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Teacher Retirement System | College | Estate | Insurance | Public Pension

Managing your finances and planning for the future is hard, especially if you don’t have professional help. At Dearborn & Creggs our team of financial planners has helped thousands of people achieve their wealth goals and feel confident about their financial future.

Click to view our planning services below.

Teacher Retirement System

The Teacher Retirement System of Texas is the largest public retirement system in Texas, serving more than 1.5 million people. TRS has two core responsibilities — to deliver retirement and related benefits that have been authorized by the Texas Legislature, and to manage the trust fund that finances member benefits.

Dearborn & Creggs specializes in providing group and faculty presentations to those who participate in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, so they can better understand their pension plan. Dearborn & Creggs reps also counsel TRS participants on a one-on-one basis that goes beyond a general overview. Our advisors review the entire retirement process on a step-by-step basis with participants, and they offer insight about each retirement payment option that is available. Our main objective is to help ensure our clients make the best choices to help maximize benefits for themselves and their beneficiaries. We strategically work to help our clients have a smooth transition into retirement.

Dearborn & Creggs Partners with:

  • Houston Association of School Administrators
  • Association of Hispanic School Administrators
  • Houston Federation of Teachers
  • The Houston Area Alliance of Black School Educators

VOLUNTARY SAVINGS PLAN: 403(B)

The Internal Revenue Code section 403(b) authorizes a tax-sheltered retirement program using a payroll reduction system. This supplemental retirement account is designed to help employees of public schools, community colleges, state universities, and non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations regularly set aside money toward their retirement. Because it’s a tax-sheltered account (TSA) retirement program, you pay no taxes on your earnings until retirement or withdrawals. In addition to saving for your retirement, those contributing to a 403(b) can also save on their current federal income tax. Every dollar contributed to a 403(b) program is a dollar reduction in current-year taxable income.

Other added benefits of contributing to a 403(b) are:

  • The convenience of automatic contributions through payroll deductions
  • A variety of investment options
  • Low investment minimums
  • The opportunity to close the income gap upon retirement

*Withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income in the year received. Tax penalties and penalties for early withdrawal may apply if funds are withdrawn prior to age 59 ½.

College

FUNDING A COLLEGE EDUCATION

In the past, most families began saving for college when their children were in high school, and expenses were paid from both savings and current income. Today, though, the continuously rising costs of higher education have made this method of funding inadequate. With these costs consistently on the rise, saving enough can seem overwhelming. There are many advantages to saving for post-secondary education with a 529* – one of which alleviates the overwhelming cost of college when the time comes.

* Participation in a 529 Education Savings Plan (529 Plan) does not guarantee that contributions and investment return on contributions, if any, will be adequate to cover future tuition and other education expenses or that a beneficiary will be admitted to or permitted to continue to attend an educational institution. Contributors to the program assume all investment risk, including potential loss of principal and liability for penalties such as those levied for non-educational withdrawals. Check with your state's guidelines prior to withdrawing the funds. An investor should consider, before investing, whether the investor's or designated beneficiary's home state offers any favorable state tax treatment or other state benefits such as financial aid, scholarship funds, and protection from creditors that are only available for investments in such state's qualified tuition program. Consult with your financial. tax or other adviser to learn more about how state-based benefits (including any limitations) would apply to your specific circumstances. For more complete information, including a description of fees, expense and risks, see the other offering statement or program description.

FLEXIBILITY AND CONTROL

  • No income restrictions – Anyone can establish an account for a student regardless of his or her income level. High contribution limits. Limits vary by plan.
  • Versatility – Since there are no state residency requirements, money invested can be used at accredited public or private colleges, trade, or graduate schools in the United States.
  • Control – You can change the beneficiary to another family member, including yourself, without tax consequences.

PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT

Investment choice – Take your risk tolerances into consideration and select the investment strategy right for you. Most 529 plans offer a wide variety of investment choices. Many allow you to build a custom investment plan tailored to your risk tolerance and investment horizon.

Estate

An estate plan is a comprehensive strategy to ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes. It can also help minimize taxes, help maximize inheritance, and establish your wishes for end-of-life care to ease the burden on your family.

Creating a comprehensive estate plan with the help of your financial advisor and other professionals can help ensure assets are passed on to loved ones as you intended. Estate planning is not only for the wealthy. If you own assets, you have an estate.

Why You Need an Estate Plan:

Ensure your wishes are fulfilled

An estate plan accounts for your assets, health and final wishes.

Minimize tax transfers

Transfer as much of your property with as little taxation as possible.

Avoid Probate

Spare your family the time, cost, and stress by having a plan in place.

Here are some of the many aspects of estate planning Dearborn & Creggs’ professionals can help with:

  • Wills stipulating distribution of money and possessions, plus guardianship for minor children.
  • Living wills with health care directives and power of attorney for health care ensure your medical wishes are followed.
  • Durable power of attorney for personal, legal, and financial affairs.
  • Up-to-date beneficiaries for all relevant accounts.
  • Revocable trusts allowing heirs to avoid probate.

Public Pension | Teacher Planning

Our advisors at Dearborn & Creggs specialize in providing one-on-one counseling for participants in the retirement systems that are available to our educational and municipal clients. We review the entire retirement process, step-by-step, and offer insight about each retirement payment option available. Our goal is to help clients make choices that help maximize benefits for themselves and their beneficiaries. We also help explain retiree health coverage options.

Insurance

DISABILITY INSURANCE

Your most important asset is not your house, your car, or your possessions; it’s your ability to earn a living. Think about it: all of your plans for the future – from buying a home, putting your kids through college, and building a retirement nest egg – are based on the assumption that you will continue to earn a paycheck until you retire, but what would happen if those paychecks stopped? That’s where disability insurance comes in. Disability Insurance provides an income to you and your family if you are unable to work due to illness or injury.

LIFE INSURANCE

If you passed away tomorrow, would your family have the money to pay for your final expenses? Would your family be able to maintain their current standard of living? Would your spouse be able to save enough money to put your kids through college and retire comfortably? Life insurance may be one of the most important purchases you make to help ensure that your loved ones are provided for financially. It’s a subject no one really wants to think about, but if someone depends on you financially, it’s one you cannot avoid. There are many types of life insurance, but for all of them the bottom line is the same: they pay cash to your family after you pass away.

LONG TERM CARE

Long–term care insurance is designed to pay for the often–astronomical costs of long–term care for people with chronic disabilities. With longer life expectancies, the need for long–term care insurance is becoming more pronounced.

Long–term care is not normally covered by regular medical insurance. For instance, employee group health and major medical plans provide very limited long–term care coverage. Medicare provides only limited nursing home and home health care coverage. Medigap, which fills in the gaps left by Medicare, does not extend coverage for long–term care beyond Medicare limits. Medicaid also requires individuals to spend almost all of their savings and assets before becoming eligible for nursing home coverage.

Should I consider long–term care insurance?

  • Are you between the ages of 48-75?
  • Are you retired or planning for retirement?
  • Do you have $50,000+ in assets, not including your home?
  • Are you reasonably healthy?

Feel educated, liberated, and empowered.

We’ll guide you to the right investment strategies and identify each step you need to take to help you stay on track.

Book a Consultation

At Dearborn & Creggs, we care about your financial success. That’s why for 34 years our team of financial planners has helped thousands of people like you achieve their wealth goals with a personalized financial roadmap. We promise to take care of you.