Zachary G. Espericueta - Advisor

10/07/2026

I got my first call about this today from a client, so I wanted to share some info...

You may have heard that some people on Medicare are receiving a one-time $90 rebate this month. Yes, it's real, but it's NOT going out to EVERYONE on Medicare.

According to CMS...if you're enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, receiving premium assistance from Medicaid, or paying IRMAA, you are NOT eligible for this one-time rebate.

For those who qualify, most payments are expected by direct deposit on or around October 8, while some people will receive a check later this month.

You do not need to apply or sign up for this rebate, so be on the lookout for scams. As always, never give out your Medicare number or personal information to someone claiming they need it to get you this payment.

If you're one of my clients and you're unsure whether this applies to you, feel free to reach out! 📲

More info: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/medicare-improvement-fund-premium-rebate-frequently-asked-questions?utm_source=chatgpt.com

10/03/2026

A good question came up in a meeting this morning: “Can I take the money in my TRS account and invest it somewhere else?”

It’s a great question, and one I get periodically. Here’s what you should understand...

If you’re still working in a TRS-covered position, you generally can’t just withdraw, borrow from, or roll over that balance. Even if you eventually leave TRS employment and choose to refund the account, you’d be giving up the service credit tied to it, along with potentially giving up a future lifetime pension.

Could an investment account potentially grow more? 𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦.

But before giving up 𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 (your TRS pension), I’d think very carefully about what you’re exchanging it for.

TRS and your personal retirement savings can serve two very different purposes.

10/01/2026

Medicare Annual Enrollment (AEP) is almost here ⏰

AEP runs from Oct. 15th - Dec. 7th. This is the time of year when Medicare beneficiaries can review their current coverage and make changes for the upcoming year.

If you have questions about your Medicare coverage or would simply like to review your options, feel free to reach out.

𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙤𝙧 𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙐.𝙎. 𝙂𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙚𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙈𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙢.

09/25/2026

📬 Medicare Advantage & Part D members: keep an eye on your mailbox!

This time of year, you should receive your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) from your current Medicare plan. This explains the changes on your plan for the upcoming year, which may include:

• Premiums, copays & deductibles
• Prescription drug coverage
• Dental, vision & extra benefits
• Other important plan changes

Even if you've happy with your current plan, don't assume everything will stay the same. Take some time to review your ANOC.

If you have questions about something you received, feel free to reach out. I'm always happy to help you understand what it means.

**Not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.**

09/22/2026

Great to be back at (HISD) Terrell Wells MS this morning, providing TRS + retirement education to the staff!

Who doesn’t love talking retirement over breakfast tacos & coffee? 🌮☕️

09/19/2026

Diversification isn’t just about owning different stocks & bonds inside a portfolio. It can also mean using different types of financial products.

Mutual funds, indexed annuities, fixed annuities, bank CDs, stocks/bonds, and even crypto can all play different roles. As with anything, each comes with its own pros, cons, and potential risk/reward.

Some people are comfortable having all of their retirement money exposed to the market. Others prefer more downside protection.

There’s nothing wrong with having BOTH. And many people forget they can have more than one retirement account.

One account can be more aggressive.
One can be more conservative.
One can focus on growth.
One can focus more on protection.

The goal isn’t always to find one “perfect” product. I’d argue there’s no such thing! I believe the better approach is building a retirement strategy where different pieces work together.

09/03/2026

Humana announced recently that about 600,000 Medicare Advantage members are expected to have plans that will not be offered in 2027.

Affected plans and counties have not all been identified yet, but it's another good reminder to review your Medicare coverage during the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): October 15 – December 7.

If you receive a non-renewal notice this fall:
• Your current coverage will stay active through December 31st
• Review any alternative plan carefully (factor-in your doctors, prescriptions and costs)
• If your plan is being discontinued, you may also have guaranteed-issue rights to certain Medicare Supplement plans

Affected beneficiaries will have to select new coverage or transition to Original Medicare for 2027.

08/14/2026

Congratulations to all of the San Antonio-area educators who completed their first week of the new school year! 🍎

Last week, I had the opportunity to meet with educators across several local campuses during my annual TRS and retirement presentations.

Whether it's your first year in education or you've been serving students for many years, understanding your retirement benefits and having a long-term plan is essential.

Thank you to the campuses and educators who welcomed me this year, and I hope everyone gets some well-deserved time to relax and recharge this weekend! ❤️

08/10/2026

The woman in this story ended up paying over $600 in Medicare late-enrollment penalties simply because a required document wasn’t included when she enrolled.

Medicare can be complicated, which is why planning ahead and working with a trustworthy, experienced agent can make such a difference.

A good agent should do more than help you enroll. They should help guide you through the process and make sure you understand the steps along the way.

Philadelphia-area woman says one missing document triggered months of higher monthly charges.

08/07/2026

🗞️ Check out my latest (‘26 Q3) newsletter here

Email from Zachary G. Espericueta Zachary's 2026 Q3 Newsletter ⚡️ Greetings! Volume 40 | August 2026 (Q3) Zachary's Quarterly Note Showing Up as Myself Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about authent