The Teacher Money Show

Are you actually on track financially?

Download The Teacher's Roadmap to Financial Confidence — a free five-question worksheet designed to help you clarify your financial goals, understand where you are, determine whether you're on track, and identify what to do next.

https://TeacherMoneyShow.com/roadmap

Are Teachers Really Underpaid?

When we talk about teacher compensation, we usually focus on one number: salary.

But what if we're missing a huge part of the picture?

In this episode of the Teacher Money Show, I sit down with Dr. Suzanne Zentner, author of A Teacher's Net Worth, to talk about the total compensation teachers receive and how understanding that compensation can change the way you think about your financial future.

We talk about pensions, retirement benefits, insurance, time off, budgeting, and the other financial benefits that can be easy for teachers to overlook. Suzanne's goal isn't simply to help teachers understand money—it's to help teachers understand their financial situation well enough to make better decisions and, hopefully, stay in a profession they love.

What You'll Learn

One of the biggest takeaways from our conversation is that personal finance is personal. Your pension might be enough for you. It might not be. The only way to know is to understand your income, expenses, benefits, retirement goals, and the resources available to you.

• Why teachers should look beyond their salary when evaluating compensation
• How a teacher's pension can be an incredibly valuable financial asset
• The difference between defined-benefit pensions and defined-contribution plans
• Why teachers need to understand their total compensation

• How budgeting can help you determine whether you're financially on track
• Why tracking your investments and debt payoff can help you see your progress
• How teachers can combine pensions, investments, HSAs, IRAs, side income, and other "buckets"
• Why understanding your benefits can give you more choices in life
• How better financial knowledge can help teachers stay in the classroom

About Dr. Suzanne Zentner

Dr. Suzanne Zentner has spent decades in K-12 education, serving in roles from classroom teacher to superintendent. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, along with an MBA and bachelor's degree in education.

Her book, A Teacher's Net Worth, combines personal finance education with practical spreadsheets and tools designed specifically to help educators understand and organize their financial lives.

Learn more about Suzanne and A Teacher's Net Worth:

👉 https://teachersnetworth.com

Work With Shaun

Show notes: https://www.teachermoneyshow.com/show130

Want help figuring out your own financial roadmap?

In a Teacher Financial Roadmap Session, we'll look at where you are, where you want to go, and whether the financial decisions you're making today are actually getting you there.

You'll leave with a personalized plan and, most importantly, the confidence that you're on the right path.

👉 https://book.stripe.com/3cIeVcav3fQe51F9sP2Ry01

Remember: as a teacher, you're already rich. Your wallet just needs to catch up.

#TeacherMoney #TeacherFinance #Teachers #PersonalFinance #TeacherRetirement #TeacherPension #FinancialLiteracy #TeacherSalary #TeacherBenefits

Are you actually on track financially?

Download The Teacher's Roadmap to Financial Confidence — a free five-question worksheet designed to help you clarify your financial goals, understand where you are, determine whether you're on track, and identify what to do next.

https://TeacherMoneyShow.com/roadmap

How Much Money Do Teachers Need to Retire?

How much money does a teacher actually need to retire? The answer probably isn't $1 million.

In this episode, I explain why the amount you need depends on how much you actually spend, how much income you'll have in retirement, and how much of that gap needs to be covered by your investments.

For teachers, this can look very different from the standard retirement advice you hear online.

I walk through how to figure out your retirement number by starting with your actual expenses, then looking at the income you'll have from your teacher pension, Social Security, investments, and other sources

I also explain why the traditional 4% rule is only one piece of the puzzle and why teachers have some unique advantages when planning for retirement.

What You'll Learn

• How to calculate how much money you actually need to retire as a teacher
• Why your retirement expenses matter more than your current salary
• How to use your teacher pension when calculating your retirement income
• How Social Security can factor into a teacher's retirement plan
• How the 4% rule works—and why it doesn't tell the whole story
• How investments can help cover the gap between your retirement income and expenses
• Why dividend income, real estate, and other cash-flow sources can reduce the amount you need invested
• How a side hustle or part-time income can change your retirement math
• How to determine whether you're actually on track for retirement
• What to do if you discover you're going to fall short of your goal

Resources Mentioned

Teacher Money Show Retirement Calculator
https://TeacherMoneyShow.com/calculator

Free Spending Tracker Spreadsheet
https://TeacherMoneyShow.com/tracker

My Budget Coach
I use My Budget Coach to track my spending and manage my budget.

