Educating the Educators

Teacher Focused Advisors

Our Mission

Our mission is to empower educators with the knowledge, tools, and personalized strategies they need to achieve a secure and fulfilling retirement. We are dedicated to helping teachers and their families navigate the complexities of retirement planning, protect their financial futures, and make informed decisions about their pensions, Social Security benefits, and savings. By understanding the unique challenges and opportunities of educators, we strive to provide peace of mind and lasting financial confidence for those who dedicate their lives to shaping the future.

Teacher Focused Advisors

How We Serve You

Pension Review

We help you understand your pension benefits, including payout options, survivor benefits, and how early retirement impacts your income. We also show how to coordinate your pension with other savings, such as a 403(b), Roth IRA, or annuities, to create a well-rounded retirement plan.

Health Insurance & Medicare

We provide a clear breakdown of how your healthcare will change in retirement, including pension-provided health benefits, Medicare eligibility, and out-of-pocket costs. Understanding these changes ahead of time helps you plan for a smooth transition into retirement.

Tax Efficient Strategies

We educate you on how your pension, Social Security, and investments are taxed and provide strategies to reduce your tax burden. Whether it’s Roth conversions, tax-free retirement income planning, or RMD strategies, we ensure you keep more of your hard-earned money.

Saving for Retirement

We help you develop a plan to consistently save for retirement in a way that aligns with your goals and income needs. By ensuring your savings grow at the right pace, we help you maintain financial security and keep up with the cost of living throughout retirement.

Personal & Estate Planning

We help you structure your assets for a smooth wealth transfer, ensuring your family is protected. Whether it’s life insurance with living benefits, proper beneficiary designations, or tax-efficient estate planning, we ensure your legacy is secure.

Social Security Optimization

Social Security benefits can be complex, especially with WEP and GPO rules affecting educators. We help you determine the best claiming strategy to maximize lifetime benefits while coordinating with your pension and other income sources.

Adding a Personal Touch

  • Thomas Jenkins

    FOUNDER/SENIOR ADVISOR

    Thomas, the founder of Teacher Focused Advisors, helps educators achieve a secure and fulfilling retirement. With expertise in financial planning and pensions for 10+ years, he has helped guide countless teachers through a confident transition from the classroom to their next chapter.

    A devoted husband to Carrie and father to Isabella and John Thomas, family is at the heart of his work. He also serves as a Deacon of his church. Thomas dedicates his time not only to his church but also to every educator he speaks with.

  • Cooper & Maggie Smith

    CO-FOUNDER’s/SENIOR ADVISOR’S

    Cooper and Maggie, the co-founders of Teacher Focused Advisors, are dedicated to helping educators build a secure and confident financial future. With a deep understanding of the unique retirement benefits, pension plans, and financial challenges that educators face, they provide tailored strategies to help teachers, administrators, and school staff maximize their financial potential.

    They are active members of their church, both college graduates, and are committed to giving back and serving educators—just as educators do for their communities.

  • Mike Yawn

    ADVISOR

    After a successful career as a principal, Mike now helps educators navigate their retirement journey. Understanding the unique challenges they face, he provides guidance on pensions, benefits, and post-retirement opportunities.

    Through personalized support and workshops, Mike empowers educators to transition confidently into a secure and fulfilling retirement.

  • David Levine

    ADVISOR

    David is a dedicated financial services professional specializing in retirement planning for educators and families. With years of experience across various disciplines, he offers personalized retirement solutions. Whether navigating state pensions, exploring tax-free retirement strategies, or maximizing existing financial foundations,David is committed to empowering clients with the knowledge and strategies they need to achieve a secure and fulfilling retirement.

    By tailoring financial solutions, he simplifies retirement planning, ensuring informed decisions for long-term success. Passionate about financial education, David provides honest, transparent advice to help families build a confident path to financial freedom.

  • Marcia Martin

    ADVISOR

    With a passion for helping people secure their financial future, I specialize in retirement planning to ensure my clients never run out of money. I believe that a well-planned retirement is about more than just numbers—it’s about peace of mind, security, and the ability to enjoy life with loved ones.

    As a proud grandmother of two beautiful grandchildren, I understand firsthand the importance of family and financial stability. My mission is to help individuals and families build a legacy of wealth and confidence, so they can retire with dignity and security.

UPCOMING WEBINARS

UPCOMING WEBINARS

April 3rd

6:00 PM EST

Spring Webinar #1

April 29th

6:00 PM EST

Spring Webinar #2

October

Fall Webinar #1

Client Reviews

  • "Everyone that I worked with was super helpful and very informative about all the different questions I had. I would 100% recommend scheduling a meeting if you have ANY questions about retirement."

    Shaunte Henderson

  • "Mr. Thomas has been a Godsend. He has gone above and beyond in helping me understand the best way to prepare for my retirement. I was able to get an understanding of financial terms that used to intimidate me. I feel relaxed about my future because of his humble servanthood. "

    Shandra Randall

  • "Very informative and helpful. 10/10."

    Maurice Brown

  • "1000% recommend scheduling a meeting even if you just have a few questions. They helped me create a clear and concise plan."

    Suzanne Foster

  • "Cooper was fantastic and helped me create a plan for my future that gave me confidence in where I was headed!"

    Jeronda Cade

  • "11/10. You provided me with a lot more information and facts than when I met with the state. Every teacher should be sitting down and having these conversations"

    Judi Battle

  • "Thomas is very knowledgeable and professional with a personal touch. He does an excellent job of explaining programs and benefits in terms you can understand. He is very organized with planning meetings and details of the meeting from previously discussed, to quick review and the addition of new information. "

    Lynette McCoy-Williams

  • "Extremely helpful and knowledgeable. Couldn't have asked for better help."

    Sabrina Barintine

  • "It was helpful but kept me on for longer than I wanted. 8/10."

    David Darden

  • "It was extremely helpful and extremely appreciated. We feel confident about our retirement now."

    Linda Lavin

  • “This was extremely helpful. They lived up to the motto, “educating the educators.” I have been teaching for 25+ years and learned more in three meetings about retirement than the past 25 years.

    Lisa Mastronni

  • “Having these meetings will allow me to retire with confidence now. Before, retirement was extremely intimidating for me, but now, I look forward to retiring because I understand what I need to do to put myself in the best situation possible. Thank you guys so much!”

    Patricia Phillips

  • This was extremely helpful and educating. I would high recommend scheduling a meeting with this organization.

    Michael Young

  • This meeting was more informative than expected. I originally believed that he would try to sale me something but he really educated me and helped me understand my retirement.

    Elias Carter

  • "Meeting wit Cooper has been an absolute game changer for me. He helped me identify the gaps in my planning and fill in those gaps to ensure I can retire with dignity!"

    Emily Patterson

  • "I really enjoyed the meetings with this group. It was very educational and helpful. I created a plan that gives me a peace of mind about my retirement."

    Mark Reynolds

Leave us a review!

We take great pride in assisting everyone that we come in contact with. Let us know how we did and how we can improve!

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