What if a 42K salary could still build a rich, secure life? We sit down with longtime educator and author Danny Kofke to map out the practical money moves that help teachers thrive today and retire strong tomorrow. Danny’s story starts in the classroom—first grade, kindergarten, and a decade in severe and profound special education—and turns into a blueprint for living below your means, creating financial margin, and seizing opportunities that change your future.

We break down compound interest in plain English using the Rule of 72, then show exactly how small, automatic contributions to a 403(b) or 457(b) can grow into six figures. You’ll hear why a teacher pension can mirror the income of a million‑dollar portfolio, how matches are real “free money,” and what changes when a district doesn’t pay into Social Security. For new teachers, we offer a simple on‑ramp: start with a percentage, set it to auto-increase, and let raises boost your savings without extra effort. For mid‑career educators feeling behind, we outline a realistic reset with budgets that actually stick and a clear plan to kill debt.

Debt gets a hard look: the true cost of minimum payments, why credit card rewards are a distraction, and how to choose between the debt avalanche and snowball. We also draw the line between short‑term and long‑term savings so emergencies don’t derail retirement. Finally, we make the case for districts to teach financial literacy to staff—an overlooked but powerful recruitment and retention tool that helps educators make better decisions with pensions, matches, and benefits.

If you’re ready to turn money stress into a steady plan, this conversation gives you the steps, the math, and the mindset. Subscribe, share this with a colleague who needs a win, and leave a review with the money question you want us to tackle next.