Investor.gov Compound Interest Calculator
https://www.investor.gov/financial-tools-calculators/calculators/compound-interest-calculator

More resources and the complete show notes:
https://TeacherMoneyShow.com/show129

About the Teacher Money Show

I'm Shaun Morgan, a full-time educator and money nerd who is building wealth on a teacher's salary.

The Teacher Money Show exists to prove that teachers can build wealth while remaining teachers.

I help teachers build financial confidence so they can reach their money goals, reduce financial stress, and use their money as a tool for a happier, richer life.

If you love teaching but don't want to settle for scraping by financially, you're in the right place.

Work With Shaun

Sometimes you don't need another podcast episode or another piece of financial advice.

You need someone to sit down with you, look at your situation, ask the right questions, and help you figure out whether you're actually on the right path.

That's what I do through my Teacher Financial Roadmap Session.

Learn more and work with me:
https://TeacherMoneyShow.com/coaching

FREE TEACHER FINANCIAL ROADMAP

Are you actually on track financially?

Download The Teacher's Roadmap to Financial Confidence — a free five-question worksheet designed to help you clarify your financial goals, understand where you are, determine whether you're on track, and identify what to do next.

TeacherMoneyShow.com/roadmap

Can teachers really work only their contract hours? I believe they can — and in this episode, I share five things I've done to dramatically reduce the amount of time I spend working outside my contract hours. The goal isn't to become a worse teacher or care less about your students. It's to find ways to do your job well without allowing teaching to consume your entire life.

I'll walk you through five practical strategies: reduce your grading workload, use AI to speed up planning and repetitive tasks, spend more time reviewing instead of constantly creating new lessons, learn to say no to unpaid responsibilities, and commit to leaving at the end of the workday. These aren't about doing less for your students. They're about being intentional with your time so you can focus on teaching when you're at work and your family and the things you love when you're not.

What You'll Learn

• How to reduce the amount of time you spend grading without abandoning meaningful feedback
• How teachers can use AI to save time on lesson planning, grading, repetitive tasks, and other teacher work
• Why doing more review can actually help students learn while reducing your planning workload
• How to say no to committees, volunteering, and other responsibilities outside your contract
• Why leaving at the end of the workday is a commitment you have to make before you're ready
• How being more intentional with your time can give you a richer life outside the classroom
• Why you don't have to teach something new every single day to be an effective teacher

Resources Mentioned

• The Teacher's Roadmap to Financial Confidence — a free five-question worksheet for teachers who want greater financial confidence
• Brisk — an AI tool for helping with grading and student writing
• MagicSchool — a suite of AI tools for teachers
• Flatland — an example of using engaging reading to teach mathematics (affiliate)

📚 Full show notes and resources:
https://TeacherMoneyShow.com/show128

About the Teacher Money Show

I'm Shaun Morgan, a full-time educator and money nerd building wealth on a teacher's salary.

The Teacher Money Show exists to prove that teachers can build wealth while remaining teachers. I believe teachers deserve financial confidence so they can reach their money goals, reduce financial stress, and use money as a tool for a happier, richer life.

Work With Me

If you're a teacher who loves teaching but doesn't want to settle for scraping by financially, you're in the right place.

Want personalized help figuring out whether you're actually on the right financial path?

In a Teacher Financial Roadmap Session, we'll look at where you are, where you want to go, and whether your current financial decisions are going to get you there. You'll leave with a personalized plan and clear next steps.

Learn more about working with me:
https://TeacherMoneyShow.com/mymap

Most people think frugality means deprivation. What if it actually creates more freedom, more peace, and a richer life?

In this live episode of the Teacher Money Show, I reflect on everything I learned this season about frugal living for teachers, intentional spending, budgeting, and creating financial breathing room without sacrificing what matters most.

This year, I challenged myself to stop settling for “average” financial habits and start asking a better question:

Where can I create more value with less cost?

What I discovered changed the way I think about money, time, teaching, and even summer break.

