Teach and Retire Rich

Teachers who collect a pension, Social Security, and draw income from a non-Roth retirement account may face an additional Medicare tax. Lucretia Ryan of Financial Freedom for Women breaks it all down.

• Why Am I Paying an Additional Medicare Tax?
• Financial Freedom for Women
• More Dirty Little Secrets of Medicare "Advantage" (YouTube)
• Dirty Little Secrets of Medicare "Advantage"
• Learned by Being Burned (short pod series about K-12 403(b) issues)
• 403bwise.org
• Meridian Wealth Management

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

On the 25 year anniversary of the blog post that identified the 403(b) grinch we ask who today is to blame for the blight of the 403(b)?

• How the TPA Grinch Stole the 403(b)
• Learned by Being Burned (short pod series about K-12 403(b) issues)
• 403bwise.org
• Meridian Wealth Management

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

Vanguard raises admin fees on 403(b) plans (again). CIT 403(b) legislation is back in the news. Equitable hits dubious milestone. New financial term.

• April 2025 Admin Fee Increase
• Et tu, Vanguard pod?
• Learned by Being Burned (short pod series about K-12 403(b) issues)
• 403bwise.org
• Meridian Wealth Management

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

Bay area math teacher and Instagrammer Bree Lee talks teaching and running her popular financial Instagram account Ritual Finance.

• Ritual Finance
• Instagram Bio
• 2023 Interview
• Free Retirement Guide
• Money Guide for CalSTRS Members
• Learned by Being Burned (short pod series about K-12 403(b) issues)
• 403bwise.org
• Meridian Wealth Management

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

The market is largely being driven by a handful of Artificial Intelligence-focused companies. Is it time to diversify?

• Should You Buy at All-Time Highs?
• Global Diversification Is Still Working
• University of Missouri Risk Tolerance Assessment
• Financial Visualization of Markets (finviz.com)
• Learned by Being Burned (short pod series about K-12 403(b) issues)
• 403bwise.org
• Meridian Wealth Management

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

Age-50 contributions are changing in 2026. Here's what you need to know.

• Treasury, IRS Issue Final Regulations on New Roth Catch-Up Rule
• Catch-Up Contributions for Higher Earners in 457(b) Plans: What You Need to Know (Kiplingers)
• Learned by Being Burned (short pod series about K-12 403(b) issues)
• 403bwise.org
• Meridian Wealth Management

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 of Financial Freedom for Women shares the tricks and traps of Medicare "Advantage" in this recorded 403bwise Event.

• Financial Freedom for Women
• Presentation Slides
• Video of Presentation
• Learned by Being Burned (short pod series about K-12 403(b) issues)
• 403bwise.org
• Meridian Wealth Management

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

Baltimore City Public Schools is going single vendor. Third-party administrator Omni-TSACG who oversees the current plan that features numerous red-rated vendors is sad.

• Current Baltimore City Public Schools vendor list
• Omni-TSACG letter
• Scott's Rebuttal to Omni-TSACG letter
• Learned by Being Burned (short pod series about K-12 403(b) issues)
• 403bwise.org
• Meridian Wealth Management

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

Tricks and Treats: Vanguard in a little hot water; Florida doing the right thing; NEA Member Benefits targeted; Equitable doing Equitable things.

• Vanguard Conflicted
• Florida Putting State 457(b) Out to Bid
• Congress Investigating NEA Member Benefits
• Equitable Doing Equitable Things
• Joey Running Tribute
• Learned by Being Burned (short pod series about K-12 403(b) issues)
• 403bwise.org
• Meridian Wealth Management

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

Dan's wife, Amanda, had more than $50,000 withheld from her 401(k) plan. This wasn't money that was a match. It was her money. She was recently featured in a Wall Street Journal story on 401(k) theft. Scott and Dan discuss the story.

• Her 401(k) Contributions Vanished—and Her Company Had No Answers (WSJ)
• Search 401(k) Form 5500 Filing
• Learned by Being Burned (short pod series about K-12 403(b) issues)
• 403bwise.org
• Meridian Wealth Management

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