Welcome to my blog where I like to crack wise about the 403(b). For 19 years, I wrote an onโagain, offโagain blog called Wise Cracks (see archived posts here). I tried to mix humor with the serious business of improving the 403(b) for teachers.
I plan to do the same with this column, but I plan to do it more frequently. I will do this under the more generic name "Dan's Blog." I chose this new name because it fits better on the home page. That's a joke. But what I write about, hopefully, won't be.
2021 California Teacher Retirement Pension Payout Data ๐
May 24, 2022
12,785 teachers retired in 2021. What was their annual pension payout?
Guest Blog: Catch Up Strategies for Late 403(b) Plan Savers ๐๐ฝโโ๏ธ ๐๐ฝ
May 17, 2022
There is still time and options.
Equitable Says It Appreciates Teachers ๐ค
May 10, 2022
It sure has a funny โ and costly โ way of showing it.
Single Vendor Plans Can Stink ๐ฆจ
May 3, 2022
This one sure does.
403(b) Plan Goes from F to a C ๐๐๐
April 26, 2022
It's so easy to do.
Power of AARP ๐ช
April 19, 2022
Organization has reach.
Guest Blog: 403(b) and Income Taxes ๐ฐ
April 12, 2022
Tax impact of 403(b) plans.
403(b) Can Be Fixed ๐งฐ โ๏ธ
April 6, 2022
Here's how others have done it.
Great 8 ๐ค + Big Fat F ๐ค
March 29, 2022
In a state with much to cheer, one Indiana 403(b) plan goes from D to F.
The K-12 403(b): It's Brutal Out Here ๐คฎ
March 23, 2022
The K-12 403(b) might be worse than adolescence.
403(b) Agents Dish on How They Hook Teachers ๐ฃโ
March 15, 2022
The most expensive Starbucks coffee ever.
New Pod Series: Learned by Being Burned ๐ฅ
March 8, 2022
Teachers share how they were sold high-cost 403(b) products and how they are fighting back.
Guest Blog: The Importance of Asset Allocation โ๏ธ
March 1, 2022
How to achieve it in 6 steps.
Balance โ๏ธ
February 22, 2022
How to Invest and spend for happiness, health and wealth.
5 Steps Educators Need to Take to Ensure a Successful Retirement ๐
February 15, 2022
Important checklist.
California School Districts Can Go Single Vendor ๐
February 8, 2022
1982 lawsuit paved the way.
Is a Health Savings Account Right for You? ๐ค
February 1, 2022
Pros and cons.
I Want My NEA Direct Invest ๐๐ป
January 25, 2022
Here's how to get it.
Plan Rating Project Update ๐ค
January 18, 2022
School districts are failing their employees.
Guest Blog: 403(b) Plans and Age 72 ๐
January 11, 2022
ABCs of RMDs and RBDs.
Most Read Stories of 2021 ๐
December 28, 2021
People really want out of bad 403(b) plans.
Green Light for Single Vendor 403(b) Plans In California? ๐ฆ
December 21, 2021
UC and Cal State systems show the way.
California Dreaming (of Better 403(b) Plans) ๐ด
December 14, 2021
Arcane state legislation is to blame for bloated K-14 403(b) vendor lists.
Chicago Public Schools Goes Single Vendor ๐
December 7, 2021
Excellent pricing achieved.
Guest Blog: Death and Your 403(b) โฐ๏ธ
November 30, 2021
You can't take it with you.
Did AIG Just Endorse Single Vendor K-12 403(b) Plans? ๐คทโโ๏ธ
November 16, 2021
Are those pigs in the sky?
One Thousand More Reasons to Contribute to a 403(b)/457(b) ๐
November 9, 2022
2022 contribution limits rise.
Florida District 403(b): A Closer Look ๐ค
November 2 2021
Does Broward deserve an F?
Guest Blog: Million Dollar 403(b) Mistake ๐ฑ
October 26, 2021
What could have been.
Bad K-12 403(b) Vendor Lists ๐ซ
October 19, 2021
C's, D's and F's
403bwise K-12 403(b) Plan Rating Project ๐
October 12, 2021
Is your district on the list? If so, does it make the grade?
What's Cooking at 403bwise? ๐จโ๐ณ
September 28, 2021
It's gonna get hot.
5000 Strong ๐ช
September 21, 2021
Nobody comes hereย anymore, it's too crowded.
403bwise Teacher Lounge Makeover ๐จโ๐จ
September 14, 2021
Real education.
Florida District Prioritizes Furniture Over Teacher Retirement Plansย ๐๏ธ
September 7, 2021
Not an Onion story.
CalSTRS Pension Data ๐ธ
April 23, 2022
Snapshot of retiree pension payout.
Principal Who Cares About His Staffโs Financial Future ๐ต
August 17, 2021
Staff gets wise to saving for retirement.
Dear New Teachers โ๏ธ
July 27, 2021
A few words I wish I had heard all those years ago.
Thank You, Ron Lieber ๐
July 20, 2021
Difference maker.
NGPF-403bwise Collaboration ๐ค๐ผ
July 13, 2022
Two great financial literacy initiatives.
California Teacher Retiree Data ๐
June 22, 2021
Includes average age, years of service, and monthly benefit information.
How to Make Money in the U.S. Stock Market ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฐ
June 15, 2021
It's shockingly simple.
Aspire Makes Sense ๐
June 8, 2021
Aspire Financial Services: A 403(b)/457(b) Solution
Thrown to the 403(b) Wolves ๐บ
May 25, 2021
Some school districts make employees meet with high-cost 403(b) sales agents.
The Wisdom of Michelle Singletary โจ
May 18, 2021
Money. Kids. Teachers. Financial crisis.
457(b): Savings Plan Unicorn? ๐ฆ
May 11, 2021
It's real. I have seen it. I have used it.
Save What?! ๐จ
April 27, 2021
How much should teachers save for retirement?
Four Who Have Retired ๐จโ๐ฆณ๐ฉ๐พ๐ฑ๐ผโโ๏ธ๐ฉ๐ผ๐น
April 13, 2021
Two teachers, a custodian and former account executive share their story.
Updated How to Get Out of a Bad 403(b) Plan ๐ธ
April 8, 2021
Teacher driven improvement.
The Power of State Based 457b and 403b Plans ๐ช
March 24, 2021
When assets are huge costs are low.
Lights, Camera, Kids? ๐ฌ๐ผ๐ถ๐ป
March 9, 2021
New 457(b) video is a family affair.
Women & Personal Finance ๐ฉโ๐ผ๐ต
March 2, 2021
Honest conversations.
Too Many 403(b) Vendors ๐ค๐ฉ๐ฑ
February 23, 2021
California school district 403(b) vendor lists are huge.
Amazing Women ๐
February 16, 2021
Lucky to know these four.
Mutating 403(b) Phish ๐ฆ ๐
February 9, 2021
It's getting worse.
Speech & Retire Rich ๐ฌ + ๐ฐ
February 2, 2021
SLPs are getting financially wise.
All the Small Things ๐
January 26, 2021
Small financial moves can have a big impact.
403(b) Sales Shark Repellent ๐ ๐ฆ
January 19, 2021
Saving pre-service teachers from the sales sharks.
Teachers Teaching Teachers... ๐ฉโ๐ซ ๐ฉ๐ฝโ๐ซ ๐จ๐ฝโ๐ซ
January 12, 2021
About how to save for retirement.
Getting Better 403(b) Choices ๐ฅ
January 5, 2021
Three teachers share how they did it.
Book Club of One ๐
December 22, 2020
Books I read in 2020.
$65,000 Question ๐ค
December 15, 2020
Does this add up?
Arrested Development ๐ฎ
December 8 2020
Owner of major 403(b)/457(b) compliance firm booked.
