We break down what we consider to be the top 5 403(b) stories of 2022. CITs in the 403(b)? CITs: A Welcome Addition to 403(b) Plans SECURE 2.0 (recorded before passing) SEC Fines Equitable $50 Million   Learned by Being Burned Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

In part two of our conversation with money manager Cullen Roche, he discusses the concept of All Duration Investing and his recent paper on the topic. All Duration Investing Pragcap Three Minute Macro  Learned by Being Burned Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

Cullen Roche, author, money manager, and one of the most astute financial minds, returns to talk video making, inflation, housing and markets in part one of our two part conversation.  Pragcap Three Minute Macro  Discipline Funds ETFs Learned by Being Burned Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

Kevin Benson, executive director of the Southern Education Retirement Consortium, believes he has the solution for small and mid-size school districts looking to offer quality 403(b), 457(b) and 401(a) plans.  SERC Solutions Learned by Being Burned Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

Was it all just a dream? New Jersey teachers are losing a fantastic 403(b) option: Lincoln Investment's Participant Directed Platform. Dan and Scott interview New Jersey teacher Chris Nye who shares what he has learned about the future of Lincoln PDP in New Jersey. Bad Vendors Who Offer Good Investing Choices Learned by Being Burned Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org  

Tax Deferred Services, whose CEO was arrested in what the California Department of Insurance called a “$4 million securities fraud scheme,” blankets teacher email inboxes with deceptive message. TDS CEO: Arrested Development "Set up" a Zoom Appointment with TDS Learned by Being Burned Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

Illinois Principal Scott Liska teamed up with the business manager to dramatically improve Evergreen Park ESD 124's 403(b) and 457(b) plan.  Evergreen Park ESD 124 Plan Offerings & Grade  Learned by Being Burned Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

Looking for a higher interest rate in your fixed investment(s)? Scott details some provisions that might help.  Market Value Adjustments Learned by Being Burned Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

Interest rates are rising. What should you be doing?  Estate Planning Simplified Learned by Being Burned Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

Teacher Shaun Morgan discusses online teaching, and his upcoming free Teach Toward Retirement Summit.  Free Registration Learned by Being Burned Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

We regrade 403(b) vendor list for Broward County Public Schools. But they sure didn't make it easy to get information.  Broward 403bwise Grade Broward County Public Schools Learned by Being Burned Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

What are they? How do they work? What role if any should they play in saving for retirement? Cullen Roche 3-Minute Money videos Learned by Being Burned Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

A union that does it right. New Jersey's bad 403(b) bill. Crazy markets.  NGPF California Access to Financial Education (CAFE) grant NGPF Financial Equity & Empowerment (FEE) grant UTLA Fin Lit Workshop Pod: New Jersey’s Bad 403(b) Bill Ben Carlson on Market History, CFA Learned by Being Burned Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

Educators and state employees have access to multiple excellent, low-cost retirement savings vehicles (none of which is a 403(b) plan). Kentucky Deferred Comp Learned by Being Burned Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

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 Wealth Management 403bwise.org

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 Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

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 student loan questions.  Contact David Federal Student Aid Info About Waiver Learned by Being Burned Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

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 Bill A1974 Raj Mukherji Roy Freiman Resources Israel Tannenbaum (New Jersey) State Bill Would Require Multiple 403(b) Providers Bill A1974 Hey Pennsylvania K-12 Teachers: The Insurance Industry Just Made Your 403(b) Plans Worse Learned by Being Burned Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

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

Scott's out this week, but Dan has two important announcements.   The Long View Podcast  Learned by Being Burned podcast Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

We share our ratings for 3,041 school district 403(b) plans. We read the names of the school districts who earned a B or an A.   District Plan Rating Project It's Brutal Out Here Learned by Being Burned podcast Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

We speak with Morningstar's director of personal finance, co-host of The Long View podcast, and author of 30-Minute Money Solutions: A Step-by-Step Guide to Managing Your Finances, and the book Morningstar Guide to Mutual Funds: 5-Star Strategies for Success. Christine Benz Learned by Being Burned podcast Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

One of our least favorite companies looks to be in some hot water with the SEC.   Equitable (AXA) Preparing for $50 million SEC Civil Monetary Penalty Learned by Being Burned Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

Learned by Being Burned: Teachers and the K-12 403(b). The short series that explores the dysfunctional world of supplemental retirement plans, the maddening industry behind them, and the growing movement to fix what is broken. 

We share big news that has been two years in the making.  Learned by Being Burned Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

We debunk some 403(b) misunderstandings. 403(b) Plan Rating Project Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

Extended conversation with Andrew Hallam. We discuss healthcare for the nomad and meeting up in person. Andrew Hallam 403(b) Plan Rating Project Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

Retired teacher, author, and world traveler Andrew Hallam discusses living the good life and other key concepts from his new book. Andrew Hallam 403(b) Plan Rating Project Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org