (CFP®).
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Wait, Why Am I Paying an Additional Medicare Tax? (#406)
Teach and Retire Rich
Teachers who collect a pension, Social Security, and draw income from a non-Roth retirement account may face an additional Medicare tax. Lucretia Ryan of Financial Freedom for Women breaks it all down. (YouTube) Dirty Little Secrets of Medicare “Advantage” (short pod series about K-12 403(b) issues) Nothing presented or discussed is to be construed as investment or tax advice. This can be secured from a vetted Certified Financial Planner (CFP®).
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How the Grinch Stole the 403(b) (#405)
Teach and Retire Rich
On the 25 year anniversary of the blog post that identified the 403(b) grinch we ask who today is to blame for the blight of the 403(b)? (short pod series about K-12 403(b) issues) Nothing presented or discussed is to be construed as investment or tax advice. This can be secured from a vetted Certified Financial Planner (CFP®).
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Oops Vanguard Did It Again (#404)
Teach and Retire Rich
Vanguard raises admin fees on 403(b) plans (again). CIT 403(b) legislation is back in the news. Equitable hits dubious milestone. New financial term. (short pod series about K-12 403(b) issues) Nothing presented or discussed is to be construed as investment or tax advice. This can be secured from a vetted Certified Financial Planner (CFP®).
info_outlineScott refutes National Tax-Deferred Savings Association research claim, among other things, that the multi-vendor environment leads to more enrollment than single vendor.
- Debunking the NTSA’s 2018 "Improving Retirement Savings for America's Public Educators" study
- NTSA "Study"
- 403bwise Zoom Event on May 21: Curious About Becoming a Fiduciary Advisor?
- Learned by Being Burned - Short pod series about how teachers got burned then got wise to the 403(b)
- Meridian Wealth Management
- 403bwise.org
Nothing presented or discussed is to be construed as investment or tax advice. This can be secured from a vetted Certified Financial Planner (CFP®).