Welcome to my blog where I like to crack wise about the 403(b). For 19 years, I wrote an on‑again, off‑again 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 📊
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 🏃🏽♀️ 🏃🏽
May 17, 2022
There is still time and options.
Equitable Says It Appreciates Teachers 🤔
May 10, 2022
It sure has a funny — and costly — way of showing it.
Single Vendor Plans Can Stink 🦨
May 3, 2022
This one sure does.
403(b) Plan Goes from F to a C 👏👏👏
April 26, 2022
It's so easy to do.
Power of AARP 💪
April 19, 2022
Organization has reach.
Guest Blog: 403(b) and Income Taxes 💰
April 12, 2022
Tax impact of 403(b) plans.
403(b) Can Be Fixed 🧰 ⚒️
April 6, 2022
Here's how others have done it.
Great 8 🤗 + Big Fat F 🤔
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 🤮
March 23, 2022
The K-12 403(b) might be worse than adolescence.
403(b) Agents Dish on How They Hook Teachers 🎣☕
March 15, 2022
The most expensive Starbucks coffee ever.
New Pod Series: Learned by Being Burned 🔥
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 ⚖️
March 1, 2022
How to achieve it in 6 steps.
Balance ⚖️
February 22, 2022
How to Invest and spend for happiness, health and wealth.
5 Steps Educators Need to Take to Ensure a Successful Retirement 📋
February 15, 2022
Important checklist.
California School Districts Can Go Single Vendor 👍
February 8, 2022
1982 lawsuit paved the way.
Is a Health Savings Account Right for You? 🤔
February 1, 2022
Pros and cons.
I Want My NEA Direct Invest 👊🏻
January 25, 2022
Here's how to get it.
Plan Rating Project Update 😤
January 18, 2022
School districts are failing their employees.
Guest Blog: 403(b) Plans and Age 72 🎂
January 11, 2022
ABCs of RMDs and RBDs.
Most Read Stories of 2021 📖
December 28, 2021
People really want out of bad 403(b) plans.
Green Light for Single Vendor 403(b) Plans In California? 🚦
December 21, 2021
UC and Cal State systems show the way.
California Dreaming (of Better 403(b) Plans) 😴
December 14, 2021
Arcane state legislation is to blame for bloated K-14 403(b) vendor lists.
Chicago Public Schools Goes Single Vendor 😃
December 7, 2021
Excellent pricing achieved.
Guest Blog: Death and Your 403(b) ⚰️
November 30, 2021
You can't take it with you.
Did AIG Just Endorse Single Vendor K-12 403(b) Plans? 🤷♀️
November 16, 2021
Are those pigs in the sky?
One Thousand More Reasons to Contribute to a 403(b)/457(b) 🎉
November 9, 2022
2022 contribution limits rise.
Florida District 403(b): A Closer Look 🤔
November 2 2021
Does Broward deserve an F?
Guest Blog: Million Dollar 403(b) Mistake 😱
October 26, 2021
What could have been.
Bad K-12 403(b) Vendor Lists 😫
October 19, 2021
C's, D's and F's
403bwise K-12 403(b) Plan Rating Project 📋
October 12, 2021
Is your district on the list? If so, does it make the grade?
What's Cooking at 403bwise? 👨🍳
September 28, 2021
It's gonna get hot.
5000 Strong 💪
September 21, 2021
Nobody comes here anymore, it's too crowded.
403bwise Teacher Lounge Makeover 👨🎨
September 14, 2021
Real education.
Florida District Prioritizes Furniture Over Teacher Retirement Plans 🛋️
September 7, 2021
Not an Onion story.
CalSTRS Pension Data 📸
April 23, 2022
Snapshot of retiree pension payout.
Principal Who Cares About His Staff’s Financial Future 💵
August 17, 2021
Staff gets wise to saving for retirement.
Dear New Teachers ✍️
July 27, 2021
A few words I wish I had heard all those years ago.
Thank You, Ron Lieber 👏
July 20, 2021
Difference maker.
NGPF-403bwise Collaboration 🤝🏼
July 13, 2022
Two great financial literacy initiatives.
California Teacher Retiree Data 📊
June 22, 2021
Includes average age, years of service, and monthly benefit information.
How to Make Money in the U.S. Stock Market 💰💰💰
June 15, 2021
It's shockingly simple.
Aspire Makes Sense 🙌
June 8, 2021
Aspire Financial Services: A 403(b)/457(b) Solution
Thrown to the 403(b) Wolves 🐺
May 25, 2021
Some school districts make employees meet with high-cost 403(b) sales agents.
