I don’t care if we agree about whether the endorsed provider system in Pennsylvania school districts is an antiquated system for delivering 403(B)’s and other products to teachers.
But, I hear teachers wondering every day why they should care because aren’t all you financial guys the same anyway?
So, let’s put the endorsed provider debate aside for a minute. I have three questions for you.
- 1. Do you think that it’s acceptable for teachers to pay at least $2000 more per year to park your $200,000 403(B) or PSERS lump sum inside an annuity or some other high cost product rather than a low-cost index fund?
- 2. Do you believe that eliminating the middle man and that operating as a fiduciary (in your best interests) is the wave of the future?
For anything that I do, I want a plan, not a product of some sort sold to me. I want the assurance of knowing that someone has my back and serving my best interests. I want someone who is going to be proactive, not reactive. I want to be sure that I am getting the best value, that I’m not paying for what I don’t need, and that pockets aren’t being lined at my expense. I want full transparency. I want a comprehensive approach for dealing with my life and money. So now my final question, but, it will take some imagination. There are two doors…
- 3. Behind door number one is the sales guy lurking in the hallways of your school because he is on a list waiting for the next retiring teacher to buy something so that he makes a lot of money by praying on your fears. Behind door number two is the future. An independent firm that delivers a comprehensive retirement planning process not dependent upon you buying some high cost financial product. A firm that has well over twenty years of experience working with retiring teachers. A firm that knows you, does not treat you like a number, and is responsive to your needs.
Until you go to retire you can only invest your 403(B) with a firm on the “approved” list of endorsed providers. But, when you go to retire, the handcuffs come off and you are free to choose. So, what will you choose – door number one or door number two?