Why this matters for teachers

Too many teachers feel stuck financially:

• stressed about bills
• overwhelmed by fixed costs
• constantly feeling behind

But frugality isn’t about living on rice and beans. It’s about making intentional choices so you can spend freely on the things that actually improve your life.

When you control your money instead of reacting to it, everything changes:

• less financial anxiety
• more flexibility
• better decisions
• more freedom with your time

In this episode, I break down:

• Why “average spending” keeps many teachers financially stuck
• How I cut my family food budget in half through meal planning
• The mindset shift from scarcity to intentional living
• Why frugality is about saying “yes” to what matters most
• How reducing fixed costs creates long-term financial freedom
• The difference between a luxury mindset vs. a frugal mindset
• Small ways to save money that compound over time
• Why reviewing your budget monthly changes everything
• How travel hacking and credit card points can support intentional spending
• Why frugality should also apply to your time, not just your money
• How teachers can protect their summers and avoid unpaid labor
• Using AI tools to save teachers time and reduce burnout
• Why teachers deserve rest, boundaries, and financial peace

Big takeaway

Frugality is not about deprivation—it’s about alignment. When every dollar has a purpose, you stop feeling trapped and start building a life with more freedom, peace, and intentionality.

Links:

Show notes: https://teachermoneyshow.com/show127
Coaching: https://teachermoneyshow.com/coaching
Speaking: https://teachermoneyshow.com/speaking

If this episode encouraged you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a teacher who needs to hear this before summer break.

#personalfinanceforteachers #frugalliving #budgetingforteachers #teacherlife #financialfreedom #intentionalliving #teacherburnout #financialliteracy

Can teachers build wealth—even on a teacher salary? Or are most educators trapped by a scarcity mindset?

In this episode of the Teacher Money Show, I talk with Gabbi Cerezo, a former middle school teacher turned Certified Financial Planner, about teaching personal finance, financial literacy in schools, and why so many teachers struggle to believe financial freedom is possible.

Gabbi shares her journey from classroom burnout in the Bay Area to helping everyday people make smarter financial decisions—and why practical money education matters now more than ever.

Why this matters for teachers

Most teachers were never taught how money actually works:

• budgeting
• investing
• 403(b)s
• compound interest
• avoiding high-fee financial products

And now schools across the country are being required to teach personal finance—even though many educators don’t feel prepared to teach it themselves.

This conversation breaks down how teachers can build confidence with money and help students avoid the same financial mistakes many adults are still trying to fix.

In this episode, we cover:

• How the 2008 financial crisis shaped both of our money mindsets (and how to cultivate a better one)
• The difference between financial advisors who sell products vs. fiduciary planners
• Why high-fee 403(b) annuities hurt so many teachers
• The growing movement to require personal finance education in schools
• Why most financial literacy standards focus too much on jargon instead of real life
• How scarcity thinking keeps teachers stuck financially
• The mindset shift that helped me realize teachers can build wealth
• Why hearing real money stories changes how people think about financial independence

Big takeaway

Personal finance isn’t about memorizing terms—it’s about creating options. When teachers understand money and believe wealth is possible, it changes not only their lives, but the way they prepare students for the real world.

Links:

Show notes: https://teachermoneyshow.com/show126
Coaching: https://teachermoneyshow.com/coaching
Speaking: https://teachermoneyshow.com/speaking

If this episode helped you think differently about money, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a teacher who needs to hear this.

#personalfinanceforteachers #financialliteracy #teacherlife #budgetingforteachers #403b #teacherpodcast #financialindependence #moneymindset

Most teachers treat May like a throwaway month. What if it became the most meaningful part of your year?

In this episode of the Teacher Money Show, I break down how to create a richer classroom by applying the same principles we use in personal finance for teachers—discipline, intentionality, and focus on what actually matters.

This isn’t about money directly. It’s about using what you already know about budgeting, investing, and long-term thinking to build a classroom that students actually care about—and one that gives you more purpose and energy at the end of the year.

Why this matters for teachers

After state testing, many classrooms shut down. But when we confuse test scores with real learning, we miss one of the biggest opportunities of the year.

