Harbourfront Wealth Management Insights https://harbouriswealth.com/insights/ Wealth management for teachers and school employees en-us 60 Sun, 11 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +0000 457(b) vs 403(b): The Harbourfront Wealth Management Checklisthttps://harbouriswealth.com/457b-vs-403b-for-teachers/https://harbouriswealth.com/457b-vs-403b-for-teachers/Thu, 08 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +0000Only the 457(b) avoids early withdrawal penalties after separation. Harbourfront Wealth Management shows which plan to fund first. How Harbourfront Wealth Management Evaluates Whether You Should Teach One More Yearhttps://harbouriswealth.com/should-i-teach-one-more-year/https://harbouriswealth.com/should-i-teach-one-more-year/Wed, 07 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +0000$25,400 of real pay decides whether to retire now. Explore if you should teach one more year with Harbourfront Wealth Management. How to evaluate buying service credit in a pensionhttps://harbouriswealth.com/buying-pension-service-credit/https://harbouriswealth.com/buying-pension-service-credit/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +0000Buying service credit pays back if the break-even years are short. Harbourfront Wealth Management shows the math for buying service credit in a pension. Harbourfront Wealth Management's Guide to 403(b) Annuity Surrender Chargeshttps://harbouriswealth.com/403b-annuity-surrender-charges/https://harbouriswealth.com/403b-annuity-surrender-charges/Sun, 04 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +0000A 7% surrender fee on $200,000 costs $14,000. Harbourfront Wealth Management shows how 403(b) annuity surrender charges compare against your yearly fees. Why the generic advice on Roth 403(b) vs traditional 403(b) fails teachers near retirementhttps://harbouriswealth.com/roth-403b-vs-traditional-403b/https://harbouriswealth.com/roth-403b-vs-traditional-403b/Sat, 03 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +0000Harbourfront Wealth Management shows how Roth 403(b) vs traditional 403(b) decisions shift for teachers near retirement as pensions fill lower brackets early. 457(b) early withdrawal rules: penalty-free retirement income at 56https://harbouriswealth.com/457b-early-withdrawal-rules/https://harbouriswealth.com/457b-early-withdrawal-rules/Tue, 29 Sep 2026 09:00:00 +0000A governmental 457(b) carries no 10% penalty after leaving your job. Harbourfront Wealth Management explains 457(b) early withdrawal rules. What belongs on a teacher retirement checklist for a June exit?https://harbouriswealth.com/teacher-retirement-checklist/https://harbouriswealth.com/teacher-retirement-checklist/Wed, 23 Sep 2026 09:00:00 +0000Twelve months out is when planning starts. Harbourfront Wealth Management shows a teacher retirement checklist for pensions, sick pay, and 457(b) choices. Roth Conversion for Retired Teachers Facing State Pensions and Medicare Surchargeshttps://harbouriswealth.com/roth-conversion-retired-teachers/https://harbouriswealth.com/roth-conversion-retired-teachers/Tue, 22 Sep 2026 09:00:00 +0000Harbourfront Wealth Management shows how a Roth conversion for a retired teacher fits IRMAA tiers without raising Medicare rates from fast conversions. How Much Teachers Need to Retire (a Walkthrough from Harbourfront Wealth Management)https://harbouriswealth.com/how-much-teachers-need-to-retire/https://harbouriswealth.com/how-much-teachers-need-to-retire/Sun, 20 Sep 2026 09:00:00 +0000A $16,800 pension gap needs about $420,000; see how much teachers need to retire when a pension covers part, with Harbourfront Wealth Management. How Harbourfront Wealth Management Helps You Max Out a 403(b) and 457(b)https://harbouriswealth.com/max-out-403b-and-457b/https://harbouriswealth.com/max-out-403b-and-457b/Sat, 19 Sep 2026 09:00:00 +0000Harbourfront Wealth Management shows how to max out a 403(b) and 457(b) using separate deferral limits so public school staff don't run short in summer. How to evaluate your 403(b) sales rep commission and ongoing contract chargeshttps://harbouriswealth.com/403b-sales-rep-commission/https://harbouriswealth.com/403b-sales-rep-commission/Fri, 18 