If you’ve ever thought about leaving the classroom, chances are this question has kept you up at night: “What happens to my retirement if I walk away?”
You’re not alone—this is one of the most common (and confusing) fears teachers have when they’re ready to transition. And in this episode of the Pretty Rich Teacher podcast, I’m sitting down with my money coach, Aqura Nicholson, to break it all down.
Whether you’re just a few years in or you’ve been teaching for over a decade, you’ll finally get straight answers to questions like:
- Do I lose my retirement if I leave teaching early?
- What does it really mean to be vested?
- How many years do I need before I keep my retirement benefits?
- Can I roll my teacher retirement account into something else?
- How do I make sure I don’t leave money on the table?
💡 In this conversation, you’ll learn:
- ✔️ The truth about vesting and eligibility (hint: it’s not “30 years or nothing”).
- ✔️ Step-by-step options for reviewing your retirement account.
- ✔️ What a rollover looks like and why it might benefit you.
- ✔️ How to make smart, confident financial decisions when leaving education.
And I’ll share exactly what I did with my teacher retirement when I left the classroom, so you can see what’s possible for you, too.
By the end of this episode, you’ll walk away with clarity, confidence, and a plan to protect your money—so you can build the career (and life) you actually want.
- Want free weekly exclusive free tips + trainings ? (that I do not share anywhere else) ➡️ Join the Pretty Rich Weekly Email list!
- Ready to create your exit plan into corporate in less than 30 days? ➡️ Enroll in the Exit Plan Course for Transitioning Teachers for exclusive bonuses including a free resume review!
- Are you a woman in education ready for mentorship into a six-figure EdTech career in less than 6 months? ➡️ book your free 1:1 mentorship sales call. Together, we’ll create a plan to help you make an extra $10K–$40K every year in a new career and learn the skills required to become classroom optional for good!
Make sure to follow @prettyrichteacher on IG +TikTok and Linkedin (I go live weekly on Tuesdays!) + Youtube (Weekly Video Podcasts + Transitioned Teacher Vlogs)