KWS Financial Group - Jose Huerta, Jr.

09/28/2026

Hello, everyone! I hope you and your loved ones are doing well. It’s been a little while since I last posted. I’ve been busy preparing for the upcoming Medicare and ACA Marketplace Open Enrollment periods, and I wanted to share a few important dates for 2027 coverage.

Medicare Open Enrollment
📅 October 15 – December 7, 2026
Changes made during this period take effect January 1, 2027.

ACA Marketplace Open Enrollment
📅 November 1, 2026 – January 15, 2027

• Enroll or make changes by December 15, 2026, for coverage starting January 1, 2027.
• Enroll or make changes from December 16, 2026, through January 15, 2027, for coverage starting February 1, 2027.

Plan options and costs can change from year to year, so this is a good time to review your coverage for 2027.

If you have questions or would like more information, feel free to leave a comment or send me a direct message. I’ll be happy to help.

09/17/2026

📌 TRS BENEFICIARY DESIGNATIONS: AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION

Hello, everyone. I hope you and those closest to you are doing well.

Before discussing today’s topic, I want to provide an important disclosure. I work with KWS Financial Group, an independent agency. Neither I nor KWS Financial Group is affiliated with or endorsed by the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) or any other government agency.

The information I share in this group is for general educational purposes only and is intended to help members gain a better understanding of topics involving the Texas Teacher Retirement System. Individual circumstances may differ, and questions about a specific member’s benefits should be directed to TRS.

Yesterday, I met with two sisters whose mother, a retired TRS member, recently passed away. The documents they received raised an important question about the difference between:

• A beneficiary designated to receive TRS retiree death benefits; and
• A beneficiary named to receive continuing monthly payments under the retirement annuity option selected by the retiree.

These designations are not necessarily the same.

When a TRS member retires, the member generally selects from several payment choices:

• Standard Annuity: Provides the retiree with the maximum monthly benefit for life. Payments end upon the retiree’s death.

• Option 1 — 100% Joint Life Annuity: After the retiree’s death, the same monthly payment continues for the lifetime of the beneficiary named under that option.

• Option 2 — 50% Joint Life Annuity: After the retiree’s death, one-half of the monthly payment continues for the named beneficiary’s lifetime.

• Options 3 and 4 — Guaranteed-Period Annuities: If the retiree dies before the guaranteed period ends, the beneficiary may receive the remaining guaranteed payments.

• Option 5 — 75% Joint Life Annuity: After the retiree’s death, three-fourths of the monthly payment continues for the named beneficiary’s lifetime.

Under current TRS guidance, Options 1, 2, and 5 are unavailable when more than one primary beneficiary is designated. In addition, a retiring member may not be eligible to select Option 1 when naming a non-spouse beneficiary who is more than 10 years younger. A similar limitation may apply to Option 5 when a non-spouse beneficiary is more than 19 years younger.

If the beneficiary named under Option 1, 2, or 5 dies before the retiree, TRS states that the retiree’s future payments automatically increase to the Standard Annuity amount. TRS also explains that the retiree generally cannot simply name another beneficiary to replace the deceased beneficiary for those continuing monthly payments.

However, the retiree may still update the beneficiary designated to receive the separate retiree death benefit. According to TRS, a designated beneficiary is generally entitled to a $10,000 lump-sum survivor benefit when a service or eligible disability retiree dies. That benefit is separate from any continuing monthly payments that may be payable under Options 1 through 5.

Returning to the situation that prompted this post, one daughter appeared in the paperwork as a primary beneficiary, and the documents also referenced Option 1. Because the daughter was considerably younger than her mother, the paperwork raised questions about whether she was:

1. The beneficiary entitled to the Option 1 continuing annuity;
2. The beneficiary of the separate retiree death benefit; or
3. Listed in some other capacity.

Those distinctions cannot be determined reliably from assumptions or a brief review of selected documents. TRS must examine the deceased member’s complete record and make the official determination regarding the benefits that may be payable.