How to Use 403bcompare.com ๐ช
December 1, 2020
Fee transparency (if you know where to look).
403bwise On-Demand Events โฑ
November 24, 2020
Get wise anytime anywhere.
How to Get Out of AXA/Equitable ๐ธ
A crowd-sourced resource.
403bwise Will Come to You ๐
November 10, 2020
Customized events to help colleagues get 403(b) and 457(b) wise!
Pittsburgh 403(b) No Longer the Pits ๐
November 3, 2020
Teacher-advocate made it happen.
Welcome to the Hotel AXA/Equitable ๐จ
October 27, 2020
It's not such a lovely place.
403(b) "How It Started ๐ซ How It Ended ๐" Stories
October 20, 2020
Happy endings.
Teachers Helping Teachers ๐
October 13, 2020
The 403bwise Facebook flywheel.
457 Heaven ๐
October 6, 2020
457(b) > 403(b)? Maybe.
Making 403(b) Lemonade ๐โก๏ธ๐ธ
September 29, 2020
403bwise community answers the call.
403(b) Lemon Challenge ๐
September 22, 2020
Is there a California school district without at least one low-cost 403(b) vendor?
Dear Employer... โ๐ฝ
September 15, 2020
Here is why we need better 403(b) vendor options.
Got Vanguard? How about Aspire? Quickly find out. ๐ต๐ฝโโ๏ธ
New 403bwise resource.
Gone Phishing ๐ฃ ๐ ๐
September 1, 2020
We caught some whoppers.
Whatโs That Phishy Smell in Your Inbox? ๐ฃ
August 18, 2020
You've got deceptive email.
Back-to-School Saving for Retirement Checklist for Teachers โ
August 11, 2020 (updated 8.8.21)
10 must checks.
AIG Settlement Shows K-12 403(b) Not A-okay ๐ข
August 2, 2020
What don't we know?
K-12 403(b) Fees are Bigger in Texas โฌ๏ธ
July 27, 2020
No masking the problem.
Hamilton Sings About the 403(b) ๐ค
July 21, 2020
How does a bastard, orphan, grandfather to the 401(k)...
The Wealthy Custodian ๐
July 14, 2020
Healthy, wealthy and wise.
403(b)ill of Rights ๐บ๐ธ
July 4, 2021
We the people of the K-12 403(b) plan...
CITs in the 403(b)? ๐ถ
June 23, 2020
Music to 403(b) participant ears?
Year One ๐ง
June 16, 2020
We have been busy.
403bwise Palooza ๐
Events? We got 'em.
Minneapolis and What We Teach ๐
June 2, 2020
Time for truth.
When Bad 403(b) Vendors Offer Good Investing Choices ๐
May 26, 2020
Sheep in wolf's clothing.
Pennsylvania 403(b) Unicorn ๐ฆ
May 18, 2020
Should be a herd.
Hey Pennsylvania K-12 Teachers: The Insurance Industry Just Made Your 403(b) Plans Worse ๐๐ฝ
June 5, 2019
Act 5 hurts teachers.
Aspire to be in the 403(b) Vanguard ๐น
May 12, 2020
Learn how to get better 403(b) vendor choices.
K-12 Benefits Officials Fail This Test ๐ฉ
May 5, 2020
It should be easy.
403(b) Zoom Boom ๐ฅ
April 27, 2020
We are teaching up a storm.
Crisis Mandates School Districts Fix 403(b) Now ๐ง
April 21, 2020
Low hanging fruit as teacher furloughs and layoffs loom.
403(b) Escape Hatch? ๐
April 14, 2020
Thanks to CARES Act 403(b) help may be on the way.
In Praise of Teachers ๐๐ฝ
April 7, 2020
Quarantine reveals what many teachers alway knew.
403bwise Turns 20 ๐
March 31, 2020
An amazing journey.
Teachable Moment ๐จ๐ฝโ๐ซ
March 24, 2020
So that just happened.
Historical Perspective ๐
March 17, 2020
A look back.
