Teacher Daniel Otter, Ph.D. and Certified Financial Planner Scott Dauenhauer CFP® of 403bwise.org discuss teacher saving for retirement issues. Never too serious, Dan and Scott strive to make learning about pensions, the 403(b), the 457(b), and investing, fun and understandable.
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Let’s face it, crafting an innovative retirement plan benefit that optimizes outcomes, minimizes risk, improves employee engagement, and manages costs—all while navigating the compliance nuances of today’s employer-sponsored retirement plan landscape—is no easy feat! In Revamping Retirement, we break down the opportunities and challenges facing plan sponsors and fiduciaries to provide actionable insights and best practices. With industry insider guests, we’ll explore timely and relevant topi ...
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The Los Angeles Unified School District created its own 457(b) plan, and it’s excellent. It has won not one, but two awards. We speak with two members of the LAUSD Retirement Investment Advisory Committee who were and are instrumental to its success. LAUSD 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan Fund Lineup Learned by Being Burned (short pod series about…
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Who better to make sense of the tariff situation than one of our favorite guests, Cullen Roche, economist, and founder and chief investment officer of the Discipline Funds, a low-fee advisory firm. An Autopsy of American Exceptionalism Three Things - China Deal Learned by Being Burned (short pod series about K-12 403(b) issues) 403bwise.org Meridia…
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In episode 76 of Revamping Retirement, hosts Jennifer Doss and Matt Patrick delve into how AI is transforming the retirement planning industry with guest John Faustino from Fi360. John shares how AI is helping to enhance advisor efficiency, create tailored investment strategies, and improve participant engagement, while stressing the importance of …
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Equitable EQUI-VEST Commissions Revealed (#374)
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25:03Scott finds out just how much commission Equitable salespeople get for selling EQUI-VEST products. No wonder they fight reform so hard. No wonder they love to initiate exchanges. The Price of Enrollment Podcast on SIOs Plan Fee Disclosure Form for University of Jamestown Equitable Plan Fee Disclosure Brochure Learned by Being Burned (short pod seri…
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Who better than best-selling author Morgan Housel to help put April's market volatility in perspective? Well we couldn't get Morgan on the pod but we have the next best thing: Morgan Houselisms! Enjoy. 9 Charts on Trump’s First 100 Days in the Markets Learned by Being Burned (short pod series about K-12 403(b) issues) 403bwise.org Meridian Wealth M…
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Retired Educator Turned Fiduciary Advisor (#372)
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51:26Retired Los Angeles Unified School District teacher, principal and district administrator, Mary Ann Sullivan, is now officially a CFP®! Not only that, she is opening an advice-only, fee-only firm. Note: Mary Ann meant to say that the number of experience hours needed for a CFP® is 4,000 for apprenticeship and 6,000 for standard pathway (not the 2,0…
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In episode two of our new pod series: 403(b) & 457(b) Basics Scott and Dan look at asset allocation. They describe what it is, why it's important and they go over several strategies for allocating a 403(b) and a 457(b). Importance of Asset Allocation by Barb O'Neill The Price of Peace: Why diversification is difficult, but necessary by Nick Maggiul…
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Episode 75: Steven Horner on Fixed Income Solutions
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35:05In this episode, hosts Matt Patrick and Jennifer Doss discuss capital preservation investments with Steven Horner, fixed income portfolio manager at Franklin Templeton. Steven explains the differences between stable value and money market funds, emphasizing that stable value funds can offer higher returns due to longer-term investments and insuranc…
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Spring Cleaning Your Personal Finances (#370)
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34:22Barbara 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 Tr…
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Father & Daughter Educators: Partners in 403(b) Advocacy (#369)
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48:12Nicole 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 b…
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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 vet…
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Captain America of Consumer Protection (#367)
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46:45Erin 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 Certifie…
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In episode 74 of Revamping Retirement, hosts Jennifer Doss and Pete Ruffel discuss governmental affairs with Scott Eckel, Managing Director of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs at Charles Schwab. Scott discusses his role as a lobbyist and they cover key issues such as financial regulations, e-delivery of documents, and the new administration's pot…
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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.o…
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403(b)/457(b) Basics: How to start a 403(b)
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20:03We 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 numbe…
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Does This Phishy 403(b) Email Violate FINRA Regulations? (#364)
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27:58Teacher 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 disc…
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Retiring Before 65: How to Avoid Health Insurance Nightmares (#363)
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52:25Lucretia 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 Interac…
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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(…
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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 syste…
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Episode 73: Jessica Dickler on Navigating Financial Influencers
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29:54
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29:54In this episode, Jessica Dickler, a personal finance writer for CNBC, joins hosts Matthew Patrick and Audrey Wheat to tackle social media's impact on financial education. How have platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn become go-to sources for financial advice, especially for Gen Z and millennials? Is this a perilous path, or a great new wa…
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Barbara O'Neill, CFP®, AFC® and Scott Dauenhauer CFP® break down the recently passed Social Security Fairness Act and what it means for some educators. They cover why the WEP and GPO were first put in place and what it's repeal means for: Those currently collecting Social Security benefits Those new eligible to collect Social Security benefits Thos…
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Retired educator is prolific writer of state specific retirement guides for teachers (40 and counting); he's running for a seat on the Colorado PERA Board of Trustees; and he writes engaging and educational retirement planning material that he makes available for free. We discuss all of this and more. Fisch Financial Karl's State Specific Retiremen…
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We discuss Vanguard's settlement with the SEC over issues with target date funds held in taxable accounts. Vanguard to Pay More than $100 Million Over Target Date Violations US Inflation Calculator 403bwise Vendor Grades LA Wildfire Relief Learned by Being Burned - Short pod series about how teachers got burned then got wise to the 403(b) Meridian …
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Individual barred from acting as a broker goes all in on Florida K-12 market is another example of how broken the K-12 403(b) remains. FINRA Broker Check LA Wildfire Relief 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…
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Episode 72: Plan Sponsor Predictions for 2025
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24:08How well did your hosts do with predicting how the ever-evolving retirement plan landscape would look in 2024? [Spoiler alert: Pretty well.] Following their recap (and a few well-deserved victory laps), the team delivers an insightful forecast for 2025.By CAPTRUST
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Teacher/Fin Lit Coordinator Joins Next Gen Personal Finance (#356)
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37:59Our guest today, Aaron Standish, is the former Financial Literacy Coordinator (K-12) for the School District of Palm Beach County, Florida who recently joined Next Gen Personal Finance as their Partnership & Adoption Manager for the Southeastern part of the country. ngpf.org NGPF On-Demand Modules The Most Important Class You Never Had Learned by B…
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Barbara O'Neill, CFP®, AFC®, and owner of Money Talk and a regular contributor to 403bwise looks back at key money issues in 2024 and ahead to 2025. 2024 Personal Finance Recap for 403(b) Participants Million Dollar 403(b) Mistake Morgan Housel books & podcasts Learned by Being Burned - Short pod series about how teachers got burned then got wise t…
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Top Teacher Financial Mistakes of 2024 (#354)
1:15:26
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1:15:26Former Baltimore teacher-turned fiduciary advisor Justin Garritt discuss the top teacher financial mistakes of 2024 that he sees in his practice. Garritt Financial Solutions Baltimore Banner 403(b) Story Jeff Venables The Student Loan Planner The FIT Position: A Framework for Financial Success Morgan Housel books & podcasts Learned by Being Burned …
