NYSTRS Members: 403b Plans Through Your District
A 403b is a tax-advantaged retirement account available to many public school employees. For NYSTRS members, a 403b can complement your pension by providing additional, portable retirement savings you control. 403b accounts are offered by independent financial institutions and made available through each school district.
Westchester Financial Partners provides guidance and planning for 403b options available to NYSTRS members. 403b accounts are offered by independent providers and made available through each school district; NYSTRS does not issue or manage 403b accounts.
Why contribute to a 403b?
Contributing to a 403b helps NYSTRS members build retirement savings in addition to their pension. Regular contributions let you take advantage of tax-advantaged growth, dollar-cost averaging, and plan features offered by third-party providers through your district. Even modest, consistent contributions can meaningfully increase your retirement flexibility.
Benefits of a Roth 403b
- Tax-free growth and withdrawals in retirement when IRS rules are met.
- After-tax contributions let you lock in today’s tax rate and avoid taxes on qualified withdrawals later.
- Useful for tax diversification — pairs exceptionally well alongside a defined-benefit pension.
Further reading
Need help navigating your options?
Schedule a consultation with a Westchester Financial Partners advisor to review your specific district’s 403b menu and build a cohesive retirement structure that fully leverages your NYSTRS pension benefits.
Select Your District
Click your district below to view individual 403b plan details, available third-party investment providers, and salary reduction agreement forms directly on OMNI.
Note: If your local New York school employer is not explicitly mapped above, contact our office directly at 914-809-5009 or schedule an initial analysis session.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 403b the same as my NYSTRS pension?
No. Your NYSTRS pension is a defined-benefit plan that provides a guaranteed lifetime payout based on your service years and salary. A 403b is an entirely separate, voluntary tax-advantaged retirement account provided by independent financial companies to supplement your baseline pension assets.
Can I have both a Roth 403b and a traditional 403b?
Yes. Most district plans allow you to divide your savings across both a Roth (after-tax) or a traditional (pre-tax) arrangement, assuming the cumulative totals remain within annual IRS individual limits.