In this episode of The Teacher Money Show, I sit down with financial planner Mary Ann Sullivan from 395 Financial Planning to dive into Target Date Funds (TDFs) — what they are, when they work well, and how teachers can know when it’s time to move beyond them to optimize their retirement investments.Target Date Funds are often the default option in 403(b) plans, making them a common choice for teachers. They automatically rebalance and adjust risk over time, which is great for simplicity. But are they always the best choice for educators building wealth and preparing for retirement?Mary Ann and I explore:-The benefits of Target Date Funds for teachers just getting started with investing-The limitations of TDFs, especially if you have a pension or want more control over your portfolio-How to know when you’ve outgrown Target Date Funds and are ready to optimize-Strategies like a three-fund portfolio and bond ladders for more flexibility and tax efficiency-Why every teacher needs a comprehensive financial plan to align investments with life goalsWhether you’re a new teacher just starting to invest or a seasoned educator thinking about retirement, this episode will help you decide if a Target Date Fund is the right tool for your situation — or if it’s time to graduate to a more intentional investment strategy.👉 Subscribe to The Teacher Money Show for more teacher-focused conversations on personal finance, investing, and building a secure retirement.Explore the show notes at:https://www.teachermoneyshow.com/show90Become a guest on the show:https://www.teachermoneyshow.com/guestLeave a voicemail question:https://www.speakpipe.com/teachermoneyshowBring me to your school to talk personal finance for teachers!https://www.shaunkmorgan.com#TeacherMoneyShow #TeacherFinance #TargetDateFunds #InvestingForTeachers #TeacherRetirement #403b #FinancialPlanning