Barbara O’Neill, PhD, CFP, AFC, owner/CEO of Money Talk: Financial Planning Seminars and Publications, and a monthly columnist for 403bwise talks spring cleaning your personal finances. 

Spring cleaning is more than deep cleaning and decluttering. It is a great time to neaten up your finances. 

• Spring Cleaning Your 403(b) and Personal Finances
• The Truth About So-Called "No Fee" Products
• Meridian Wealth Management
• 403bwise.org

Nicole and Larry Dubill, two Buffalo, NY area educators, share passion for education, music, and 403(b) advocacy. 

• Cleveland Hill School District 403(b/457(b) Vendor List
• Hamburg Central School District 403(b)/457(b) Vendor List
• The Truth About So-Called "No Fee" Products
• Meridian Wealth Management
• 403bwise.org

Nothing presented or discussed is to be construed as investment or tax advice. This can be secured from a vetted Certified Financial Planner (CFP®). 

Teacher who sought to educate colleagues about the 403(b) gets threatening email from Equitable. We read and discuss correspondence.

• Read the letter
• The Truth about Structured Investing Options (SIOs)
• Meridian Wealth Management
• 403bwise.org

Nothing presented or discussed is to be construed as investment or tax advice. This can be secured from a vetted Certified Financial Planner (CFP®). 

Erin Witte, Director of Consumer Protection for the Consumer Federation of America, discusses the work she does protecting consumers in the face of a very anti-consumer climate. 

• Erin Witte
• Meridian Wealth Management
• 403bwise.org

Nothing presented or discussed is to be construed as investment or tax advice. This can be secured from a vetted Certified Financial Planner (CFP®). 

Anonymous attendees dish on remarks made at a recent conference by leaders of lobbying group working to keep broken multi-vendor, sales agent-driven K-12 403(b) market in place. 

• Audio + Transcript of Brian Graff LAUSD Appearance
• Video of Brian Graff LAUSD Appearance
• NTSA Puts the Tax in the K-12 403(b)
• Vanguard
• Meridian Wealth Management
• 403bwise.org

Nothing presented or discussed is to be construed as investment or tax advice. This can be secured from a vetted Certified Financial Planner (CFP®). 

We debut a new pod series: Basics of the 403(b) & 457(b). In this series, which will eventually get its own channel, we will go over the basics of how these plans work, and how they can be used to save wisely for retirement. First off: How to Start a 403(b). 

• 403(b) Basics
• CalSTRS Pension 2 Enrollment
• Fidelity Enrollment (need an Employer Plan number)
• Vanguard
• Meridian Wealth Management
• 403bwise.org

Nothing presented or discussed is to be construed as investment or tax advice. This can be secured from a vetted Certified Financial Planner (CFP®). 

Teacher gets phishy email from Equitable salesperson. Does it violate FINRA section 2210(d)(1)(A) and (B)?

• Equitable to Pay $50 Million Penalty
• What's That Phishy Smell in Your Inbox?
• Learned by Being Burned - Short pod series about how teachers got burned then got wise to the 403(b)
• Meridian Wealth Management
• 403bwise.org

Nothing presented or discussed is to be construed as investment or tax advice. This can be secured from a vetted Certified Financial Planner (CFP®). 

Lucretia Ryan, financial writer, educator, philanthropist and founder of FinancialFreedomforWomen.org., discusses the options for getting health insurance before age 65. Dan discusses his sudden need for a new healthcare policy. 

• Retiring Before 65: How to Avoid Health Insurance Nightmares
• Choose the Best Medicare Plan
• Congressional District Interactive Map: How Much Will ACA Premium Payments Rise if Enhanced Subsidies Expire?
• Financial Freedom for Women
• Dirty Little Secrets of Medicare "Advantage"
• Learned by Being Burned - Short pod series about how teachers got burned then got wise to the 403(b)
• Meridian Wealth Management
• 403bwise.org

Nothing presented or discussed is to be construed as investment or tax advice. This can be secured from a vetted Certified Financial Planner (CFP®). 

We catch up with New Jersey high school business and personal finance teacher Chris Nye, one of the best 403(b) advocates in the country. He talks teaching personal finance, how teachers may have an excellent 403(b) choice already available and don't know it, and pension drama in New Jersey.

• Fight for Better (our first pod with Chris)
• Adding a 457(b) is As Easy As 1-2-3 (Chris's second appearance)
• Bad 403(b) Vendors with Good Choices
• Using Aspire Non Advisor Option
• Become a New Jersey Pension Advocate
• Learned by Being Burned - Short pod series about how teachers got burned then got wise to the 403(b)
• Meridian Wealth Management
• 403bwise.org

Nothing presented or discussed is to be construed as investment or tax advice. This can be secured from a vetted Certified Financial Planner (CFP®). 

Scott and Dan look at the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) which brought a fiduciary standard to most retirement plans. The act went into effect in 1974 but is beginning to show its age. 

• How a 50-year-old law changed retirement and why it needs a facelift
• Dawn of ERISA
• Man with a Better Plan - We almost had a simpler retirement system
• Learned by Being Burned - Short pod series about how teachers got burned then got wise to the 403(b)
• Meridian Wealth Management
• 403bwise.org

Nothing presented or discussed is to be construed as investment or tax advice. This can be secured from a vetted Certified Financial Planner (CFP®).