Wealth with Intention
Money Wisdom for Your Next Chapter
Understanding Your 401(k) Rollover Options: A Confident Woman's Guide to Rolling Over Your Retirement Savings
If you've just left a job, or you're about to, there's a good chance an email from HR is sitting in your inbox with a subject line like "Important information about your retirement account." It probably came with a stack of forms and very little explanation.
I get it. This is one of those money decisions that feels small and administrative until you realize a wrong move can trigger taxes, penalties, or years of quietly higher fees. The good news is that a rollover is very doable once you know how the pieces work. I've spent more than a decade as a financial advisor helping women through exactly this, and I want to walk you through it the way I would if you were sitting across the table from me.
The Short Version
When you leave an employer, you can generally roll your old 401(k) into an IRA, move it into your new employer's plan, leave it where it is, or cash it out. Cashing out is almost always the most expensive choice. For the other three, ask for a direct rollover, which means th...
Self-Directed 401(k) or 403(b): 3 Benefits and What to Watch For
By Leah Hadley, AFC®, CDFA®. Last updated September 2026.
Many people are surprised to learn that their 401(k) or 403(b) may include a second way to invest. Alongside the standard menu of funds your employer picked, some plans offer what is called a self-directed brokerage window. It is easy to miss, and most participants never open it.
Whether it is worth using depends on what you want it to do for you. This post explains what it is, three ways it can help, and the costs and risks to weigh before you decide.
The short answer. A self-directed 401(k) or 403(b) is a workplace plan that includes a brokerage window, which lets you choose investments beyond your plan’s standard fund menu. Not every employer offers one, and plans can limit what you buy. The main benefits are broader choice, room for professional guidance, and more precise control over risk. The main drawbacks are extra fees, more ways to make costly mistakes, and less oversight from your employer on what you pick. For ma
...403(b) for Teachers in 2026: Limits, Fees, and 6 Questions to Ask
By Leah Hadley, AFC®, CDFA®. Last updated September 2026 with the current IRS limits.
I started my career as a teacher. I'm also a mother of three, which means I'm around educators constantly, and a good share of my clients are teachers or school administrators.
Here's what I've learned in all those conversations. Almost nobody knows what their 403(b) actually costs them. Not because teachers aren't smart about money. Because the fees are built into these products in ways that are really hard to see.
Two things changed recently that make this worth revisiting. The 2026 contribution limits went up meaningfully. And the Social Security rules that penalized public employees for decades were repealed, which changes the retirement math for a lot of educators.
The short version. The 2026 IRS limit for a 403(b) is $24,500, plus $8,000 more if you're 50 or older. If your district also offers a 457(b), you can contribute the full amount to both, which most teachers don't realize. Before you
...Categories
All Categories
Leah Hadley, AFC®, CDFA®, MAFF®
Founder/Senior Wealth Manager
Leah Hadley is the founder of Intentional Wealth Partners and Intentional Divorce Solutions, sister companies based in Cleveland and serving clients nationwide. Intentional Wealth Partners provides financial planning and wealth management. She specializes in helping women and couples navigate major life transitions with confidence and clarity. She is also the author of Intentional Money: The Modern Woman's Guide to Building Wealth, Purpose, and Peace, host of the "Intentional Divorce Insights" podcast, and a sought-after speaker.
Our Offices
9:00am to 5:00pm