The most important takeaway is this: Being listed as a primary, alternate, or contingent beneficiary does not automatically establish that someone will receive the retiree’s continuing monthly annuity. Eligibility depends on the retirement option selected, the beneficiary designation connected to that option, any subsequent changes, and TRS rules.

If you are retired or preparing to retire, consider reviewing your beneficiary designations and making sure you understand which designation applies to your continuing annuity and which applies to your retiree death benefits. When in doubt, contact TRS directly and request clarification in writing.

You can learn more about the TRS annuity payment options here:

https://trs.texas.gov/pension-benefits/active-member-resources/plan-retirement/annuity-payment-options

Additional information about naming or updating beneficiaries is available here:

https://trs.texas.gov/pension-benefits/know-benefits/manage-account/name-beneficiary

I know this was a lengthy post, but I hope it helps clarify an area that can easily become confusing. If you have general questions, please leave them in the comments or send me a direct message. Questions concerning a particular member’s account or entitlement to benefits should be directed to TRS.

Thank you again for being part of our Facebook group.

09/11/2026

🇺🇸 SEPTEMBER 11 — WE WILL NEVER FORGET

Today, we pause to remember the nearly 3,000 innocent lives lost on September 11, 2001.

We honor the courageous firefighters, police officers, emergency personnel, military members, and ordinary citizens who responded with extraordinary bravery—many sacrificing their own lives while trying to save others.

We also remember the families who lost loved ones and the survivors and first responders who continue to carry the physical and emotional effects of that tragic day. Our thoughts and prayers remain with them.

September 11 reminds us that even during one of our nation’s darkest moments, courage overcame fear, compassion overcame division, and Americans came together to help one another.

As educators, school employees, retirees, and members of our community, may we continue teaching future generations about the lives that were lost, the heroes who answered the call, and the unity that brought our nation together.

May we honor their memory not only with our words, but also through kindness, service, gratitude, and care for one another.

We remember. We honor. We will never forget.

— Rio Grande Valley Teacher Retirement Assistance 🇺🇸

09/09/2026

Hello, everyone!

I hope you and those closest to you are doing well.

For those who may not know me, my name is Joe Huerta, and I am an agent with KWS Financial Group.

I wanted to come on briefly to remind everyone about our 1st Annual Financial Wellness Conference for Educators, taking place this Saturday, September 12, at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance.

The doors will open at 8:00 a.m., and the conference will begin at 8:30 am with a Check-in. Coffee and Refreshments will be provided during this time. I have included the agenda with this post so you can see the educational topics we will be covering throughout the day.

This conference is open to everyone who works within a school district, regardless of the position you hold. Whether you are a teacher, administrator, counselor, paraprofessional, secretary, librarian, nurse, custodian, maintenance employee, bus driver, child nutrition employee, coach, or another valued member of the school community, you are welcome to attend.

The primary purpose of this conference is education. We want everyone who attends to leave with helpful information and resources that can assist them in making informed decisions about their finances, benefits, and retirement future.

We will also have several vendors located in the hallway directly outside the conference room. We encourage you to visit with them before the conference begins, during the scheduled breaks, and after the event.

Our participating vendors include:

Grand Canyon University
Rally Credit Union
Analea’s Style It
Stephanie’s Beads
Nilda’s Salon & Home Décor
KWS Financial Group

We will also have door prizes and giveaways throughout the conference, so we hope you will join us for a day of learning, fellowship, and fun.

Our hope is that this first conference will be successful and that, with the community’s support, we can continue growing it into something even larger in the years ahead. This event is also one of the ways we want to give back to the education community that has given us so much.

We are currently exploring what would be required to offer continuing education or professional development credit for future programs. Because the approval process takes time, credit will not be available for this Saturday’s conference. However, we hope to pursue that opportunity for future events.

If we are approved to provide professional development credit, we will contact school districts throughout the Rio Grande Valley to explore opportunities to bring educational presentations directly to their employees.

I will also share updates in the Facebook group I manage, Rio Grande Valley Teacher Retirement Assistance. If you are not already a member and would like to join, please send me a direct message, and I will be happy to send you an invitation.

Several administrators have already contacted my colleague, Jeremiah Castaneda, and me about visiting their campuses to provide information similar to what we will be presenting at the conference. If your campus or district would like us to participate in a professional development day or another employee event during the school year, we would be more than happy to discuss that opportunity with you.

Before I close, I would like to ask for your help. If it is not too much trouble, please share this post or pass the conference information along to your colleagues, friends, and family members who work within our school districts.

If you would like a copy of the conference flyer, please send me a direct message, and I will gladly send it to you. The QR code is on the photo of the flyer and I have also added the link below to our website where you will find more information and can also register for the conference.

https://sites.google.com/view/financialwellnessconference/home

We are looking forward to welcoming as many members of our education community as possible this Saturday. Thank you for your time, thank you for helping us spread the word, and we hope to see you at the conference!

09/06/2026

Calling all educators in the RGV!! Come and join us for our 1st Annual Financial Wellness Conference for Educators being held at The Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance on Saturday, September 12, 2026. Doors will open at 8:00 am to everyone attending the conference. The sessions will start at 8:30 am and we will finish by 1:30 pm. Lunch will be provided. Click on the story below and you will be directed to our event page on Facebook that has more information about our event. Hope to see you there!

08/31/2026

⚠️ PLEASE BE AWARE: SCAM CALLS TARGETING OLDER ADULTS ⚠️

Hello, everyone. I hope you and those closest to you are doing well.

I would like to share something that recently happened to my father-in-law in hopes that it will help protect someone else.

Over the weekend, he told my wife and me about a telephone call he had received. Thankfully, he did not answer and allowed it to go to voicemail.

The message said something similar to:

«“This message is for [his name]. We are calling from Wells Fargo Bank to inform you that your checking account ending in ###X has been compromised. For additional information, please contact our fraud department at 1-888-###-###X.”»

The message was concerning because the caller used his name and referred to a bank account. My wife searched the telephone number and then called it from her own phone. Surprisingly, the call appeared to connect to a line associated with Ambetter Health rather than Wells Fargo.

We cannot know from this experience exactly who placed the original call or why the number connected somewhere else. Scammers can disguise, “spoof,” or misuse telephone numbers, so the number displayed or provided in a voicemail may not identify the person or organization that actually called.

However, this experience is an important reminder:

🚫 Do not call a number provided in an unexpected voicemail claiming that your bank account has been compromised.

🚫 Do not confirm your name, bank information, Social Security number, Medicare number, date of birth, or health-insurance information.

🚫 Do not provide a verification code sent to your phone.

🚫 Do not allow an unexpected caller to pressure or frighten you into acting immediately.

Instead, hang up and contact the bank, insurance company, Medicare, or other organization directly using the telephone number printed on your card, statement, or official website.

Older adults—especially those enrolled in Medicare—already receive an overwhelming number of calls about insurance, benefits, medical supplies, and financial accounts. An unexpected caller may begin by discussing one subject, such as a compromised bank account, and then attempt to obtain enough personal information to commit identity theft or make an unauthorized insurance enrollment or plan change.

Please remember that Medicare and the Health Insurance Marketplace are separate programs. Someone who has Medicare generally should not be enrolled in a Marketplace plan without carefully understanding the consequences. If a person receives Marketplace premium tax credits while no longer eligible for them because of Medicare, the person may have to repay some or all of that assistance when filing a federal income-tax return.

If you believe someone has enrolled you in a Marketplace plan without your permission, contact the Health Insurance Marketplace immediately at 1-800-318-2596.

If the suspicious activity involves Medicare, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

You may also report suspected fraud to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Please take a few minutes to discuss these warnings with your parents, grandparents, relatives, neighbors, and friends. A simple conversation could prevent someone from losing money, having their identity stolen, or experiencing problems with their health coverage.

If you have heard about another scam targeting older adults—or if you have a safe experience you are comfortable sharing—please add it in the comments. The more information we share, the better prepared our community can be.

Thank you for being part of our Facebook group. Please stay alert, look out for one another, and have a wonderful evening.

