Financial planning for Ohio public employees and teachers
Your pension is powerful, and the decisions around it are permanent. We help Ohio teachers and public employees make the OPERS, STRS, and SERS choices that shape the rest of their lives, with fee-only, fiduciary advice.
The pension decisions you make once should be made carefully.
Public employees have something rare: a real pension. But the elections around it, the survivor option, the payout choice, when to retire, whether to buy service credit, are often made in a single meeting and last for life. We help you slow down and get them right, and we build the rest of your plan, your 457(b), 403(b), and savings, around the pension you earned.
Everyone has a story. Ours is making sure the financial side of yours is never the part that holds you back.
Nick George, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, IWA™ · Founder
If you work for the state of Ohio, a school district, or a local government, your retirement runs on a different system than most advice is built for. OPERS, STRS, and SERS each have their own pension formulas, survivor options, health care rules, and one-time elections that cannot be undone. Add a 457(b) or 403(b) on the side and the recent Social Security Fairness Act, and the choices get complicated fast. We help Ohio public employees and educators understand their pension, time their retirement, and build the plan around it. We are based in Columbus and work across Ohio.
Your pension election, made carefully
OPERS, STRS, and SERS each ask you to choose a payout and a survivor option when you retire, and those choices are permanent. We walk through what each option means for you and your spouse, model the tradeoffs, and help you decide with the full picture in front of you and with no time pressure.
The Social Security Fairness Act and your benefits
The 2025 Social Security Fairness Act repealed the WEP and GPO rules that had reduced Social Security for many public employees. If you or your spouse also earned Social Security, this may change your benefits meaningfully. We help you understand what changed and fold it into your retirement income plan.
457(b), 403(b), and the accounts around your pension
Your pension is the foundation, and your supplemental accounts fill the gaps. We help you use your 457(b) and 403(b) well, choose Roth or pre-tax, keep costs and fund choices sensible, and coordinate these savings with your pension so your income in retirement is steady and tax-smart.
Timing your retirement
With a pension, the date you retire can change your benefit for life, and one more year, a service-credit purchase, or a specific birthday can matter. We model the scenarios so you can choose your retirement date with a clear view of what each option is worth.
What this can look like
Illustrative examples, not actual clients, and not a promise of results.
The survivor option decision
A teacher retiring through STRS has to choose between a larger check for life and a smaller check that protects their spouse. We model both against their full financial picture, so the choice protects the person they care about most.
The Fairness Act recheck
A retired public employee had their Social Security reduced for years under the old WEP rule. After the Fairness Act, we help them understand the change and rebuild their income plan around the corrected benefit.
The 457(b) catch-up
A public employee three years from retirement has room to save much more through their 457(b). We build a plan to use the account, choose Roth or pre-tax, and coordinate it with the pension for a smoother retirement.
Why fee-only and fiduciary matters
Fee-only means we are paid by you, never through commissions or product sales, so the advice stays about you. Fiduciary means we are legally bound to act in your best interest, at all times. We work with clients in Columbus, across Ohio, and nationwide, and everything can be done virtually.
Common questions
Do you work with OPERS, STRS, and SERS members?
Yes. We help Ohio public employees, teachers, and government workers understand their pension decisions across OPERS, STRS, and SERS, and build the rest of their plan around it. We are based in Columbus and work statewide.
How did the Social Security Fairness Act change my benefits?
The 2025 law repealed the WEP and GPO provisions that reduced Social Security for many public employees and their spouses. If you also earned Social Security, your benefit may be higher than before. We help you understand your specific situation and update your plan.
Which pension payout option should I choose?
It depends on your health, your spouse, and your other income, and the choice is permanent. We model the single-life and survivor options against your full financial picture so the decision is made with everything in view.
Should I use a Roth or pre-tax 457(b) or 403(b)?
It depends on your tax bracket now versus in retirement, and your pension is part of that math. We help you decide the mix and use these accounts to fill the gaps around your pension.
Should I buy service credit?
Sometimes it is one of the best moves available, and sometimes it is not worth the cost. We run the numbers on what the additional credit adds to your pension versus what it costs, so you can decide with real figures.
Do I need to be near Columbus to work with you?
No. We are in Columbus and work with public employees across Ohio, virtually or in person. Fee-only and fiduciary means the advice is about you.
Let's get your pension decisions right.
This page is general information for people exploring our services and is not investment, tax, or legal advice or a recommendation for any specific person or situation. The examples are illustrative, are not based on actual clients, and are not a promise of results. Strategies such as S-corp elections, backdoor and mega-backdoor Roth contributions, equity-comp decisions, and deferred compensation depend on your specific situation and current law, so confirm the details with a qualified professional before acting. ClearMind Capital LLC is a registered investment adviser; registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
