403bwise is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

The K-12 403(b) is broken.
Together we can fix it.
Dan's Blog

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. 

403(b) Audit

March 19, 2024

How industry hooks educators on high-cost plans.  

Barbara O'Neill: Give Yourself a 403(b) Plan Checkup

March 12, 2024

Ten items to examine.

Contrast in Caring About Educators

March 5, 2024

Super superintendent and an industry lackey.

403bwise Remarks on Illinois Single Vendor Legislation

February 27, 2024

Legislator who was burned as an educator introduces SB2568 to improve 403(b) plan in state.

F.I.R.E or I.C.E.?

February 20, 2024

Healthy counter to F.I.R.E.?

Barbara O'Neill: 8th and 9th Inning 403(b) Strategies

February 13, 2024

It's never too late to make meaningful changes to a 403(b) plan.

403bwise Facebook Tsunami

February 6, 2024

Something is happening here.

Meta Effect of Being Non-ERISA

January 30, 2024

Lack of fiduciary protections doom educators.

Education Consortium Throws Teachers Under the Bus

January 23, 2024

Who thought it was a good idea to put a red-rated 403(b) vendor in charge of a 403(b) plan?

Barbara O'Neill: Spotlight on CalSTRS Pension 2

January 16, 2024

Closer look at this green-rated vendor

Things We Liked in 2023

January 2, 2024

Much to celebrate

Barbara O'Neill: Green+ Vendors Fidelity and Vanguard

December 12, 2023

Spotlight on low-cost leaders.

Picturing the 403(b)

December 5, 2023

A few more images come to mind.

The K-12 403(b) in One Image

November 28, 2023

Leading participants to slaughter.

Rollover Chart

November 21, 2023

Can this plan be rolled over into that plan?

Morgan Housel Does It Again

November 14, 2023

Same as ever.

Barbara O'Neill: 2024 Changes Affecting 403(b) Participants

November 7, 2023

It's not just increased contribution rates.

403(b) Trick or Treat? 🎃

October 31, 2023

What's in your 403(b) vendor bag?

NJ District Goes from C to F

October 24, 2023

School district goes backwards.

Michigan 403(b) Plan Goes From F to C

October 17, 2023

Advocacy made it happen.

Barbara O'Neill: How to Use Aspire Non-Advisor 403(b) Option

October 10, 2023

Pros and cons; step-by-step; user experience.

NJ School Throws Teachers Under the Bus

October 3, 2023

What not to do.

The Real Cost of K-12 403(b) Enrollment

September 26, 2023

Dirty little secret about K-12 403(b) enrollment: it's a loss leader which incentivizes agents to upsell.

NTSA to School Officials: You Don't Have to Do the Right Thing

September 19, 2023

Lobbying group says the quiet part out loud.

Barbara O'Neill: 403(b) Savings and Concurrent Financial Goals

September 12, 2023

How to set up short, intermediate and long term goals.

Will You Live to 100?

September 5, 2023

Will you have enough to sustain you in retirement?

Latest District 403(b) Plan Grade Data

August 22,2023

More than 4,500 school districts graded.

Barbara O'Neill: When to Say No to a 403(b) Plan

August 15, 2023

403(b) plan red flags and alternatives.

California: You Also Have a 403(b) Problem...

August 8, 2023

But You Also Have a Solution

Texas: You Have a 403(b) Problem

August 1, 2023

Texas-sized vendors lists hurt participants.

Student Loan Forgiveness is Alive and Well for Educators

July 25, 2023

What you need to know.

Barbara O'Neill: 403(b) Plans and Social Security

July 18, 2023

Sadly, many 403(b) plan participants are excluded.

403bwise Facebook Group Hits 12K

July 11, 2023

So many educators helped.

Miss403bHelpful?

June 27, 2023

The dynamic Yanely Espinal.

One Weird Trick to Give Teachers a $360,000 Bonus

June 20, 2023

At minimal cost to a school district.

Barbara O'Neill: 403(b) Plans and Pensions

June 13, 2023

the 3-legged stool

NTSA Spikes Ball on 457(b) Legislative "Win"

June 6, 2023

Legislators give teachers the stiff arm.

Scott Dauenhauer: NTSA Goes Cherry Picking

May 31, 2023

Teachers left with a basketful of pits.

Retirement Savings Challenge Gets Personal

May 23, 2023

My son starts first workplace savings plan.

Barbara O'Neill: Retirement Planning Tools for 403(b) Plan Participants

May 16, 2023

Keys resources.

NTSA Working to Wreck K-12 457(b) Plans

May 9, 2023

Sponsoring toxic 457(b) legislation in Illinois.

California Proposing Modest Annuity Reform (so of course the industry is freaking out)

April 25, 2023

Reaction of annuity sales agents tells you all you need to know about bill.

Barbara O'Neill: Key 403(b) Plan Resources

April 18, 2023

Where do plan participants get the information that they need? They use 403(b) plan resources.

Taylor Swift Sings About Dumping Equitable

April 11, 2023

I wake up every morning with a sinking feeling. Thinking 'bout that 403(b) I just can't seem to leave.

Happy 4.03(b) Day

April 3, 2023

How did you spend it?

Retirement Savings Simplified

March 28, 2023

Our maze of work-based retirement plans is a mess. There is a fix.

Barbara O'Neill: Managing a 403(b) Over Time

March 21, 2023

Simple steps to keep your 403(b) humming.

