What happens when the most educated people in the room have no idea what's in their own retirement accounts?

Retirement planning for educators looks nothing like it does for everyone else. Between layered 403(b) contracts, fixed annuities with strict liquidity rules, and pensions that interact with Social Security in unexpected ways, the complexity is real… and largely underserved.

Kevin Roche, Certified Financial Planner and founder of Authenticity Financial, worked inside TIAA before going independent. He now specializes in helping educators untangle their retirement accounts, understand what they actually own, and build a tax-efficient strategy for the long term.

Listen in as Kevin breaks down how TIAA Traditional's liquidity restrictions work, why the timing of your pension and Social Security elections changes your tax picture for life, and how to turn the gap between retirement and age 70 into a powerful planning opportunity.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why 403(b) plans are far more complex than a standard 401(k).
• How TIAA Traditional's six versions differ and why liquidity rules matter.
• What the 5-, 8-, and 10-year payout schedules mean for your flexibility.
• How pensions and Social Security timing change your tax picture for life.
• What the "low tax corridor" is and how to use it strategically.
• Why 457 plans are an underutilized tool for higher-earning educators.

Ideas Worth Sharing:

• “Going to a financial planner is like going to a doctor. If you wait until there's a crisis, you're probably going to get bad news. You’ve got to go when you think you don't need it, and that's when you're going to make sure you probably are in good shape.” - Kevin Roche
• “It's almost like when you first sit down to create a puzzle. You’ve got to dump all the pieces out, and then you lay them all out… look for the corners and the edges, and you start putting them together.” - Kevin Roche
• “It's not just about managing income, it's about managing taxes as well. It's about managing investments.” - Kevin Roche

Resources:

• Kevin Roche: LinkedIn | Farther Financial | Email
• Genevieve George: Website | LinkedIn
• Authenticity Financial
• Longevity Science Foundation
• TIAA

Connect with Us:

If you're ready to stop avoiding your finances and start building the future you deserve, schedule a free call with me at pelicanfinancialplanning.com and let’s create your personalized financial plan together.

And if you want ongoing guidance, clarity, and confidence as you grow your wealth, subscribe to our newsletter for financial insights delivered right to your inbox.

Does every money conversation in your house end in a fight? Do you leave financial meetings feeling good, then go home and do nothing?

The problem might not be your finances. It might be your relationship with them.

Erika Wasserman, founder of Your Financial Therapist and one of a small number of certified financial therapists in the country, breaks down what financial therapy actually is and why it matters. She explores how childhood money stories shape adult behavior, how shame keeps people stuck, and how couples, individuals, and professionals can start having the conversations that lead to real change.

Listen in as Erika examines the emotional architecture behind money decisions, offering practical tools and frameworks that help listeners move from avoidance and shame to awareness, action, and lasting financial confidence.

What You’ll Learn:

• What financial therapy is and how it differs from traditional financial planning.
• How childhood money stories become patterns that shape financial behavior.
• How the emotional side of money shows up at work, in negotiations, and elsewhere.
• Why 90% of financial decisions are emotional (and what to do about it).
• The Money Mindset Method: a five-step framework for productive money conversations.
• How to tell if you are a "how" or a "wow" person and why it changes how you plan.

Ideas Worth Sharing:

• “90% of financial decisions are emotional, 10% are logical.” - Erika Wasserman
• "Every single person has made a financial mistake. Let that shame go, and let's start thinking about how you build the confidence to make better decisions." - Erika Wasserman
• "A plan doesn't fail; people fail. And so we need the people involved to keep you on track, to keep the conversation going, and to give you those check-ins." - Erika Wasserman

Resources:

• Erika Wasserman: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram
• Genevieve George: Website | LinkedIn
• Conversations with Your Financial Therapist by Erika Wasserman
• Let’s Talk Finances: Divorce Edition | Conversation Cards
• Let’s Talk Finances: Couple’s Edition | Conversation Cards

Connect with Us:

If you're ready to stop avoiding your finances and start building the future you deserve, schedule a free call with me at pelicanfinancialplanning.com and let’s create your personalized financial plan together.

And if you want ongoing guidance, clarity, and confidence as you grow your wealth, subscribe to our newsletter for financial insights delivered right to your inbox.

What happens to the family home when a loved one passes or transitions into care?

Real estate is often the largest and most emotionally loaded asset a family holds, and when the time comes to act, it rarely transfers cleanly. It comes with logistical complexity, financial decisions, and family dynamics that can stretch for months or years.

Chris Losquadro, founder of Quantum Realty Advisors, has spent nearly three decades specializing in estate, trust, and inherited properties. He breaks down how families and advisors can handle the sale of inherited real estate, from multi-state coordination and property optimization to the growing trend of donating real estate to charitable organizations as part of a planned estate.

Listen in as Chris walks through the full lifecycle of an estate property transaction: what happens when estate planning is airtight versus when it isn't, how families can avoid costly delays, and why donating appreciated real estate can generate far greater philanthropic impact than a cash gift.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why inherited real estate requires a specialized advisor.
• How to manage estate property sales across multiple states with one point of contact.
• The carrying costs that quietly drain estate value while a property sits unsold.
• Why the timing of a property sale (before or after death) changes the tax outcome.
• How donating real estate can generate 6X the impact of a cash gift.
• What families and charities must know before designating property as a charitable gift.

Ideas Worth Sharing:

• "If you donate non-cash assets—whether it's appreciated stock, whether it's real estate, whether it's tangibles like artwork or jewelry—you are giving six times the average of a cash donation." - Chris Losquadro
• "I represent the property. I don't represent you. How the pie is cut up when it's all said and done is up to you." - Chris Losquadro
• "Consult with somebody like [a financial advisor]. Consult with your attorney. Some of these decisions are not easy... but at the end of the day, you don't want to leave your spouse, your children, in a little bit of a lurch." - Chris Losquadro

Resources:

• Chris Losquadro: Website | LinkedIn
• Genevieve George: Website | LinkedIn
• Palm Beach and Martin County Community Foundation

Connect with Us:

If you're ready to stop avoiding your finances and start building the future you deserve, schedule a free call with me at pelicanfinancialplanning.com and let’s create your personalized financial plan together.

And if you want ongoing guidance, clarity, and confidence as you grow your wealth, subscribe to our newsletter for financial insights delivered right to your inbox.