08/30/2026

Hello everyone,

Hope you and those closest to you are doing well. The beginning of the school year sure seems to be going pretty fast or maybe it's just me. Anyways, most recently during my appointments, I have been receiving questions about whether the T.I.A. monies that educators receive would be factored into the average of their top 3 or top 5 highest salaries. I honestly had to dive a little deep to find an answer so I went ahead and put it into ChatGPT. The answer that was provided to me has been placed below. If you had this same question in mind, I hope it helps you.

🍎 DOES A LARGE TIA PAYMENT FULLY COUNT TOWARD YOUR TRS RETIREMENT?

Many educators have heard that Teacher Incentive Allotment—or TIA—money will not count toward their TRS retirement if it exceeds 10% of their salary or $10,000.

That statement is not entirely accurate.

TIA compensation is generally TRS-creditable

The Teacher Retirement System of Texas states that compensation paid with TIA funds is considered creditable compensation for TRS purposes.

However, a separate TRS rule limits how quickly an educator’s compensation may increase during the applicable years immediately preceding retirement.

The “10% or $10,000” rule

During the applicable salary-calculation period, the maximum compensation TRS will generally allow from one year to the next is the greater of:

✅ 110% of the previous allowable compensation; or
✅ The previous allowable compensation plus $10,000.

The words “whichever is greater” are extremely important.

This rule does not mean that TIA compensation above $10,000 is automatically excluded. It means TRS may limit the amount of a large salary increase that can be used in the pension calculation when the increase occurs close to retirement.

Example

Assume an educator’s baseline annual compensation is $60,000.

The following year, the educator receives:

- Regular salary: $60,000
- TIA compensation: $15,000
- Total reported compensation: $75,000

TRS would compare:

- 110% of $60,000 = $66,000
- $60,000 plus $10,000 = $70,000

Because $70,000 is greater, TRS may limit the compensation used for that year’s pension calculation to $70,000 if the educator retires while the year is within the applicable salary-limitation period.

The TIA payment itself is still creditable compensation. However, the portion exceeding the allowable increase—$5,000 in this example—may not be used in calculating the retirement benefit for that year.

Could working another year help?

Potentially, yes.

If the educator continues earning $75,000 during the following school year, the new allowable limit would generally be based on the prior allowable amount of $70,000:

- 110% of $70,000 = $77,000
- $70,000 plus $10,000 = $80,000

Because the educator’s actual compensation of $75,000 is below both amounts, the full $75,000 could generally be allowable for that subsequent year.

Working longer does not necessarily restore the amount excluded from the earlier year. Instead, it may provide another year in which the allowable salary ceiling is high enough to include the educator’s full compensation.

Whether working longer improves the educator’s final average salary will depend on:

- The educator’s TRS tier and grandfathered status;
- Whether TRS uses the highest three or five annual salaries;
- The educator’s compensation history;
- When the TIA payment is paid and reported;
- Whether the higher compensation continues; and
- The educator’s proposed retirement date.

This limitation is not exclusive to TIA

The rule may apply to compensation increases from any source, including:

- TIA payments;
- Promotions;
- Moving into an administrative position;
- Additional duties or stipends;
- Legislative or district salary increases; and
- Other increases in TRS-creditable compensation.

Important planning point

An educator receiving a large TIA payment shortly before retirement should not assume that the entire amount will automatically be included in the final average salary.

Before selecting a retirement date, consider asking:

✅ How much TIA compensation was reported to TRS?
✅ In which school year was it reported?
✅ What is my baseline compensation under the TRS limitation?
✅ Will TRS limit any portion of my compensation?
✅ Would working an additional year materially change my retirement calculation?

The best way to determine the effect is to request an official retirement estimate from TRS using the educator’s actual compensation history and anticipated retirement date.

📌 Bottom line: TIA compensation is generally TRS-creditable, but a large increase close to retirement may be limited under the “greater of 10% or $10,000” rule. In certain situations, maintaining the higher compensation and working longer may allow more of it to be reflected in the educator’s final average salary.