The Annuity Letter (Annotated) ๐
March 10, 2020
A fiduciary advisor responds to an annuity huckster.
Annuity Huckster Outbreak ๐ฆ
March 4, 2020
No crisis off limits for some.
Model 403(b) Education ๐๐ฝ
February 26, 2020
Forty teachers get wise to the 403(b).
Keeping it ๐ฏ
February 20, 2020
100 podcasts strong.
The Most Important Class ๐
February 12, 2020
Sadly, most will never take.
700 Clubโ๏ธ
February 5, 2020
403bwise Facebook group is exploding (in a good way).
When They Go Low โฌ๏ธ
January 29, 2020
We enlist our creative friends.
Banned by the NTSA ๐ ๐ฝโโ๏ธ
January 24, 2020
Truth tellers not welcome.
Lights, Camera, Advocacy Action! ๐ฅ
January 22, 2020
403(b) explainer and advocacy video.
Headline I Want to See: Is the Vanguard 403(b) getting too big to be healthy for the financial system? ๐ฐ
January 17, 2020
That will be the day!
Power of 403(b) Group Contracts ๐ช๐ฝ
January 15, 2019
It's simple economics.
The Wall Street Journal Impeaches the NEA ๐ฉ๐ฝโโ๏ธ
January 7, 2020
Teachers should too.
How the TPA Grinch Stole the 403(b) ๐
December 17, 2019
And the Grinch put his hand to his ear...
Big Hurray for UTLA! ๐
December 10, 2019
A union that gets importance of helping teachers.
What a Thanksgiving Game! ๐ฆ
December 3, 2019
Roll, baby, roll!
Quid Pro Quo, Dano? Why Would Dan Flynn Gut 403(b) Cost Caps? ๐ฐ
November 19, 2019
We have questions.
Thanks to Dan Flynn, Texas Teachers Can't Win ๐ก
November 12, 2019
More nonsense than you can shake a stick at.
School Districts: You Got the 403(b) Power โ๐ฝ
November 6, 2019
Take 403(b) control from vendors.
403(b) Gaslighting 101 ๐ญ
October 29, 2019
Fees don't matter. Single vendor plans reduce participation.ย ย
For What It's Worth 2019 ๐ต
There's something happening here.
An Even Fishier Smell in the Teachers' Lounge ๐๐ ๐ก
October 15, 2019
ValuTeachers hires ex-teachers to sell high cost 403(b)s.
Dodgers Are Part of the K-12 403(b) Problem โพ๏ธ
October 9, 2019
Baseball, hot dogs, and high cost annuities.
Why K-12 403(b) Plans Stink ๐ฉ
October 2, 2019
It starts with ERISA.
DC Travel Blog: Adventures in 403(b) Advocacy ๐งณ
September 17-20, 2019
Dan and Scott go to Washington DC
The NTSA Released a 403(b) Plan Enhancement Guide ๐ฑ
September 11, 2019
It is as conflicted as you would expect
K-12 403(b) Isnโt Just for Teachers ๐ฉ๐ฝโ๐ผ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผ
September 5, 2019
Don't forget school support personnel.
There is Still a Fishy Smell in the Teachers' Lounge ๐
August 20, 2019
Beware the free lunch.
California K-12 Teachers Have Great 403(b) Choices.
They Just Don't Know It. ๐๐ฝโโ๏ธ
August 14, 2019
Vendor lists are long but there is at least one diamond in the rough
Blowing Smoke: More Weak K-12 403(b) Multi-Vendor Arguments ๐จ
August 6, 2019
Industry defends broken K-12 403(b) system.
More Adventures in Bad K-12 403(b) Policy as Texas Tells Pennsylvania: โHold My Beer.โ ๐บ
July 29, 2019
Texas strips away 403(b) protections
Big News at 403bwise ๐ฐโ๏ธ
July 4, 2019
Welcome to the redesigned 403bwise. And itโs not just our look that has been updated.