Welcome to Personal Finance for Educators, a podcast dedicated to empowering early and mid-career educators with the knowledge and tools to achieve financial stability and independence. Join us as we dive into practical strategies for personal finance, discuss approaches to embrace the unique opportunities of the profession, and think through navigating common challenges. Whether you're mastering budgeting, managing debt, building savings, or making tough financial choices, we're here to support your journey!
In this episode, I discuss a new series for the project that I call Tools for the Trade. I walk through two free browser-based tools I've built for educators — showing how I used AI to turn complicated data and dense documents into something actually useful.
The first tool, the Wisconsin Teacher Salary Analyzer, pulls from public DPI salary data to help teachers answer a simple but important question: is the salary I've been offered reasonable? The tool summarizes salary ranges, experience averages, and district comparisons in seconds.
The second tool, the Handbook Analyzer, lets you upload a district handbook PDF and get a structured breakdown of compensation, benefits, retirement options, and notable clauses — powered by Google's free Gemini API.
I also talk about why I'm building these tools, how agentic AI makes them possible, and what questions I'm hoping to tackle next.
Email: josh@personalfinanceforeducators.com (mailto:josh@personalfinanceforeducators.com)
Substack: https://personalfinanceforeducators.substack.com/ (https://personalfinanceforeducators.substack.com/)
Educator Finance Tools: https://herteljt.github.io/educator-finance-tools/index.html (https://herteljt.github.io/educator-finance-tools/index.html)
Music
Island Breeze by Surf House Productions | https://surf-house-productions.bandcamp.com (https://surf-house-productions.bandcamp.com)
24 Mar 2026
PFE Episode 7 - Teaching and the Roth IRA: A Perfect Pair
In this episode, I discuss why I think a Roth IRA is one of the best financial tools available to teachers. I cover the basics of how a Roth IRA works, why the tax structure is a particularly good fit for educator income levels, and how it complements your pension in retirement. If you're a teacher wondering where to put your money beyond your pension, this is a good place to start.
Read more on the blog:
personalfinanceeducators.com (http://personalfinanceeducators.com)
Subscribe to the Substack: https://personalfinanceforeducators.substack.com/
Music
Island Breeze by Surf House Productions | https://surf-house-productions.bandcamp.com (https://surf-house-productions.bandcamp.com)
5 Dec 2025
PFE Episode 6 - Recognizing the Wealth of the Teaching Lifestyle
In this episode, I explore the idea of “Dimensions of Wealth” and how teaching uniquely nurtures a rich, well-rounded life. Drawing from a recent blog post, I break down six forms of wealth—time, relationships, experiences, physical well being, spiritual mindset, and material stability—and show how the teaching profession naturally supports each one. In doing so, discuss the ways educators can recognize, build, and benefit from the wealth already present in their work and lifestyle. This is an invitation to see the profession through a more holistic, empowering lens.
Read more on the blog:
personalfinanceeducators.com (http://personalfinanceeducators.com)
Music
Island Breeze by Surf House Productions | https://surf-house-productions.bandcamp.com (https://surf-house-productions.bandcamp.com)
3 Nov 2025
PFE Ep 5 - Estimating Take-Home Pay
In this episode I break down how to estimate your take‑home pay, especially if you’re starting a new job. I walk through a simple three‑step approach: estimate your gross salary, subtract likely deductions (taxes, insurance, retirement) and then figure out how much you’ll actually receive each pay period. Using a real‑world example, I show how a $45,000 salary might translate into about $30,000 in net income, and how your pay schedule (e.g., 10‑month, 12‑month) will determine the deposit in your bank account. Understanding your net pay early will empower smarter budgeting, benefit decisions, and provide peace of mind.
Read more on the blog:
personalfinanceeducators.com (http://personalfinanceeducators.com)
Estimating Take-Home Pay Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bprtCnEU6QbsIGQ4ytTVtBLdiLRStf7QrEJrEkAq_r4/edit?usp=sharing (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bprtCnEU6QbsIGQ4ytTVtBLdiLRStf7QrEJrEkAq_r4/edit?usp=sharing)
Music
Island Breeze by Surf House Productions | https://surf-house-productions.bandcamp.com (https://surf-house-productions.bandcamp.com)
6 Sept 2025
PFE Ep 4 - Unpacking Your Employee Handbook
Employee handbooks often get ignored after the first day on the job, but they can be one of the most valuable resources for educators. In this episode, I walk through my own handbook to show how these documents reveal benefits you might otherwise miss—like leave policies, retirement programs, legal and financial assistance, and even access to counseling or coaching. Whether you’re a new teacher or a seasoned educator, understanding your handbook can help you take full advantage of the benefits you’ve already earned and make smarter financial decisions.
Read more on the blog:
personalfinanceeducators.com (http://personalfinanceeducators.com)
Music
Island Breeze by Surf House Productions | https://surf-house-productions.bandcamp.comhttps://surf-house-productions.bandcamp.com (https://surf-house-productions.bandcamp.com)Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com ( https://www.free-stock-music.com)Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
16 Aug 2025
PFE Ep 3 - A New Job To-Do List
In this episode, I present a to-do list for new teachers looking for help in sorting through benefits. I focus on key documents, medical coverage, retirement, and life insurance options.
Read more on the blog:
personalfinanceeducators.com (http://personalfinanceeducators.com)
Posts mentioned:
A New Job To-Do List (A New Job To-Do List)
The Pension Path (https://www.personalfinanceeducators.com/2025/02/the-pension-path.html)
Music
Island Breeze by Surf House Productions | https://surf-house-productions.bandcamp.comhttps://surf-house-productions.bandcamp.com (https://surf-house-productions.bandcamp.com)Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com ( https://www.free-stock-music.com)Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
18 Jul 2025
PFE Ep 2 - Embracing the Teaching Lifestyle
In this episode, I discuss my perspective on the teaching lifestyle and how relationships, growth, and community are central to the profession. I explain how these ideas bring value to our profession and are key in fostering a holistic view of personal finance for educators.
Linked blog post: https://www.personalfinanceeducators.com/2025/03/embracing-teaching-lifestyle.html (https://www.personalfinanceeducators.com/2025/03/embracing-teaching-lifestyle.html)
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personalfinanceeducators.com (http://personalfinanceeducators.com)
Intro music
Island Breeze by Surf House Productions | https://surf-house-productions.bandcamp.comhttps://surf-house-productions.bandcamp.com (https://surf-house-productions.bandcamp.com)Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com ( https://www.free-stock-music.com)Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
23 Jun 2025
PFE Ep 1 - Introductions
In this first episode, I introduce the Personal Finance for Educators podcast and discuss my aims for the project. Read more at personalfinanceeducators.com (http://personalfinanceeducators.com)
Intro music
Island Breeze by Surf House Productions | https://surf-house-productions.bandcamp.comhttps://surf-house-productions.bandcamp.com (https://surf-house-productions.bandcamp.com)
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
( https://www.free-stock-music.com)Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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