Do teachers have to choose between passion in the classroom and financial freedom? In this episode of the Teacher Money Show, Shaun Morgan sits down with Chantal from That Millionaire Teacher to break down how educators can build wealth, achieve financial independence, and design their dream lives—while still teaching if they want to.Chantal shares her journey from “accidentally” becoming a teacher to building financial security and empowering other educators to do the same. Together, we tackle the myth of the “teacher vow of poverty” and prove that teachers can thrive financially without giving up their calling.In this episode, we cover:-How to define your dream lifestyle and calculate what it costs-The truth about teachers’ unique financial advantages (pensions, summers off, PSLF)-How to earn more by monetizing your existing skills-Automating savings and investments to stay consistent-Why financial freedom and teaching don’t have to be mutually exclusiveIf you’re a teacher struggling with money or wondering whether to leave the classroom, this conversation will inspire you to see a new path forward. Financial freedom is possible—and it can start with the paycheck you already have.👉 Watch now and subscribe to the Teacher Money Show for more personal finance strategies made for teachers.Explore the show notes at:https://www.teachermoneyshow.com/show91Become a guest on the show:https://www.teachermoneyshow.com/guestLeave a voicemail question:https://www.speakpipe.com/teachermoneyshowBring me to your school to talk personal finance for teachers!https://www.shaunkmorgan.com#TeacherMoneyShow #TeacherFinance #FinancialFreedomForTeachers #InvestingForTeachers #SideHustlesForTeachers #FinancialIndependence

What would you do if you built a $1.8 million portfolio as a teacher? In this episode of the Teacher Money Show, Shaun Morgan sits down with Christina, a New York City public school teacher earning $150,000 a year, to unpack how she grew her retirement and taxable accounts to $1.8M—and how she’s planning her future.Christina started early, consistently maxing out her Roth IRA, 457b, and investing in a taxable brokerage account. During summers, she actively trades (a very small portion of her portfolio in) stocks and options to accelerate her wealth. Now she’s weighing the tradeoffs of retiring at 50, 53, or 55—balancing her pension benefits with her dream of starting schools and orphanages around the world.We also dive into:-How teachers can maximize retirement accounts (403b, 457b, Roth IRA)-Strategies for minimizing taxes in retirement (Roth conversions, 0% capital gains tax bracket, donor-advised funds)-Why teachers should focus on their bigger “why”—their vision for impact—over obsessing about taxes/optimization in retirement-Practical advice for balancing financial freedom with purposeWhether you’re a teacher just starting out or nearing retirement, Christina’s story shows that teachers can build wealth, retire early, and use their money for a mission bigger than themselves.👉 Watch now and subscribe to the Teacher Money Show for more teacher-focused financial strategies.Explore the show notes at:https://www.teachermoneyshow.com/show91Become a guest on the show:https://www.teachermoneyshow.com/guestLeave a voicemail question:https://www.speakpipe.com/teachermoneyshowBring me to your school to talk personal finance for teachers!https://www.shaunkmorgan.com#TeacherMoneyShow #TeacherFinance #RetirementPlanning #InvestingForTeachers #FinancialIndependence

In this episode of The Teacher Money Show, I sit down with financial planner Mary Ann Sullivan from 395 Financial Planning to dive into Target Date Funds (TDFs) — what they are, when they work well, and how teachers can know when it’s time to move beyond them to optimize their retirement investments.Target Date Funds are often the default option in 403(b) plans, making them a common choice for teachers. They automatically rebalance and adjust risk over time, which is great for simplicity. But are they always the best choice for educators building wealth and preparing for retirement?Mary Ann and I explore:-The benefits of Target Date Funds for teachers just getting started with investing-The limitations of TDFs, especially if you have a pension or want more control over your portfolio-How to know when you’ve outgrown Target Date Funds and are ready to optimize-Strategies like a three-fund portfolio and bond ladders for more flexibility and tax efficiency-Why every teacher needs a comprehensive financial plan to align investments with life goalsWhether you’re a new teacher just starting to invest or a seasoned educator thinking about retirement, this episode will help you decide if a Target Date Fund is the right tool for your situation — or if it’s time to graduate to a more intentional investment strategy.👉 Subscribe to The Teacher Money Show for more teacher-focused conversations on personal finance, investing, and building a secure retirement.Explore the show notes at:https://www.teachermoneyshow.com/show90Become a guest on the show:https://www.teachermoneyshow.com/guestLeave a voicemail question:https://www.speakpipe.com/teachermoneyshowBring me to your school to talk personal finance for teachers!https://www.shaunkmorgan.com#TeacherMoneyShow #TeacherFinance #TargetDateFunds #InvestingForTeachers #TeacherRetirement #403b #FinancialPlanning

Welcome to season 3 of the Teacher Money Show! Here is my proposition for season 3: Teachers should embrace frugal living as the first step toward financial freedom—before worrying about earning a higher income.

Frugality was once considered a virtue in ancient Rome, let's make it that again. Frugal living can empower teachers to live intentionally, reduce stress, and align spending with their values. By being frugal (not cheap), defining your personal “why” for financial discipline, and understanding how to live a frugal lifestyle, you can create a more fulfilling life both inside and outside the classroom.

Explore the show notes at:

https://www.teachermoneyshow.com/show89

Become a guest on the show:

https://www.teachermoneyshow.com/guest

Leave a voicemail question:

https://www.speakpipe.com/teachermoneyshow

Sign up for my free webinar:

https://www.teachermoneyshow.com/webinar

✨ In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why frugality is more powerful than just earning more money

• How frugality leads to freedom without feeling deprived

• The key differences between living frugal and being cheap

• How to define your personal “why” for a frugal lifestyle

• How teachers can build financial wellness through intentional living

If you’ve ever felt like money is holding you back, this episode will inspire you to reimagine your relationship with spending and embrace a happier, simpler, more intentional life.

📌 Don’t forget to subscribe to The Teacher Money Show for more conversations on teacher finance, investing, frugal living, and financial freedom.

🎓 *What does smart investing really look like for teachers?* In this Season 2 wrap-up of *The Teacher Money Show*, I reflect on the biggest lessons learned from a full season dedicated to **investing strategies for educators**.

Explore the show notes at:

https://www.teachermoneyshow.com/show88

Become a guest on the show:

https://www.teachermoneyshow.com/guest

Leave a voicemail question:

https://www.speakpipe.com/teachermoneyshow

Bring me to your school to talk personal finance for teachers!

https://www.shaunkmorgan.com

Here are some of my thoughts:

* Your **pension is an investment**

* **Index funds** may be the smartest move for most teachers

* There are pros and cons of **dividend investing** and **real estate investing**

* Your **mindset** can make or break your financial success

* It's critical to align your investments with your **financial goals**

📈 I also share how my own investing approach has shifted this year—including:

* Getting my **403(b)** match and maxing out my **HSA**

* Opening a **taxable brokerage account** for flexibility and early retirement

* Using **Worthy Bonds** as part of my emergency fund strategy

💬 I’d love to hear how Season 2 has shaped your financial thinking! Email me with feedback or if you’re interested in being a guest in Season 3—launching this August!

#TeacherInvesting #403b #FinancialWellness #IndexFunds #DividendInvesting #RealEstateInvesting #WorthyBonds #TaxableBrokerage #TeacherMoneyShow #SeasonRecap #PersonalFinanceForTeachers #FinancialIndependence

Can bonds and alternative investments help you build wealth outside the stock market?

In this episode of The Teacher Money Show, I sit down with Dara Albright from Worthy Financial, to talk about how teachers can use bonds, impact investing, and alternative assets to grow income and strengthen their financial foundation.

Explore the show notes at:

https://www.teachermoneyshow.com/show87

Become a guest on the show:

https://www.teachermoneyshow.com/guest

Leave a voicemail question:

https://www.speakpipe.com/teachermoneyshow

Bring me to your school to talk personal finance for teachers!

https://www.shaunkmorgan.com

Invest in bonds with Worthy (affiliate link)

https://tinyurl.com/teachermoneyshow

In this episode we discuss:

-The difference between public vs. private bonds

-Why private bonds can offer 7-8% annual returns

-When to use bonds in a portfolio with a pension

-The role of self-directed IRAs for investing in real estate, art, bonds and more

-How Worthy Bonds work, including features like round-up investing and senior living revitalization

-Why impact investing doesn’t mean sacrificing performance—it can actually do both: grow your wealth and create positive change

If you're a teacher looking to diversify your investment portfolio beyond the standard 403(b), this episode gives you tools to invest smarter and align your money with your values.

🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe for more interviews on teacher investing, side income, and retirement planning.

#TeacherInvesting #WorthyBonds #PassiveIncome #BondInvesting #AlternativeInvestments #SelfDirectedIRA #ImpactInvesting #TeacherMoneyShow #FinancialLiteracy #PersonalFinanceForTeachers #403b #IncomeStrategies

Big changes are here for teachers planning their retirement!

In this episode of The Teacher Money Show, I talk with David Gourley—former high school math teacher turned financial planner for educators—about the recent repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) and what it means for teachers across the country.

These long-standing Social Security provisions have reduced or eliminated benefits for many public school educators. With their repeal, teachers in affected states could now see a significant boost to their retirement income.

Explore the show notes at:

https://www.teachermoneyshow.com/show86

Become a guest on the show:

https://www.teachermoneyshow.com/guest

Leave a voicemail question:

https://www.speakpipe.com/teachermoneyshow

Bring me to your school to talk about personal finance for teachers!

https://www.shaunkmorgan.com

In this show, we dive into:

-What the WEP and GPO were, and how they impacted teachers' Social Security benefits.

-What the repeal means for teachers nearing or already in retirement.

-How to earn Social Security credits through side jobs or non-teaching work to maximize your retirement benefit (and if you should!)

-When to take Social Security benefits and how to coordinate them with your pension

-Tools and resources teachers can use to plan smarter for retirement

Whether you're close to retirement or just starting out, this episode helps you understand how these policy changes could impact your financial future—and how to make the most of them.

🎧 Subscribe for more content on teacher retirement, investing, and financial planning.

#TeacherRetirement #WEPRepeal #GPORepeal #SocialSecurityForTeachers #TeacherFinance #TeacherMoneyShow #403b #PensionPlanning #DavidGourley #EducatorFinance #RetirementPlanning #TeacherBenefits

In this episode of The Teacher Money Show, I sit down with Jeff Venables—teacher, financial coach, and personal finance advocate—to talk about smart investing strategies for teachers navigating today’s unpredictable market.

Jeff brings a wealth of experience both from the classroom and the world of personal finance. We dive into how educators can stay grounded in their investment strategies despite market volatility, news cycles, and economic uncertainty. Jeff explains why it's essential to focus on the signal (your financial plan) instead of the noise (market headlines), and how to align your investment decisions with your risk tolerance and risk need.

Explore the show notes at:

https://www.teachermoneyshow.com/show85

Become a guest on the show:

https://www.teachermoneyshow.com/guest

Leave a voicemail question:

https://www.speakpipe.com/teachermoneyshow

Bring me to your school to talk personal finance for teachers!

https://www.shaunkmorgan.com

Here is some key highlights:

👉There is an emotional side of investing, you must overcome that to avoid common traps

👉Rebalancing your portfolio on a schedule beats reacting to news

👉It is vital to start now by paying yourself first

👉Stay the course!

Whether you're new to investing or looking to fine-tune your approach, this episode offers practical advice tailored specifically to educators.

👉 Subscribe for more content on teacher finance, investing, and retirement planning.

🎙️ Listen to more episodes at www.theteachermoneyshow.com

#TeacherFinance #InvestingForTeachers #FinancialWellness #403b #TeacherMoneyShow #PersonalFinance #InvestingInVolatileMarkets #JeffVenables #FinancialPlanning #TeacherInvesting #LongTermInvesting