Our Story

Honoring Teachers

I am a product of public-school education. When I was six years old and a recent immigrant, my Los Angeles Unified School District teachers gave me the tools to learn English and unlock a new world of possibilities.

They saw my potential, believed in me, and guided me into a gifted program that paved the way for academically enriched classes throughout middle school and high school. This foundation led me to UCLA and a successful 25-year career consulting with Fortune 1000 corporations on their executive benefit plans.  

My career has been dedicated to helping executives secure their short-term and long-term financial futures. I've designed executive benefit plans that filled retirement savings gaps, life insurance coverage and disability coverage gaps, and provided a clear path to a comfortable retirement.

Now, in my second act I want to use that same experience and expertise to serve a community that once served me so well. Our dedicated teachers shape the future of our children, often at the expense of time away from their own families. It is an honor to use what I have learned to help the educators who made my success possible achieve the secured and dignified retirement they so richly deserve.

Retirement Challenges for Educators

Many California educators face significant retirement challenges due to limited pensions, lack of Social Security, confusing supplemental savings options, and financial pressures that make it difficult to build lasting security.

• Reliance on pensions: While pensions can provide a stable income, many teachers may not have enough to live on from their pension alone. In California, pensions are underfunded and becoming less generous, which can create a gap between what teachers expect and what they will actually receive in retirement.

• Lack of Social Security: Educators in California are not eligible for Social Security benefits if they do not have work history in the private sector and did not pay Social Security taxes which eliminates a key source of retirement income for many educators.

• Confusing options in supplemental savings plans: Some school districts have approved forty 403(b) vendors to choose from without much guidance on how to select a vendor and investment product.  Some of these products can have high fees that erode savings over time. Some investment options within these plans come with high surrender fees, making it difficult for educators to switch to lower-cost options.

• Insufficient financial literacy: Many teachers lack the basic retirement knowledge necessary to plan effectively, struggling to identify their plan type, contribution amounts, risk tolerance and retirement eligibility ages.

• Income shortfalls: Financial pressures from low salaries, student loan debt, and high housing costs can make it difficult for educators to save enough for retirement. In a 2015 study, 55% of educators expecting to work beyond normal retirement age said their personal finances required them to keep working. 

These challenges can be compounded by the complex and ever-changing nature of retirement benefits, which often require a tailored strategy to navigate. We provide educators with clear, personalized guidance for every stage of their financial journey—from building savings to protecting income and planning their legacy. Our comprehensive approach helps you make informed decisions across pensions, investments, insurance, and estate planning.