You know the scene. Big cafeteria, folding tables, vendors lined up with glossy brochures trying to get your attention during a 45-minute lunch break. I was there pitching retirement products to teachers. And I'll be honest with you, a lot of what was being sold in those rooms wasn't great.
High fees. Complicated products. And a lot of people across that table who had no legal obligation to act in your interest.
"Eventually I couldn't keep doing it. So I went independent."
I have spent the better part of my career since then working exclusively with California teachers and public school employees. Hundreds of them. I know CalSTRS and CalPERS inside out. I know the vendors showing up at your school and I know what they're selling. I know what those products cost you and I know what better looks like.
CalSTRS and CalPERS have nuances that take years to understand. The 403(b) market for educators is unlike any other. The decisions you make at retirement around your pension payout, survivor benefits, your DBS account, Social Security, and your investments are all connected in ways that a generalist simply isn't going to see.
I also know that the pension isn't what it used to be. Teachers are working longer for benefits that used to require fewer years. You deserve honest answers about that, not reassurance.
I run the numbers, show you every option, and tell you what I would do if it were my money. Sometimes that means recommending a product. Sometimes it means telling you to stay exactly where you are.
I am not compensated to steer you in any particular direction. My job is to give you a straight answer and let you make the call. That's it.
