Our Company Philosophy is Education

ValuTeachers is an educational team of Teacher Retirement Specialists founded on one principle: “Education is not preparation for life: Education is life itself” (John Dewey). Our Retirement Specialists service school systems with 403(b) plans Nationally. Paula Smith, former educator and founder of ValuTeachers, is building a different kind of 403(b) company. ValuTeachers has built a team of Retired Teachers and Professionals with previous association to education to provide Retirement Education. These professionals are trained to become Teacher Retirement Specialists and offer Retirement Education to their former colleagues.

As specialists in teacher retirement systems, the Associates in ValuTeachers understand that product is not the key issue for teachers when planning their retirement income and building a nest egg through a qualified plan, such as a 403(b) account. Knowledge is Power when saving money for retirement . . . thus Retirement Education is the CORE Value of ValuTeachers.

First and foremost, the retirement foundation for educators is their State Teacher Retirement System. However, research supports that a majority of employees in school systems today do not understand the specific benefits, formulas, and options of their Teacher Retirement System. Second, the 403(b) retirement supplement opportunity approved by Congress in 1958 to provide an additional retirement benefit is only being used by 25% of the eligible employees in America’s school systems. In the Southeast, the percentage reduces to only 21%. Why is there such a large discrepancy?

Why Aren’t More Teachers Saving?

The fundamental issues are: 1) Why are employees in America’s school systems not saving money for retirement? 2) Why are employees in America’s school systems not participating in their 403(b) qualified plan program? There are three answers to these issues: 1) Lack of Retirement Education! 2) Lack of Retirement Education! 3) Lack of Retirement Education!

The Crusade of ValuTeachers

Today, the average retired teacher has less than $1,500 per month take home from their teacher retirement system after taxes, health insurance premiums, and other necessary options are deducted. This is an American travesty! According to a recent USA Today opinion poll: 78% of retirees polled “wished they had planned better for retirement;” 42% “wished they had saved more money;” and 37% “wished they had opened an IRA or contributed to a 403(b).” And no one can live with dignity on a retirement income of $1,500 per month take home! ValuTeachers is committed to the crusade of helping teachers improve the bottom line at retirement.

100% Commitment to Education

What have financial services companies and their representatives been doing for 48 years in our school systems? Selling life insurance and other products, which make the industry huge profits and pay agents large commissions is probably the answer. And in fact, the sale of these products has sabotaged the teacher’s and employee’s need for retirement education and legitimate retirement products with tax benefits, such as a 403(b) plan. This deficit, of course, compounds the ethical issues that insurance companies in America need to address.

ValuTeachers is 100% committed to retirement education and retirement plans exclusively, and trains its representatives in the field of retirement education and services. ValuTeachers Retirement Specialists are knowledgeable about teacher retirement issues such as:

• State Teacher Retirement Systems (TRS)
• 403(b), 457, 401(k), IRAs and other qualified plan options
• Social Security benefits
• Tax legislation, past and current

ValuTeachers retirement specialists provide tools to assess the financial needs of employees within school systems and address personal issues like:

• “What will your TRS net income provide?”
• “How much income supplement will be necessary to maintain your current standard of living?”
• “Do you have an adequate contingency fund for emergency purposes?”

ValuTeachers, through their Teacher Retirement Specialists, provides a system which gives Value to educational employees in all areas of the system from non-instructional to instructional. ValuTeachers Specialists provide an opportunity to:

1. Attend a Retire 101 Workshop - Retirement Education
2. Meet individually with a qualified Teacher
Retirement Specialist
3. Review individual retirement plans and tax law changes quarterly
4. Prepare teachers and employees to Retire with Dignity

America’s schools need more teachers. School systems need to retain teachers for a long-term career. There is no doubt that retirement education impacts employee retention. The data supports that teachers and employees who are informed about retirement benefits commit to long-range planning and have increased expectations of career retention. Employees who are uninformed about retirement benefits and options are negatively affected and consider leaving their profession early. ValuTeachers is committed to the Crusade of providing Retirement Education to the employees of America’s school systems and the Mission of helping teachers retire with financial dignity through optimizing the value of 403(b) plans, and all eligible qualified plans which provide a retirement benefit.