NTSA Launches Financial Literacy Program for Teachers and Staff

“School district employees need the right information to make the best choice regarding their retirement security,” says Brent Neese, executive director of the National Tax-Deferred Savings Association (NTSA).

In support of the NTSA’s dual goals of improving the understanding of retirement planning options and improving participation rates in 403(b) plans, the organization has created a comprehensive retirement educational program that is available to school districts and their employees across the United States.

The NTSA educational program is delivered through NTSA-certified retirement education specialist advisers. The program is designed to be vendor-neutral and does not include any specific investment product recommendations.

“Attendees of the program gain a greater awareness of what they will need to save to supplement their pension plan and Social Security and how to take action,” Neese says. “Many educators do not have access to Social Security, and reforms in state retirement systems are reducing retirement benefits. Therefore, for school district employees, the importance of personal savings in 403(b) plans is more critical to their retirement security than ever.”

According to NTSA, in order to deliver the program, a certified retirement education specialist must have completed a certificate program through the American Retirement Association (ARA) Retirement Planning Academy, focused on the important retirement planning considerations of public employees. Additionally, NTSA says, the specialists must have agreed to abide by the “highest standards of professional conduct” and to coordinate all educational activity in accordance with school district solicitation policies and guidelines.

More information is available at https://ntsa-cres.org/.