Zachary G. Espericueta - Advisor

11/07/2026

Earlier this month, clients received my quarterly newsletter. You can check it out and subscribe here 👇

Email from Zachary G. Espericueta Zachary's 2026 Q3 Newsletter ⚡️ Greetings! Volume 41 | October 2026 (Q4) Zachary's Quarterly Note Each quarter, I like to share a few personal thoughts, lessons, or

11/06/2026

🍎 Texas Educators: Did you know TRS has a 10% salary increase rule?

TRS has a rule that can limit how much of a large salary increase counts toward your retirement pension during your final years of employment.

Let's say you're earning $65,000 and receive a promotion or raise that brings your salary to $85,000.

That's obviously great news, but depending on when you retire, TRS may not recognize that entire increase when calculating your pension.

Generally, TRS limits annual increases in creditable salary to 10% or $10,000, whichever is greater, during your final 3 or 5 years before retirement.

This doesn't mean you should turn down a raise! It just means that WHEN you retire can be just as important as how much you're earning. Working additional years at that higher salary may allow more of it to count toward your retirement.

If you're a Texas educator approaching retirement, make sure you understand how your salary history could affect your TRS pension.

--> A little planning today can make a big difference in retirement! 📚

10/22/2026

Social Security benefits are increasing by 3.6% in 2027. For the average retiree, that works out to roughly $75 more per month, starting in January.

That extra money may not stretch very far, but any additional income can certainly help.

The adjustment is automatic, so there's nothing you need to apply for. Don't let scammers convince you otherwise.

More info from Social Security:

Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Information for 2026 Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for 75 million Americans will increase …

10/14/2026

For most of us, the unfortunate truth is that our retirement income won't even come close to replacing our regular paycheck.

Here's an example I often share during my retirement presentations:
Someone making a $75,000 salary with 30 years in education could receive about $51,000/yr. from their pension....That's a 31% reduction in annual income.

I always ask: "Who here would voluntarily take a 30% pay cut right now?" and unsurprisingly, nobody raises their hand.

So then why would you want to take a 30% pay cut in retirement when you're not planning to work anymore? When there's no more employment money coming in.

Social Security and pensions provide very important baseline income, but they're not intended to replace your entire paycheck. That's where retirement savings (401(k), 403(b), IRA, etc.) become important.

Also, by the way, having $100,000 saved might look or sound like a lot, but using a common withdrawal guideline, that's only about $350-400 per month.

My encouragement to younger individuals is simple:
Start saving early, even if it's only $100/month. And if you're already doing so, make small increases each year. Even another $10–$20/mo. is a step in the right direction.

10/07/2026

I got my first call about this today from a client, so I wanted to share some info...

You may have heard that some people on Medicare are receiving a one-time $90 rebate this month. Yes, it's real, but it's NOT going out to EVERYONE on Medicare.

According to CMS...if you're enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, receiving premium assistance from Medicaid, or paying IRMAA, you are NOT eligible for this one-time rebate.

For those who qualify, most payments are expected by direct deposit on or around October 8, while some people will receive a check later this month.

You do not need to apply or sign up for this rebate, so be on the lookout for scams. As always, never give out your Medicare number or personal information to someone claiming they need it to get you this payment.

If you're one of my clients and you're unsure whether this applies to you, feel free to reach out! 📲

More info: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/medicare-improvement-fund-premium-rebate-frequently-asked-questions?utm_source=chatgpt.com

10/03/2026

A good question came up in a meeting this morning: “Can I take the money in my TRS account and invest it somewhere else?”

It’s a great question, and one I get periodically. Here’s what you should understand...

If you’re still working in a TRS-covered position, you generally can’t just withdraw, borrow from, or roll over that balance. Even if you eventually leave TRS employment and choose to refund the account, you’d be giving up the service credit tied to it, along with potentially giving up a future lifetime pension.

Could an investment account potentially grow more? 𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦.

But before giving up 𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 (your TRS pension), I’d think very carefully about what you’re exchanging it for.

TRS and your personal retirement savings can serve two very different purposes.

10/01/2026

Medicare Annual Enrollment (AEP) is almost here ⏰

AEP runs from Oct. 15th - Dec. 7th. This is the time of year when Medicare beneficiaries can review their current coverage and make changes for the upcoming year.

If you have questions about your Medicare coverage or would simply like to review your options, feel free to reach out.

𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙤𝙧 𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙐.𝙎. 𝙂𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙚𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙈𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙢.

09/25/2026

📬 Medicare Advantage & Part D members: keep an eye on your mailbox!

This time of year, you should receive your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) from your current Medicare plan. This explains the changes on your plan for the upcoming year, which may include:

• Premiums, copays & deductibles
• Prescription drug coverage
• Dental, vision & extra benefits
• Other important plan changes

Even if you've happy with your current plan, don't assume everything will stay the same. Take some time to review your ANOC.

If you have questions about something you received, feel free to reach out. I'm always happy to help you understand what it means.

**Not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.**

09/22/2026

Great to be back at (HISD) Terrell Wells MS this morning, providing TRS + retirement education to the staff!

Who doesn’t love talking retirement over breakfast tacos & coffee? 🌮☕️

09/19/2026

Diversification isn’t just about owning different stocks & bonds inside a portfolio. It can also mean using different types of financial products.

Mutual funds, indexed annuities, fixed annuities, bank CDs, stocks/bonds, and even crypto can all play different roles. As with anything, each comes with its own pros, cons, and potential risk/reward.

Some people are comfortable having all of their retirement money exposed to the market. Others prefer more downside protection.

There’s nothing wrong with having BOTH. And many people forget they can have more than one retirement account.

One account can be more aggressive.
One can be more conservative.
One can focus on growth.
One can focus more on protection.

The goal isn’t always to find one “perfect” product. I’d argue there’s no such thing! I believe the better approach is building a retirement strategy where different pieces work together.