The Wisdom of Michelle Singletary ✨
May 18, 2021
Money. Kids. Teachers. Financial crisis.
457(b): Savings Plan Unicorn? 🦄
May 11, 2021
It's real. I have seen it. I have used it.
Save What?! 😨
April 27, 2021
How much should teachers save for retirement?
Four Who Have Retired 👨🦳👩🏾👱🏼♂️👩🏼🍹
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 💸
April 8, 2021
Teacher driven improvement.
The Power of State Based 457b and 403b Plans 💪
March 24, 2021
When assets are huge costs are low.
Lights, Camera, Kids? 🎬👼👶🏻
March 9, 2021
New 457(b) video is a family affair.
Women & Personal Finance 👩💼💵
March 2, 2021
Honest conversations.
Too Many 403(b) Vendors 😤😩😱
February 23, 2021
California school district 403(b) vendor lists are huge.
Amazing Women 🙌
February 16, 2021
Lucky to know these four.
Mutating 403(b) Phish 🦠🐠
February 9, 2021
It's getting worse.
Speech & Retire Rich 💬 + 💰
February 2, 2021
SLPs are getting financially wise.
All the Small Things 🐜
January 26, 2021
Small financial moves can have a big impact.
403(b) Sales Shark Repellent 🙅 🦈
January 19, 2021
Saving pre-service teachers from the sales sharks.
Teachers Teaching Teachers... 👩🏫 👩🏽🏫 👨🏽🏫
January 12, 2021
About how to save for retirement.
Getting Better 403(b) Choices 🥇
January 5, 2021
Three teachers share how they did it.
Book Club of One 📚
December 22, 2020
Books I read in 2020.
$65,000 Question 🤔
December 15, 2020
Does this add up?
Arrested Development 👮
December 8 2020
Owner of major 403(b)/457(b) compliance firm booked.
How to Use 403bcompare.com 💪
December 1, 2020
Fee transparency (if you know where to look).
403bwise On-Demand Events ⏱
November 24, 2020
Get wise anytime anywhere.
How to Get Out of AXA/Equitable 💸
A crowd-sourced resource.
403bwise Will Come to You 🌎
November 10, 2020
Customized events to help colleagues get 403(b) and 457(b) wise!
Pittsburgh 403(b) No Longer the Pits 🎉
November 3, 2020
Teacher-advocate made it happen.
Welcome to the Hotel AXA/Equitable 🏨
October 27, 2020
It's not such a lovely place.
403(b) "How It Started 😫 How It Ended 😀" Stories
October 20, 2020
Happy endings.
Teachers Helping Teachers 🔁
October 13, 2020
The 403bwise Facebook flywheel.
457 Heaven 😇
October 6, 2020
457(b) > 403(b)? Maybe.
Making 403(b) Lemonade 🍋➡️🍸
September 29, 2020
403bwise community answers the call.
403(b) Lemon Challenge 🍋
September 22, 2020
Is there a California school district without at least one low-cost 403(b) vendor?
Dear Employer... ✍🏽
September 15, 2020
Here is why we need better 403(b) vendor options.
Got Vanguard? How about Aspire? Quickly find out. 🕵🏽♀️
New 403bwise resource.
Gone Phishing 🎣 🐠 🐟
September 1, 2020
We caught some whoppers.
What’s That Phishy Smell in Your Inbox? 🎣
August 18, 2020
You've got deceptive email.
Back-to-School Saving for Retirement Checklist for Teachers ✅
August 11, 2020 (updated 8.8.21)
10 must checks.
AIG Settlement Shows K-12 403(b) Not A-okay 😢
August 2, 2020
What don't we know?
K-12 403(b) Fees are Bigger in Texas ⬆️
July 27, 2020
No masking the problem.
Hamilton Sings About the 403(b) 🎤
July 21, 2020
How does a bastard, orphan, grandfather to the 401(k)...
The Wealthy Custodian 😊
July 14, 2020
Healthy, wealthy and wise.
403(b)ill of Rights 🇺🇸
July 4, 2021
We the people of the K-12 403(b) plan...
CITs in the 403(b)? 🎶
June 23, 2020
Music to 403(b) participant ears?
Year One 🧁
June 16, 2020
We have been busy.
403bwise Palooza 🎉
Events? We got 'em.
Minneapolis and What We Teach 📚
June 2, 2020
Time for truth.
When Bad 403(b) Vendors Offer Good Investing Choices 🐑
May 26, 2020
Sheep in wolf's clothing.
Pennsylvania 403(b) Unicorn 🦄
May 18, 2020
Should be a herd.
Hey Pennsylvania K-12 Teachers: The Insurance Industry Just Made Your 403(b) Plans Worse 👎🏽
June 5, 2019
Act 5 hurts teachers.
Aspire to be in the 403(b) Vanguard 🏹
May 12, 2020
Learn how to get better 403(b) vendor choices.
K-12 Benefits Officials Fail This Test 😩
May 5, 2020
It should be easy.
403(b) Zoom Boom 💥
April 27, 2020
We are teaching up a storm.
Crisis Mandates School Districts Fix 403(b) Now 🔧
April 21, 2020
Low hanging fruit as teacher furloughs and layoffs loom.
403(b) Escape Hatch? 🔐
April 14, 2020
Thanks to CARES Act 403(b) help may be on the way.
In Praise of Teachers 🙌🏽
April 7, 2020
Quarantine reveals what many teachers alway knew.
403bwise Turns 20 🎂
March 31, 2020
An amazing journey.
Teachable Moment 👨🏽🏫
March 24, 2020
So that just happened.
Historical Perspective 📜
March 17, 2020
A look back.
The Annuity Letter (Annotated) 📄
March 10, 2020
A fiduciary advisor responds to an annuity huckster.
Annuity Huckster Outbreak 🦠
March 4, 2020
No crisis off limits for some.
Model 403(b) Education 👍🏽
February 26, 2020
Forty teachers get wise to the 403(b).
Keeping it 💯
February 20, 2020
100 podcasts strong.
The Most Important Class 🏆
February 12, 2020
Sadly, most will never take.
700 Club❗️
February 5, 2020
403bwise Facebook group is exploding (in a good way).
When They Go Low ⬇️
January 29, 2020
We enlist our creative friends.
Banned by the NTSA 🙅🏽♂️
January 24, 2020
Truth tellers not welcome.
Lights, Camera, Advocacy Action! 🎥
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? 📰
January 17, 2020
That will be the day!
Power of 403(b) Group Contracts 💪🏽
January 15, 2019
It's simple economics.
The Wall Street Journal Impeaches the NEA 👩🏽⚖️
January 7, 2020
Teachers should too.
How the TPA Grinch Stole the 403(b) 🎄
December 17, 2019
And the Grinch put his hand to his ear...
Big Hurray for UTLA! 🎉
December 10, 2019
A union that gets importance of helping teachers.
What a Thanksgiving Game! 🦃
December 3, 2019
Roll, baby, roll!
Quid Pro Quo, Dano? Why Would Dan Flynn Gut 403(b) Cost Caps? 💰
November 19, 2019
We have questions.
Thanks to Dan Flynn, Texas Teachers Can't Win 😡
November 12, 2019
More nonsense than you can shake a stick at.
School Districts: You Got the 403(b) Power ✊🏽
November 6, 2019
Take 403(b) control from vendors.
403(b) Gaslighting 101 🎭
October 29, 2019
Fees don't matter. Single vendor plans reduce participation.
For What It's Worth 2019 🎵
There's something happening here.
An Even Fishier Smell in the Teachers' Lounge 🐟🐠🐡
October 15, 2019
ValuTeachers hires ex-teachers to sell high cost 403(b)s.
Dodgers Are Part of the K-12 403(b) Problem ⚾️
October 9, 2019
Baseball, hot dogs, and high cost annuities.
Why K-12 403(b) Plans Stink 💩
October 2, 2019
It starts with ERISA.
DC Travel Blog: Adventures in 403(b) Advocacy 🧳
September 17-20, 2019
Dan and Scott go to Washington DC
The NTSA Released a 403(b) Plan Enhancement Guide 😱
September 11, 2019
It is as conflicted as you would expect
K-12 403(b) Isn’t Just for Teachers 👩🏽💼👨🏻💼
September 5, 2019
Don't forget school support personnel.
There is Still a Fishy Smell in the Teachers' Lounge 🐟
August 20, 2019
Beware the free lunch.
California K-12 Teachers Have Great 403(b) Choices.
They Just Don't Know It. 🏄🏽♂️
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 💨
August 6, 2019
Industry defends broken K-12 403(b) system.
More Adventures in Bad K-12 403(b) Policy as Texas Tells Pennsylvania: “Hold My Beer.” 🍺
July 29, 2019
Texas strips away 403(b) protections
Big News at 403bwise 📰❗️
July 4, 2019
Welcome to the redesigned 403bwise. And it’s not just our look that has been updated.