Your First 0 to 5 Years
Early in your teaching career, retirement can feel like a distant concern. But a few foundational decisions made now compound significantly over a multi-decade career.
CalSTRS Enrollment
As a California public school teacher, you are generally enrolled in CalSTRS automatically. Confirming your enrollment, your membership tier, and your beneficiary designation early ensures your records are accurate from the start.
Service Credit Starts Now
Every year you teach adds to your service credit, which is one of the three building blocks of your eventual pension - see our pension formula guide. There is no way to "catch up" on service credit later, which is part of why early clarity matters.
Why Early Supplemental Savings Matters
Money set aside early in your career has the longest runway to grow before retirement. Even modest, consistent contributions in your first several years can outperform larger contributions started later, simply due to time.
403(b) Awareness
You do not need to commit to anything right away, but understanding that a 403(b) exists as an option - and how it might fit alongside your pension - is worth knowing from year one.