Dedication, Reinvention, and Serendipity! TRS retiree and owner of Rose Creek Guitars, Rick Gunn, discusses setting yourself up for success before and embracing new beginnings in retirement. How did the former CFO of Forsyth County School District end up designing and building custom guitars? Find out in this episode!

We'll also discuss:

• Rick Gunn’s career journey and retirement
• Savings plans such as a 457 or 403(b) plan, good debt and bad debt, and the benefits of saving early
• Entrepreneurship and how to create your own second act

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro

02:46 – Rick Gunn’s Role as CFO for Forsyth County Schools

04:18 – The Role of CFO: How It Helped Plan for Retirement

05:23 – Advice for Active Members: “Squirreling Away” & Sacrifices

07:27 – When Do You Know It’s Time to Retire?

08:31 – Career Decisions: The Light at the End of the Tunnel

09:49 – Founding Rose Creek Guitars: The Inspiration & Challenges

15:01 – Key Lessons About Entrepreneurship

20:33 – Advice for Embracing New Beginnings

22:23 – Looking Forward: What’s Next for Rick Gunn?

23:56 – A Closer Look at a Custom Rose Creek Guitar (#50)

26:52 – Last Words of Advice

28:00 – Outro

Are you about to retire? If you haven't had the chance to meet with us one-on-one in a virtual or in-person format, and are within 2 years of retirement eligibility, be sure to log in to your TRS account online and register for a session today!

Are you new to TRS or in the middle of your career? Be sure to designate your beneficiaries as soon as possible in your TRS online account.

We want to hear from our members! Please email the show for topic inquiries, questions and comments! Contact us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Host: Everett Crockett

Guest: Rick Gunn, TRS Retiree and Owner of Rose Creek Guitars

For more information visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.trsga.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/trsgeorgia⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@trsgeorgia

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This podcast is for information purposes only and should not be considered legal or tax advice. The views and opinions expressed are those of the speakers and may not reflect the views of the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia.