After 25+ Years in Higher Education…
What retirement questions should you be asking now?
You may have spent decades teaching, researching, advising students, or serving your institution.
Along the way you've likely accumulated retirement benefits from several different sources.
Some may be with your current employer.
Others may still be sitting with previous employers from years ago.
As retirement gets closer, many higher education employees begin asking a different set of questions—not "How much have I saved?" but rather...
"How will all of this actually work together?"
That's exactly the question this page is designed to help answer.
Your retirement may be more complex than you realize.
Depending on your career, your retirement pictould include several different resources.
✔ Tennessee Optional Retirement Program (ORP)
✔ TCRS Pension
✔ 401(k)
✔ 403(b)
✔ Previous employer retirement accounts
✔ Traditional or Roth IRAs
✔ Social Security
Each of these serves a different purpose.
Understanding how they fit together can make retirement planning much easier.
Questions I hear most often from faculty and staff…
Could I retire sooner than I think?
Sometimes retirement income is higher than people expect.
Sometimes it isn't.
The value comes from knowing.
Can I move retirement funds while I'm still working?
Depending on your age, employer, and retirement plan, certain retirement accounts may become eligible for rollover while you're still employed.
Many people simply don't realize those options exist.
What about retirement accounts from previous employers?
Many people still have retirement accounts from universities or employers they left years ago.
Those accounts may deserve another look as retirement approaches.
How do my ORP, TCRS, and Social Security work together?
Each source of retirement income is different.
Rather than viewing them separately, it often helps to understand how they work together to support your retirement goals.
Am I already on the right track?
One of the most common outcomes of an independent review is simply confirming that no changes are needed.
Sometimes peace of mind is the most valuable result.
Why I Work With Tennessee
Higher Education Employees
My goal isn't to convince you to move your retirement accounts.
Instead, I help higher education employees better understand the retirement resources they've spent decades building.
During a complimentary retirement review, we'll discuss:
• Your current retirement accounts
• ORP and/or TCRS benefits
• Previous employer retirement plans
• Potential retirement income
• Questions unique to your situation
You'll leave with a clearer understanding of your retirement picture so you can make informed decisions about the future.
Why work with an independent retirement specialist?
Unlike working directly with a single retirement provider, an independent advisor can evaluate options across multiple companies and strategies.
In many cases, your current plan may continue to be the best fit.
The goal is simply to help you understand what's available and determine what best supports your retirement goals.
Focused on Tennessee Higher Education Employees
Over the past year I've researched retirement programs and career histories across Tennessee's colleges and universities to better understand the questions faculty and staff ask as retirement approaches.
Whether you've spent 25 years or 40 years in higher education, my goal is to help you better understand the retirement resources you've worked so hard to build.