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Supporting Teachers Emotionally and Financially (#353)
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41:45Mai Nguyen, director of the Department of Social and Emotional Wellness Supports for Buffalo Public Schools, talks supporting the whole child and teacher. She also discusses the 403(b)/457(b) event she held that attracted close to 300 educators. Buffalo Public Schools Department of Social, Emotional, and Wellness Supports Buffalo City Schools 403(b…
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Episode 71: Litigation Trends with Bonnie Treichel
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45:47Bonnie Treichel, founder and chief solutions officer of Endeavor Retirement, joins hosts Jennifer Doss and Pete Ruffell for an in-depth analysis of key litigation trends affecting the retirement industry. The discussion focuses on the complexities and implications of ERISA lawsuits, including the surge of copycat lawsuits targeting similar fiduciar…
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New and Improved Equi-vest 403(b) Product? (#352)
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34:40More like: Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss. We review Equitable's new Equi-vest Series 202 403(b) product. Note: We talk Buffalo Bills football and Oregon Duck football for the first six minutes and 25 seconds. Equi-vest Series 202 Learned by Being Burned - Short pod series about how teachers got burned then got wise to the 403(b) Meridian …
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Dr. Jeff Venables is a veteran South Carolina Chemistry teacher whose advocacy led his district to add Aspire, Fidelity and Vanguard to their 403(b) lineup. But he's not done there. He's now lobbying state legislators. Jeff's District TL; DR Finanical Literacy for Employees of South Carolina Public Schools Karl Fisch State Books for Educators Learn…
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Dan and Scott discuss their recent in-person speaking engagement in Florida which has left them a tad under-the-weather. They also discuss how to make the 457(b) even more superior to the 403(b). Finally, Dan hits Scott with a surprise topic. How does he react? Council for Great City Schools Learned by Being Burned - Short pod series about how teac…
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Dan Turns 59.5 Which Means He's Eligible to Access His 403(b) (#349)
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30:00Dan and Scott discuss accessing 403(b) money at 59.5 while working and the new age 60 "super" catch up provision which will go into effect in 2025. Dan also talks about completing the mission he and three other friends started in 1990: to see a game in every NFL city. 401(k)/403(b)/457(b) Age 60 "Super" Catch-Up One Weird Trick to Fix Retirement Pl…
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Episode 70: Accenture and Retirement Recordkeeping
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38:56The retirement recordkeeping space has experiences significant shifts. What does that mean for the future of the industry? In episode 70 of the Revamping Retirement podcast, hosts Audrey Wheat and Matt Patrick welcome Tim Hoying and Dave Mallett of Accenture. They’re two of the authors of the report Navigating Through Turbulence: Reinventing Retire…
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Chicago Public Schools Single Vendor Story (#348)
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1:00:30Karla Kirkling, executive director of healthcare and benefits at Chicago Public Schools shares how she used data, facts, and common sense to create one of the best single-vendor K-12 403(b) in the country. It is plan that will save employees tens of thousands of dollars in fees over the lifetime of their careers. City of Chicago 403(b)/457(b) Plan …
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Catching Up (again) with Cullen Roche (#347)
56:39
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56:39Cullen Roche is an economist, author, father and Founder and Chief Investment Officer of the Discipline Funds, a low-fee advisory firm. Jan Hatzius FRED Economic Data (St. Louis Fed)State 457(b) Plan Rating Project Learned by Being Burned - Short pod series about how teachers got burned then got wise to the 403(b) Meridian Wealth Management 403bwis…
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Every state runs a generally excellent 457(b) plan that firefighters, police, and other state employees contribute to. These plans often have large assets under management which leads to extremely low-cost investing options. Many states permit educators to contribute to these plans. Unfortunately not all do. We discuss our new tool that allows user…
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It’s been almost two years since the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) 2.0 Act, was officially implemented. Containing more than 90 provisions impacting retirement, this massive piece of legislation is described as “the gift that keeps on giving,” with some aspects still rolling out. In episode 69 of Revamping Retiremen…
