WHO WE ARE
THE INDEPENDENT
VOICE FOR TEACHERS
Quarrydell was founded on a simple realization: the retirement industry speaks a language teachers don't have time to learn, and the advice they receive is often clouded by commissions. We're here to change that.
Radical Transparency
We disclose every fee, every hidden cost, and every fine-print restriction that TIAA and other providers often bury in 100-page prospectuses.
Zero Affiliation
We are not financial advisors. We don't manage your money. We don't take referral fees. Our only product is honest, independent information.
Teacher First
Our content is designed for educators and 501(c)(3) employees. We understand the specific nuances of 403(b) and 401(a) plans.
Why We Focus
On TIAA?
For nearly a century, TIAA was the default choice for the academic community. While they offer stability, the market has changed significantly since the 1990s.
Many teachers find themselves locked into "Traditional" annuities without a clear exit strategy, or paying fees that are 10x higher than modern index funds. We believe every educator deserves to know exactly where their money is and what it costs them to keep it there.
Quarrydell provides the "second opinion" that your school's HR department or the TIAA representative might not be able to offer.
Our Methodology
We don't guess. We analyze data from thousands of plan documents and real user experiences.
01
Document Review
We dig through the Form 5500 filings and internal plan documents to find the real numbers.
02
User Feedback
We aggregate real-world experiences from educators across the United States.
03
Fee Benchmarking
We compare TIAA's expense ratios against institutional-grade competitors like Vanguard.
04
Liquidity Testing
We map out the withdrawal restrictions for every major TIAA product category.
Ready to see the data?
Explore our deep-dives or compare your current plan fees against the industry standard.