Sep 2026 09:00:00 +0000Harbourfront Wealth Management shows how 403(b) sales rep commission models charge $4,500 yearly on a $300,000 balance. Faculty lounge reps cost real money. When Should Teachers Claim Social Security If They Have a Pension?https://harbouriswealth.com/when-teachers-claim-social-security/https://harbouriswealth.com/when-teachers-claim-social-security/Wed, 16 Sep 2026 09:00:00 +0000Harbourfront Wealth Management shows when teachers claim Social Security at 67 alongside a state pension to protect income and full benefits. The Costly Assumption Behind Retired Teacher Health Insurance Before 65https://harbouriswealth.com/retired-teacher-health-insurance-before-65/https://harbouriswealth.com/retired-teacher-health-insurance-before-65/Mon, 14 Sep 2026 09:00:00 +0000District retiree plans often charge full cost. Harbourfront Wealth Management shows how retired teacher health insurance before 65 affects your income and Medicare. A 403(b) rollover to an IRA: five costly mistakes and how to avoid themhttps://harbouriswealth.com/403b-rollover-to-ira-mistakes/https://harbouriswealth.com/403b-rollover-to-ira-mistakes/Sun, 13 Sep 2026 09:00:00 +0000A 403(b) rollover to an IRA costs nothing when moved directly. Indirect rollovers withhold 20%; rolling to an IRA before 59½ can cost penalties. Harbourfront Wealth Management explains five mistakes and how to time the move. Deferred retirement option plan: is the lump sum or the larger pension the better choice?https://harbouriswealth.com/deferred-retirement-option-plan-drop/https://harbouriswealth.com/deferred-retirement-option-plan-drop/Sat, 12 Sep 2026 09:00:00 +0000Harbourfront Wealth Management explains how a deferred retirement option plan works for teachers by dividing the DROP balance by yearly pension forgone. Teacher pension survivor options: single life versus joint payout for school employeeshttps://harbouriswealth.com/teacher-pension-survivor-options/https://harbouriswealth.com/teacher-pension-survivor-options/Wed, 09 Sep 2026 09:00:00 +0000Harbourfront Wealth Management shows the 25-year cost of teacher pension survivor options: single life pays $500 more; joint options protect your spouse. Financial advisor fees for teachers: the total cost, model by model (a Walkthrough from Harbourfront Wealth Management)https://harbouriswealth.com/financial-advisor-fees-for-teachers/https://harbouriswealth.com/financial-advisor-fees-for-teachers/Sat, 05 Sep 2026 09:00:00 +0000Harbourfront Wealth Management shows how to add up financial advisor fees for teachers—a 1% fee on $600,000 costs $6,000 yearly—and compares each model. How Harbourfront Wealth Management Approaches Required Minimum Distributions from a 403(b)https://harbouriswealth.com/403b-required-minimum-distributions/https://harbouriswealth.com/403b-required-minimum-distributions/Fri, 04 Sep 2026 09:00:00 +0000Age 73 or 75 starts 403(b) RMDs; combine amounts across 403(b)s but not 457(b)s. Harbourfront Wealth Management explains the rule, the deadline and the cost of missing it. How to account for a teacher pension COLA shortfall in your retirement planhttps://harbouriswealth.com/teacher-pension-cola-inflation/https://harbouriswealth.com/teacher-pension-cola-inflation/Wed, 02 Sep 2026 09:00:00 +0000Harbourfront Wealth Management explains how a teacher pension COLA shortfall shrinks buying power by half in 24 years and how to set aside savings to cover it. Target Date Fund in a 403(b): The Fee You Never See on a Statementhttps://harbouriswealth.com/target-date-fund-403b-fees/https://harbouriswealth.com/target-date-fund-403b-fees/Mon, 31 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000Harbourfront Wealth Management shows how a target date fund in a 403(b) charges an expense ratio daily but never shows on your bill. Find the real cost. Teacher pension splits in a divorce: what the marital fraction really meanshttps://harbouriswealth.com/teacher-pension-divorce/https://harbouriswealth.com/teacher-pension-divorce/Sun, 30 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000Harbourfront Wealth Management explains how the teacher pension in a divorce formula works, the tax trap of trading equity for benefits, and what to bring.