Research and filmmaking
Karen Hammerness has been working in education from the moment she graduated from college. As an educator and educational researcher, her work has brought her to classrooms across the U.S. and all over the world in order to study how adults and students learn. Most recently, she directed a short film about how students in Finland train to become teachers.

Her girls and their education
“Successful financial planning means knowing, in very practical terms, that my daughters can all go on to higher educational experiences where they can pursue meaningful work and interests that they care about. I want to feel assured that they can pursue as much education as they want and continue to have the opportunities I’ve had to keep learning.”

Sharing a vision with her husband
Karen’s husband is also an academic and also saves for retirement with TIAA. Karen says, working together, they “look forward to a retirement that opens up possibilities for continuing to do interesting work, but with the freedom to say yes (or no) to new opportunities.”

A passion for travel and international research

Believes in the importance of buying local and farm-raised food for her family

Sharing her love for cooking and baking with her daughters