You've got a retirement account taken straight from your paycheck — but no one ever walked you through what's actually in it. This guide breaks down the four things that quietly decide how much you'll retire with, plus two calculators to see your own numbers.
Your 403(b) statement shows a balance. It doesn't show you why that balance is smaller — or larger — than it should be. These four factors are where most of the difference lives.
A fund that topped the charts last year rarely repeats. What matters is performance relative to a fair benchmark, over a full market cycle — 5 to 10 years, including a downturn.
Many educators end up in a single balanced or target-date-style annuity option because it was the only thing presented to them, not because it fits their timeline or risk tolerance.
Expense ratios are charged every year, on your entire balance, whether the market goes up or down. A 1% difference sounds tiny — over 25 years it can consume a meaningful share of your growth. See the calculator below.
Some 403(b) reps are compensated through commissions built into the product, which can create an incentive to sell a specific annuity rather than what's best for you. A fee-only, fiduciary advisor is paid the same way regardless of which investment you choose.
These are educational estimates to help you think through your options — not a projection of what any specific investment will actually return. Move the sliders to match your situation.
Estimate your paycheck impact and potential tax savings from a traditional pre-tax 403(b) contribution.
Hypothetical growth of your contributions over time, compared under a low-cost scenario and a high-cost scenario.
The projected difference at retirement between the low-cost and high-cost scenario — same contributions, same market return, different fees.
Bring your 403(b) statement to a short, no-obligation review. We'll walk through your real fund options, what you're actually paying, and whether your current plan matches your timeline — teacher to teacher, plain English.