When you shift your focus from grades to growth, and from compliance to engagement, everything changes:

• Student behavior improves
• Relationships get stronger
• Teaching becomes more meaningful again

In this episode, I break down:

• Why May has become a “lost month” in education—and how to take it back
• The difference between grades vs. actual learning (and why it matters)
• How personal finance principles can create a more engaging classroom
• Simple ways to teach financial literacy in any subject (math, English, science, history)
• How to design a “passion unit” that students remember years later
• Why engagement eliminates behavior problems better than discipline ever will
• How creating a richer classroom leads to a richer life as a teacher

Big takeaway

A richer classroom isn’t about better curriculum—it’s about better intention. When you stop chasing grades and start creating meaningful experiences, your students don’t just behave better… they actually learn more.

Links:

Show notes: teachermoneyshow.com/show125
Coaching: teachermoneyshow.com/coaching
Speaking: teachermoneyshow.com/speaking

If this episode challenged how you think about teaching, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a teacher who needs to hear this.

#personalfinanceforteachers #teachingtips #financialliteracy #classroommanagement #teacherlife #studentengagement #educationstrategy

Most teachers assume real estate investing is out of reach—especially commercial deals. What if that’s not true?

In this episode of the Teacher Money Show, I talk with Jonathan Hayek, a former special education teacher who turned his $54,000 salary into a pathway to financial freedom through real estate investing.

We break down how he went from flipping houses to owning small multifamily properties—and eventually transitioning into commercial real estate investing for more passive income and less management.

If you’ve ever wondered whether real estate could actually work for teachers, this episode gives you a clear, practical look at what it takes.

Why this matters for teachers

Most teachers feel stuck financially because they rely on salary alone. Jonathan’s story shows what’s possible when you start thinking differently about income, assets, and long-term wealth building—even on a teacher’s paycheck.

In this episode, we cover:

• How Jonathan replaced his teaching income with real estate in 18 months
• The difference between residential and commercial real estate investing
• Why small commercial deals (even $150K–$200K) are more accessible than people think
• How triple net leases create passive income with minimal management
• The real risks of single-tenant properties—and how to mitigate them
• Why starting small is critical (and why most beginners get this wrong)
• Key numbers to evaluate deals (cash flow, below-market rent, location)
• How commercial financing works (down payments, balloon payments, refinancing)
• Whether teachers should start with residential or go straight to commercial
• The reality of balancing teaching, side hustles, and real estate investing
• Why due diligence matters more than managing problems later

Big takeaway

Real estate isn’t about chasing the biggest deal—it’s about building systems that create freedom over time. When you understand the numbers and start small, you can create options that a teaching salary alone won’t provide.

Links:

Show notes:

https://teachermoneyshow.com/show124
Coaching: https://teachermoneyshow.com/coaching
Speaking: https://teachermoneyshow.com/speaking

If this episode helped you think differently about money, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a teacher who needs to hear this.

#personalfinanceforteachers #realestateinvesting #teacherinvesting #passiveincome #commercialrealestate #debtfreejourney #financialindependence

What does it actually mean to live a rich life—and is it really about money?

In this episode of the Teacher Money Show, I sit down with Jordan Grumet (Doc G) from the Earn & Invest podcast to talk about purpose, burnout, financial independence, and what people regret most at the end of their lives.

Jordan is a hospice doctor, which gives him a unique perspective: he’s had countless conversations with people at the end of life—and what they regret might surprise you.

This conversation completely reframes how we think about money, success, and happiness, especially for teachers.

We cover:

• Why a rich life is defined by purpose—not money
• What people actually regret at the end of life (and what they don’t)
• Why lack of courage, not lack of money, is the biggest barrier to fulfillment
• How to do a “regret audit” to identify what truly matters to you
• The concept of a “purpose anchor”—and how to find yours
• Why burnout is really a misalignment between identity and purpose
• The difference between meaning (your past story) and purpose (your present actions)
• Why you can’t “achieve your way” into feeling like you’re enough
• How money should be used as a tool to create time and freedom
• The three practical levers to redesign your life:
– Joy of Addition
– Art of Subtraction
– Substitution
• How teachers can reconnect with what originally “lit them up” about education

This episode is deeper than just budgeting or investing—it’s about building a life you actually want to live, and then using money to support that vision.

If you’ve ever felt burned out, stuck, or unsure what you’re working toward… this conversation will challenge how you think about everything.

