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Tips for Teachers: Investing for Retirement -- Updated Investor Bulletin

As a teacher, you have a number of choices to make when investing for retirement. The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to help teachers make informed investment decisions, including about 403(b) and 457(b) plans -- tax-advantaged retirement savings programs often offered to teachers of public educational institutions.  More information for teachers is available in our A Guide for Teachers: Saving and Investing for K-12 Educators.

Key Takeaways

  • Do your homework on the investment products available to you.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions — it is up to you to select investments that best meet your financial objectives. 
  • Understand how much you will pay in fees and costs.  Someone is making money from your investment.  Ask about how much others may earn in fees or commissions —  it could save you thousands of dollars for your retirement.
  • Contact your employer to find out your options for investment professionals or vendors.  Take advantage of resources that can assist you in researching those options. 

Additional Resources

Investor Bulletin: Retirement Investing Through 403(b) and 457(b) Plans

A Guide for Teachers: Saving and Investing for K-12 Educators

IRS 403(b) webpage(link is external)

U.S. Department of Labor’s 403(b) plan webpage(link is external) 

FINRA fund analyzer(link is external)

Ask Questions: Questions You Should Ask about Your Investments (also available in Spanish)

Saving and Investing: a Roadmap to Your Financial Security through Saving and Investing (also available in Spanish)

Call OIEA at 1-800-732-0330, ask a question using this online form, or email us at Help@SEC.gov(link sends email).

Visit Investor.gov, the SEC’s website for individual investors.    

Receive Investor Alerts and Bulletins from OIEA by email or RSS feed

This Investor Bulletin represents the views of the staff of the Office of Investor Education and Advocacy. It is not a rule, regulation, or statement of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”). The Commission has neither approved nor disapproved its content. This bulletin, like all staff statements, has no legal force or effect: it does not alter or amend applicable law, and it creates no new or additional obligations for any person.