05/20/2026
“I’m only earning about 2 % on my teacher retirement savings—can it be working harder?” That question kicked off today’s review. We mapped out how her TRS assets could roll into an IRA, shifting from a sleepy 2 % return to a diversified equity strategy designed for long-term growth. We also compared keeping excess cash in the bank versus routing steady contributions into a Roth and a joint taxable account—with a transfer-on-death feature for peace of mind. Watching the lightbulb go on as we showed how each dollar could be redeployed reminded me why proactive planning matters. If your retirement dollars feel stuck in low gear, it might be time to explore a new lane.