Getting to Emeritus

Financial decision-making shapes every stage of academic life, yet most scholars receive little guidance on navigating the systems that determine their long-term financial well-being. In Getting to Emeritus, Daniel Fagan offers the clear, comprehensive financial planning resource academics have long needed from graduate school through retirement. The financial landscape in higher education differs markedly from that of the broader workforce. Fagan explains how delayed earning years, specialized benefit structures, mobility between institutions, and the distinctive architecture of 403(b), 457(b), and pension systems affect financial choices over the course of a career. He provides practical, stage-by-stage strategies for building financial security via establishing early saving and investment habits, balancing student loans with retirement contributions, managing accounts across multiple universities, planning sabbaticals with tax efficiency, coordinating healthcare options, and ultimately creating sustainable income in retirement. This essential guide serves as a trusted companion for the entire arc of an academic's financial life. It breaks down complex systems into accessible guidance while honoring the intellectual commitments and values that shape academic careers. Getting to Emeritus equips faculty, administrators, HR professionals, and financial advisors alike with the knowledge and tools to make informed decisions that support both professional purpose and personal well-being. Fagan's guidance helps readers plan their futures in a way that preserves their legacy and equips those who have devoted their lives to education with the knowledge and confidence to plan the next chapter of their careers and lives on their own terms.