🔗 Full Show Notes:
https://teachermoneyshow.com/show123

💰 1-on-1 Financial Coaching for Teachers:
https://teachermoneyshow.com/coaching

🏫 Bring Me to Your School for Professional Development or Teacher In-Service:
https://teachermoneyshow.com/speaking

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a teacher who’s thinking about what it really means to live a rich life.

#TeacherMoneyShow #DocG #JordanGrumet #EarnAndInvest #FinancialIndependence #TeacherBurnout #PurposeDrivenLife #PersonalFinanceForTeachers

What I need help with is finding guests, so if you want to come on the show, share your money story as a teacher, talk about personal finance, or you know a great guest, let me know!

Ever wondered how to create extra income as a teacher—and what actually works in real life?

In this solo episode of the Teacher Money Show, I pull back the curtain on a brand new side hustle I’ve started—reselling Costco return pallets

If you’ve been thinking about starting a side hustle, paying off debt faster, or just finding new ways to make money as a teacher, this episode is a real, unfiltered look at what that process actually looks like.

We cover:

• Why I pivoted away from a speaking business to something that produces faster cash flow
• How my new reselling side hustle works (buying Costco return pallets and flipping items)
• The full breakdown of my first pallet (toys)—including repairs, challenges, and profit
• How a Facebook Marketplace shadowban impacted my sales
• Why I shifted to eBay reselling and how that changed everything
• My second pallet (oral care) and how it’s already generating revenue
• What I’m learning in real-time about testing, iterating, and building income streams

This episode is all about taking action, trying new things, and adjusting quickly—because sometimes the best side hustle isn’t the one you planned, it’s the one that actually works.

If you’ve ever thought, “I need to make more money, but I don’t know where to start,” this episode will give you a practical, real-world example of what that journey looks like.

📩 Want to be a guest or know someone who should be?
Email me: [email protected]
Apply here: https://teachermoneyshow.com/guest

🔗 Full Show Notes:
https://teachermoneyshow.com/show122

💰 1-on-1 Financial Coaching for Teachers:
https://teachermoneyshow.com/coaching

🏫 Bring Me to Your School for Professional Development or Teacher In-Service:
https://shaunkmorgan.com

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a teacher who’s looking for new ways to increase their income and take control of their financial future.

#TeacherMoneyShow #TeacherSideHustle #Reselling #MakeMoneyFromHome #TeacherFinance #SideHustleIdeas #FinancialFreedom

Can teachers really build wealth on a teacher’s salary?

In this episode of the Teacher Money Show, I sit down with Danny Kofke, author of The Wealthy Teacher, to break down what it actually means to build wealth as an educator—and why it’s more possible than most teachers think.

If you’ve ever felt like financial success is out of reach in education, this conversation will challenge that belief and give you a clear, practical path forward.

We cover:

• Why wealth is about optionality, not just money
• How one teacher family lived on a single income to create freedom
• Why so many teachers believe wealth is impossible—and how to break that mindset
• How to use a zero-based budget as a “spending plan” that creates freedom
• The hidden cost of everyday spending (like $2,000/year on lunches)
• Why living below your means is the foundation of financial success
• How to save 20% of your income (even on a teacher salary)
• Why increasing income should accelerate wealth—not lifestyle inflation
• The surprising truth about teacher pensions and why they’re incredibly valuable
• How a $42,000 pension can equal a $1 million retirement portfolio
• How financial stability gives teachers the power to say “no” and avoid burnout

We also talk about the real goal of money—not just having more of it, but creating the freedom to make meaningful life choices for yourself and your family.

If you want to stop feeling stuck financially and start building real, long-term wealth as a teacher, this episode gives you the mindset and the strategy to do it.

🔗 Full Show Notes:
https://teachermoneyshow.com/show121

💰 1-on-1 Financial Coaching for Teachers:
https://teachermoneyshow.com/coaching

🏫 Bring Me to Your School for Professional Development or Teacher In-Service:
https://shaunkmorgan.com

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a teacher who needs to hear that wealth is possible on a teacher’s salary.

#TeacherMoneyShow #TeacherWealth #PersonalFinanceForTeachers #BudgetingForTeachers #TeacherPension #FinancialFreedom #WealthBuilding