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Dirty Little Secrets of Medicare "Advantage" (#345)
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1:04:19Audio recording of our September 25, 2024 event with Lucretia Ryan about the dangers of choosing Medicare Advantage. It is recommended that you click link (below) to visual accompanying Lucretia's presentation before listening to audio. Visual Resource to Accompany Lucretia's Presentation Learned by Being Burned - Short pod series about how teacher…
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Whose Interests Are Compliance Administrators Serving? (#344)
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39:49Little known role — Compliance Administrator — can have massive effect on 403(b)/457(b) quality. Many school districts are being misserved and they don't even know it. Dan also shares a private jet story. Are Educator Retirement Plans Getting Hijacked by Compliance Administrators? Learned by Being Burned - Short pod series about how teachers got bu…
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The Wealthy Custodian in Retirement (#343)
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48:08
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48:08Former custodian Jeff York talks retirement and the joy it has brought him. He also talks finances — including a bold approach to homeowners insurance — and a little fishing. 2019 Podcast with Jeff 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 pre…
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From Engineer to Fiduciary Advisor (#342)
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53:59Jesse Cramer went from designing satellite telescopes to financial planning. The host of The Best Interest Podcast talks career transition, Rochester, N.Y., and financial planning. Best Interest Podcast Best Interest Blog How Much Life Insurance Do You Need Equitable SEC Settlement Our Pod on the SEC/Equitable Settlement Nothing presented or discus…
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In Episode 68 of Revamping Retirement, hosts Matt Patrick and Dawn McPherson welcome Bruce Harrington, vice president of strategic development at Pentegra, a provider of retirement plan and fiduciary outsourcing solutions. Harrington explains why it’s a common myth that 3(16) plans are only for small companies and how it’s helped organizations of al…
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Former Equitable Advisor Talks Shop (#341)
53:14
53:14
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53:14Pennsylvania advisor Gibson McCracken talks about his time at Equitable and how he's serving educators now. Flick Financial The Teacher Tribune Learned by Being Burned - Short pod series about how teachers got burned then got wise to the 403(b) Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.orgBy Daniel Otter, PhD and Scott Dauenhauer, CFP®
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Educating Future Teachers About the Dangers of the K-12 403(b) (#340)
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12:33Scott and Dan have a heart-to-heart about new 403bwise.org tools to help pre-service teachers get wise to the 403(b) and teacher retirement plans. On-Demand Learning Module for Pre-Service Teachers YouTube video for Pre-Service Teachers Blog Post: Inoculating Pre-Service Teachers From 403(b) Sales Sharks Equitable SEC Settlement Our Pod on the SEC/…
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Weatherman Talks 403(b)s, Investing, and Forecasting (#339)
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54:20Award-winning meteorologist and fin lit fan Greg Dee of ABC Action News in Tampa, FL talks investing, forecasting, and a day in the life of a weatherman. Greg Dee, ABC Action News Tampa, FL Award for Broadcast Meteorology (for life saving work) Equitable SEC Settlement Our Pod on the SEC/Equitable Settlement Learned by Being Burned - Short pod seri…
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For 18 years, the PIMCO has conducted its annual U.S. Defined Contribution Consulting Study. One of the longest-running studies of its kind, it aims to understand what retirement consultants are thinking, seeing, and planning to do next. The firm interviews some of the most influential DC-focused consultants in the country, including advisors at CA…
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Oops Equitable Might Be In Trouble Again (#338)
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19:08The law firm of Dicello Levitt LLP filed a class action lawsuit against Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company. They allege that Equitable charged investors significant undisclosed fees on their EQUI-VEST variable annuities. Case Summary Contact Law Firm Equitable SEC Settlement Our Pod on the SEC/Equitable Settlement Bills Fan Wins Fanatics Fe…
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Part two of our inteview with Joel Larsgaard and Matt Altmix of the How to Money website and podcast. How to Money Learned by Being Burned - Short pod series about how teachers got burned then got wise to the 403(b) Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.orgBy Daniel Otter, PhD and Scott Dauenhauer, CFP®
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