David Kazansky's Pension Page

09/21/2026

Tier 6 can be complicated, but understanding how it works shouldn’t be.

On Thursday, October 1 at 7 PM, I’ll be hosting my first pension workshop of the school year, focused entirely on Tier 6.

We’ll break down the rules, the good, the bad, and what it all means for your pension and your eventual retirement.

Whether you’ve been in Tier 6 for years or you were just enrolled in TRS, this is a chance to better understand what you’re building toward.

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/n7oaDeKATc627BTVfvjkag

09/15/2026

Your TDA isn’t the only voluntary retirement savings option available to NYC public school employees.

The NYC Deferred Compensation Plan offers both a 401(k) and a 457 plan, and there’s one important feature of the 457 that TDA members should know about: it has its own separate contribution limit.

So if you’re already maxing out your TDA, or simply want to understand what other retirement savings options are available to you, the 457 is worth knowing about.

Check out the NYC Deferred Compensation Plan website to learn more about the 401(k), 457, contribution limits, and plan rules.

https://www.nyc.gov/site/olr/deferred/dcphome.page

09/10/2026

🍎 Welcome back, NYC Public School Employees!

And a special welcome to everyone starting their first year in the system.

Retirement may be the last thing on your mind right now, but a few decisions you make at the beginning of your career can have a major impact down the road.

If you’re a new NYC Teachers’ Retirement System member:

✅ Create your TRS online account when you receive your membership information. Get familiar with it and check it throughout your career.

✅ Learn about and consider contributing to your TDA. It’s another TRS retirement savings plan that can become an important source of income in retirement. Even starting small can give your money years to grow.

✅ Start learning about your pension now. You don’t need to become an expert overnight, but the earlier you understand how your benefits work, the better prepared you’ll be to make decisions throughout your career.

That’s what this page is here for. I’ll continue sharing information about pensions, retirement, the TDA, and the decisions NYC educators face along the way.

Whether today is your first day, another year in the middle of your career, or the beginning of your final year before retirement, I hope you have a great school year.

Welcome back! 🍎

08/18/2026

Retirement is about more than reaching a certain age or number of years.

Join me for my final summer pension workshop, “Can I Retire Yet?”, on Tuesday, August 25 at 7 p.m. We’ll discuss the financial and personal decisions to consider before you retire, including income, expenses, preparation, and life after full-time work.

Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/g5NBn7xCRI6Mu_1RW4g1Ug

08/13/2026

More than 10,000 of you are now following me, so I thought it was time to reintroduce myself and explain why I’m here.

The TRS election may be over, but my work isn’t.

This fall I’ll be back in the classroom, while continuing to make pension and retirement videos, hold workshops, answer your questions, and help where I can.

And I’ve been working on something new during the summer that I’ll be sharing with you soon.

08/12/2026

Great news for the NYC Retirement Systems!

📢 Good News: NYC’s five pension systems delivered a 13% return for FY2026, significantly exceeding the 7% actuarial target. That strong performance brings the funds’ combined value to $326.3 billion. This also saves the City money by reducing the city’s required pension obligations by $6.3 billion dollars over five fiscal years beginning in FY 2028.

It’s a win-win, and we are committed to safeguarding the pension assets NYC’s 750,000 employees and retirees. For the full report: https://tr.ee/Nj1P0t

08/10/2026

Eligible TRS retirees will receive a cost-of-living adjustment beginning with their September 30 pension payment.

This year’s COLA is expected to be about 1.7%, but it only applies to the first $18,000 of the pension. That means the maximum increase is roughly $306 per year, or $25.50 per month before taxes.

With the cost of living continuing to rise, that is nowhere near enough for many retirees. The COLA law needs to be improved, but that will require legislative action and sustained pressure from retirees, unions, and elected officials.

08/06/2026

The response to today’s workshop has been incredible, and there is a chance we may reach Zoom’s participant limit.

If you try to join and the meeting is full, you can still watch the workshop live here:

youtube.com/live/ThdtGJO8g8s

Thank you, and I look forward to seeing you later today.

All the best,
David

08/05/2026

Attention Tier 4 NYCTRS members: Join me for a practical, easy-to-follow workshop that breaks down the rules that matter most: when you can retire, how your pension is calculated, what your contributions are paying for, when an early-retirement reduction may apply, and more!

Whether retirement is still years away or starting to feel close, this workshop will help you understand your plan, spot potential issues, and make better-informed decisions about your future.

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/kppAg6LeTICvAo6uO3MLwQ

08/03/2026

TRS made the mistake. Retired paraprofessionals are paying the price.

Some accident disability pensions are now being cut in half after years of overpayments. Where are the union leaders and elected TRS trustees who are supposed to be helping these retirees?