Why Are School Districts Still Offering Equitable 403(b) Products?

March 14, 2023

What a deal: $50 million SEC fine + high costs + surrender charges

NTSA Works Against Teachers Best Financial Interests

March 7, 2023

Concrete examples of how organization works to keep K-12 403(b) in the Dark Ages.

Does Your 403(b) Plan "Check" Out?

February 28, 2023

We've made finding the good vendor choice much easier.

NTSA and the Big Lie

February 21, 2023

Do as we say not as we do.

Barbara O'Neill: Where to Stash the Cash

February 14, 2023

Review of 403(b) plan investment products

Secure Act 3.0

February 7, 2024

Saving for retirement simplified.

K-12 403(b) Word Cloud

January 31, 2023

It's not great.

SECURE 2.0 (pt 2)

January 24, 2023

Provisions most applicable to 403(b) and educators.

SECURE 2.0 (pt. 1)

January 17, 2023

Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement or Exasperation? Provisions that are applicable to educators but not game changing.

Barbara O'Neill: Twelve 403(b) Plan New Year's Resolutions

January 10, 2023

Key steps to take to power your 403(b) in 2023.

2023 Money Moves for Educators

January 3, 2023

Three simple financial moves to consider.

Barbara O'Neill: 403(b) Plan Foundations — The Six Ds

December 20, 2022

The Six Ds: Defined Contribution, Decisions, Deductions, Deposits, Diversification (investment, tax, and time), and Dollar-Cost Averaging.

LAUSD Has a 403(b) Problem

December 13, 2022

Too much money going to high cost plans.

New Jersey 403(b) Bermuda Triangle

December 6, 2022

Three roadblocks to 403(b) saving in Garden State.

Barbara O'Neill: The 403(b) Lifecycle

November 29, 2022

A blueprint to build wealth over time.

Latest TDS Phishing Expedition

November 22, 2022

Tax Deferred Services blankets teacher email inboxes with deceptive message.

Tweets We Would Love to See

November 15, 2022

Fake corporate Tweets gave us some ideas.

The Financial Wisdom of Morgan Housel

November 8, 2022

Distilling what's important.

Updated District 403(b) Plan Grade Data

November 1, 2022

The song, err, data remains the same.

Boom! 403(b) Contribution Limits Are Going Up!

October 25, 2022

See how next year's limits compare to years 2000 to 2022. 

Barbara O'Neill: The 403(b) Lifecycle Getting Money Out of a 403(b)

October 18, 2022

Accessing your account

New Look for 403bwise

October 11, 2022

We think home page is now more attractive and easier to navigate.

Kentucky Deferred Comp is on Your Side

October 4, 2022

Zero reason for Kentucky educators to use the 403(b).

Equitable Beats Vanguard At This One Thing

September 27, 2022

Of course it's dubious.

Barbara O'Neill: The 403(b) Lifecycle 403(b) Plans Aren't Just For Teachers

September 20, 2022

Tips for K-12 school staff and non-profit organization employees

School Districts Who Are Improving Their 403(b) Plans

September 13, 2022

And we are improving our ratings information.

School Districts That Don't Levy 403(b) Tax

September 6, 2022

126 school districts do the right thing.

NTSA Puts the Tax in the K-12 403(b)

August 30, 2022

Organization fights single vendor K-12 403(b) plans.

The K-12 403(b) Tax

August 23

Costs educators thousands of dollars.

Barbara O'Neill: The 403(b) Lifecycle FINDing Financial Independence

August 16, 2022

Step-by-step guide.

"Fine" 403(b) Companies

August 9, 2022

403(b) providers who have been forced to pay a fine for nefarious business practices.

Educators to Equitable: Drop Dead!

August 2, 2022

How can school districts justify keeping this company?

Barbara O'Neill: The 403(b) Lifecycle 403(b)s, 457(b)s, 401(k)s, IRAs, and More

July 26, 2022

Where to invest.

New Jersey's Bad 403(b) Bill

July 19, 2022

Locks in high-fee vendors; prevents single vendor.

LAUSD Teacher on F.I.R.E.

July 12, 2022

Educator trades classroom for ski slopes.

Barbara O'Neill: The 403(b) LifecycleGuest Blog: Who Wants to Be a 403(b) Millionaire?

June 28, 2022

Steps to take.

AXA/Equitable is Who We Thought They Were

June 21, 2022

Interview with former employee confirms fears.

Barbara O'Neill: Fifteen 403(b) Plan Errors

June 14, 2022

And how to avoid them

National Life Group Hypocrisy

June 7, 2022

Vanguard for us. Garbage for you.

403(b) Honor Roll

May 31, 2022

Wisconsin leads the way with more than 60 A-rated plans.

2021 California Teacher Retirement Pension Payout Data

May 24, 2022

12,785 teachers retired in 2021. What was their annual pension payout?

Barbara O'Neill: The 403(b) Lifecycle 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.

Barbara O'Neill: 403(b) and Income Taxes

April 12, 2022

Tax impact of 403(b) plans.

The 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.

Barbara O'Neill: 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.

Barbara O'Neill: 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.

Barbara O'Neill: 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?

Barbara O'Neill: 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

May 1, 2023

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.

More (403(b) Vendors) Is Less

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 8.28.23)

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, 2020

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 25, 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.