For additional information:

🔗 "TRS guidance on TIA and creditable compensation" (https://trs.texas.gov/employers/resources/reporting-tips/creditable-compensation-allotments)

🔗 "Texas Administrative Code §25.31" (https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/texas/34-Tex-Admin-Code-SS-25-31)

This post is provided for general educational purposes only. TRS applies compensation limits based on each member’s individual salary history, membership status, and retirement date. Educators should obtain an official calculation directly from the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.

If you have any additional questions, please add them to the comments section or you can also send me a direct message if you prefer. Thank you so much and have a great upcoming week.

08/23/2026

🎓 1ST ANNUAL FINANCIAL WELLNESS CONFERENCE FOR EDUCATORS

Inform. Empower. Inspire.

Hello, everyone! I hope you are having a wonderful start to the 2026–2027 school year.

I would like to personally invite our fellow educators and school district employees throughout Texas to our 1st Annual Financial Wellness Conference for Educators, taking place on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance.

📅 Saturday, September 12, 2026
⏰ 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
📍 Edinburg Conference Center at
Renaissance
Address: 118 Paseo Del Prado
Edinburg, TX 78539
🍽️ Lunch will be provided
🎁 Door prizes throughout the conference

This conference is being created with one primary purpose: EDUCATION.

We want to provide members of the Texas education community with helpful information and resources that can assist them in making informed decisions about their finances, benefits, and retirement future.

Whether you are a teacher, administrator, counselor, paraprofessional, secretary, librarian, nurse, custodian, maintenance employee, transportation employee, child nutrition employee, technology professional, coach, or another school district employee participating in TRS, you are welcome to attend.

Our conference will include educational discussions covering topics such as:

💰 Building a Strong Financial Foundation
🍎 Making the Most of Your Educator Benefits
🎤 Panel Discussion: Lessons I Wish I Had Learned Earlier
🏖️ Planning for Life & Retirement

We are also excited to have several organizations and local businesses joining us!

Confirmed participants include:

✨ Stephanie's Beads
✨ Analea's Style It – Home Decor DIY Fashion
✨ Rally Credit Union
✨ Grand Canyon University
✨ Midland National Life Insurance Company
✨ KWS Financial Group

And yes—we will also be giving away door prizes throughout the conference! 🎁

Most importantly, we want this to be an opportunity for members of our education community to learn, ask questions, gather information, and better prepare for their financial and retirement future.

🌐 LEARN MORE & REGISTER:

https://sites.google.com/view/financialwellnessconference/home

Please help us make our 1st Annual Financial Wellness Conference for Educators a successful one by sharing this post and flyer with your colleagues, coworkers, friends, and family members who work within our Texas school districts.

Even one share may help this information reach an educator or school employee who could benefit from attending.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me:

📱 Jose Huerta, Jr.
📞 Call or Text: (956) 821-9261
📧 [email protected]

Thank you so much for helping us spread the word. We look forward to welcoming everyone on September 12th!

Inform. Empower. Inspire.

Because those who spend their careers preparing others for the future deserve the opportunity to prepare for their own. 🍎📚❤️

This conference is intended for educational and informational purposes. KWS Financial Group and participating organizations are not affiliated with or endorsed by TRS of Texas or any government agency.

08/14/2026

Happy Friday, everyone. Hope you and those closest to you are doing well.

At the most recent events that I have participated in I usually ask educators and school employees that approach the table the following question:

Do you know which tier you fall under?

Sometimes I get a blank stare like what in the world am I talking about. Other times few will know their tier right away. If you are asking where I you can find this out, I have added a link below to the TRS webpage that will provide you with the tier information.

https://trs.texas.gov/pension-benefits/know-benefits/understand-benefits/membership-tiers

Generally speaking, the tier one falls under has a few requirements but it is usually determined by your start date as a TRS member or by how many years of service you already have. There is more to it but this will give you an idea of which tier you fall under.

If you have any questions, please add them in the comments section below so any interested group member can also benefit from the answers. If you prefer, you can also send me a direct message. Thank you so much and have a great weekend.

​​​​TRS has several distinct membership categories, called tiers.You tier is determined by: