Blog
TIAA Simplified Blog consists of short posts specifically to help those in higher education simplify and strategize around their confusing retirement plans, often with an emphasis on TIAA accounts. Blog author, Greg Shepard, has specialized in helping those in higher education navigate those often-times-confusing retirement plans for over 20yrs.
TIAA Real Case Scenario - Is Your Financial Advisor Giving You Bad TIAA Advice?
WATCH VIDEO HERE.... TIAA Real Case Scenario: Is Your Financial Advisor Giving You Bad TIAA Advice? TIAA Real Case Scenario: Is Your Financial Advisor Giving You Bad TIAA Advice? One of the biggest mistakes I see with TIAA participants...
Read MoreCan You Start TIAA Lifetime Income While Still Working?
Watch Video HERE Can You Start TIAA Lifetime Income While Still Working? Many TIAA participants assume they must completely retire before they can begin lifetime income. That is not always true. Depending on the employer’s retirement...
Read More5 TIAA Mistakes I See Smart DIY Investors Make
Physicians are some of the most capable DIY investors you’ll ever meet. They’re disciplined. They understand investing. They know expense ratios. They tax-loss harvest. They max out retirement plans. Many have built 7-figure portfolios...
Read MoreTIAA Lifetime Income: What Is the “Additional Amount,” and Is It Guaranteed?
Watch Video HERE TIAA Lifetime Income: What Is the “Additional Amount,” and Is It Guaranteed? Meta Description: Your TIAA lifetime-income illustration may include a guaranteed amount, an additional amount, and a Loyalty Bonus. Learn...
Read MoreUnder 50? Stop Investing in TIAA Traditional Until You Watch This
Watch Video HERE Under 50? Before You Invest More in TIAA Traditional, Understand the Opportunity Cost Meta Description: If you're under 50 and investing in a TIAA retirement plan, should you prioritize TIAA Traditional or stock...
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TIAA Lifetime Income & RMDs Explained | The First-Year Mistake to Avoid
Watch Video HERE TIAA Lifetime Income and RMDs: The First-Year Mistake to Avoid Meta Description: Starting TIAA lifetime income in your first RMD year? Learn how annuity payments, remaining account balances, MDO payments, and...
Read MoreThe Best TIAA Retirement Analogy I've Ever Heard
Watch Video HEREE The Best Retirement Planning Analogy I’ve Ever Heard Meta Description: A retired higher education professional compared DIY retirement planning to repairing a car with advice from YouTube. Here’s why the analogy is so...
Read MoreReal Case Scenario: Which TIAA Contracts Should You Annuitize First?
Watch Video HERE Which TIAA Contract Should You Use for Lifetime Income First? Meta Description: Choosing which TIAA Traditional contract to use for lifetime income requires more than comparing payout rates. Learn how liquidity,...
Read MoreTIAA Lifetime Income Payout Rates Explained | What’s Good vs Bad at Age 65?
Watch Video HERE What Is a Good TIAA Lifetime-Income Payout Rate? Meta Description: Is your TIAA lifetime-income payout rate attractive? Learn how payout rates below 7%, between 7% and 8%, and above 8% may influence your retirement...
Read MoreTIAA Lifetime Income Rules Explained
Can You Use Only Part of Your TIAA Traditional Balance for Lifetime Income? Description: Learn whether you can use only part of your TIAA Traditional balance to start lifetime income, which contracts to use first, and how to preserve...
Read MoreTIAA - Still Working After RMD Age? Here's a Little-Known Strategy to Avoid RMDs
Can You Avoid Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) If You're Still Working? A Little-Known Retirement Strategy Meta Description: If you're still working past RMD age, you may be able to postpone Required Minimum Distributions. Learn...
Read MoreTIAA Traditional Loyalty Bonuses
Many of you have reached out to me with questions about loyalty bonuses, wondering what they entail and how they impact your retirement income.
Read MoreRetirement Income Portfolios - You're Doing it WRONG!
Many individuals believe they can manage their retirement portfolios independently, driven by a sense of familiarity with their current financial setup. In my conversations with folks, this approach often leads to poor results.
Read MoreTIAA Traditional Annuity Strategy: Leverage Multiple Contracts for Maximum ROI
Higher ed employee with TIAA looking at retirement? This blog exposes a strategy to implement in order to get away from those lackluster bond choices. Learn how Traditional can fit in your retirement plan.
Read More2 More TIAA Traditional Mistakes
Are you struggling to decipher the complexities of your TIAA retirement plan? Greg Shepard, a seasoned financial advisor, shares insights into common pitfalls and creative solutions encountered by individuals like you.
Read MoreNavigating TIAA Retirement Plans: Real-Life Case Scenario
Recently retired, a client faced TIAA complexities, seeking help for a clear retirement plan. Options induced confusion, a familiar tale for those nearing or newly in retirement. This story might resonate with many of you who are retiring.
Read MoreDemystifying TIAA's Revenue Service Credits: A Boon for Higher Ed Retirees
have you received your 2023 TIAA year-end statement and noticed those mysterious "Revenue Service Credits"? These credits can be a welcoming surprise. This blog post dives into the details of these mysterious credits.
Read MoreTIAA Strategy-Age Discrepancy Between Spouses
In a recent scenario, we encountered a participant on verge of retirement, holding $700,000+ in TIAA Traditional within illiquid contract. The catch? His spouse was nine years younger, setting the stage for a unique approach to address liqu
Read MoreMaximizing Your HigherEd Retirement Plans: Strategies for In-Service Transfers with TIAA Accounts
Greg Shepard from S&A Financial Services, your go-to resource for optimizing higher education retirement plans. Today's topic is In-Service Transfers, a powerful strategy that could make a significant impact on your financial future.
Read MoreNavigating the December RMD Season: Avoiding Crucial Mistakes in Your TIAA Accounts
Greg Shepard here from S&A Financial Services. In this crucial December update, I'm shedding light on a significant RMD (Required Minimum Distribution) mistake you absolutely need to avoid, especially if you're dealing with TIAA accounts.
Read MoreTIAA Traditional - This Mistake is Becoming too Common
In this blog post, Greg addresses a consistent mistake he's observed in higher ed retirement plans with TIAA Traditional. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the nuances before making any moves within TIAA Traditional.
Read MoreTIAA Traditional Liquidity Options
In today's HigherEd Retire Blog, Greg Shepard, an independent advisor specializing in higher ed retirement plans, discusses liquidity options with TIAA Traditional inside various contracts.
Read MoreTIAA - When Lifetime Income Annuity Option May Make Sense
Greetings educators! Greg Shepard here from S&A Financial Services, your guide through the intricate landscape of higher education retirement plans, especially those under the umbrella of TIAA. Today, I want to delve into a critical...
Read MoreTIAA Traditional: Shedding Light on it's Inception and Intended Purpose
Hello, HigherEd retirees, and welcome back to the HigherEd Retire Blog, your dedicated source for unraveling the complexities of higher education retirement plans, with a special emphasis on TIAA accounts. Today, we're delving into the...
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