Prepare Now to Serve Educators Better This Fall

Create a list of school districts you serve or want to serve. Visit their websites to explore HR pages, benefits sections, and board meeting minutes. Look for:

• Retirement plan vendors and contacts
• Key dates (start of school, benefits fairs, open enrollment)
• Any hints of new initiatives or staffing changes

Why it Matters
Better understanding leads to better conversations—and positioning yourself as a knowledgeable resource helps build trust with both staff and district decision-makers.

Bonus Tip
Create a quick-reference district profile sheet for yourself. This makes outreach more personalized and efficient come fall.

Review all the materials in your toolkit—presentations, flyers, email templates, social media content. Is it simple? Clear? Does it answer the top questions educators have?

Why it Matters
Teachers don’t want a lecture—they want real help. Make sure your materials are visually appealing, easy to understand, and focused on solving real retirement questions.

Bonus Tip
Log into the National Life Agent Portal to access a wide variety of marketing support including turnkey presentation programs.

Use this slower season to send check-in emails, offer mid-year reviews, or schedule short virtual coffee chats. Keep it casual and focused on how they’re doing, not just their money.

Why it Matters
A relationship built on value and care—not just transactions—is more likely to grow and lead to referrals.

Bonus Tip
Nominate an educator for LifeChanger of the Year, a national award recognizing outstanding K-12 educators. The Agent Toolkit makes it super easy. Even just suggesting it can show your clients that you see and appreciate their impact beyond the numbers.

Pick one or two summer learning goals:

• Read up on new 403(b)/457(b) plan trends
• Complete a CE course
• Review any recent IRS guidance or state-level updates affecting public educators

Why it Matters
Staying current is a non-negotiable if you want to stand out in a crowded field. Being the “go-to” expert starts with knowing your stuff—and educators value pros who do their homework.

Bonus Tip
Keep a note on your phone or laptop of 2–3 new insights you’ve learned. Great for sparking fall conversations.

Pull up your calendar and plug in:

• School start dates
• Benefits/enrollment periods
• Any educator events or back-to-school nights
• Your own outreach goals (e.g., 5 meetings/month, 2 presentations, etc.)

Why it Matters
Once the school year starts, schedules get hectic. Planning now helps you stay ahead and ensures you’re top-of-mind before other reps start knocking.

Bonus Tip
Draft and pre-schedule a short email sequence to roll out in August or early September (e.g., intro + checklist + meeting invite).

Identify key connectors: school secretaries, union reps, department chairs, coaches, and long-time teachers. These individuals often know “who’s who” and can open doors.

Why it Matters
Word of mouth still reigns in schools. If you’re known and trusted by internal champions, your message travels faster and farther.

Bonus Tip
Offer a lunch-and-learn, appreciation gift, or exclusive checklist just for them. Support them first—referrals tend to follow.