Educators and CalPERS

• Your pension is a great foundation — but it usually doesn’t replace your full paycheck, so your 457/403 is your “other retirement paycheck.”
• Most teachers are in old 403(b) setups or high-fee vendors without realizing it — fees and fund choices quietly decide retirement.
• If you have access to a 457(b), it can be the smartest first bucket because it gives flexibility for teachers who may want to retire before 59½.

First Responders

• Your CalPERS pension is the foundation, but it’s only one paycheck — your 457(b)/401(k) is what gives you options and freedom in retirement.
• Because early retirement is normal in CHP / police / fire, a governmental 457(b) is the best first bucket — it can be used when you separate without the usual early-withdrawal penalty, even before 59½.
• Most first responders are sitting in default funds + hidden fees with no real strategy tied to their retirement date — a coordinated plan turns that account into a true “second paycheck.”

Workplace Retirement Plans

• Your 401(k)/403(b)/457 is likely your biggest investment account — but most people leave it on autopilot in old or default funds that don’t match their life anymore.
• With Pontera, I can professionally manage your plan inside your current employer account (no rollover, no custodian change), so it runs with a real strategy and ongoing rebalancing.
• Coordinating your workplace plan with the rest of your finances (spouse plans, old plans, IRAs) often makes a bigger difference than picking random funds — it turns savings into a clear retirement paycheck plan.