Web sites devoted to 403(b) plans have a distinctly educational feel. That’s not surprising, considering that the bulk of 403(b) plan participants are teachers. Given the passion teachers show, it also shouldn’t come as a shock that many of their sites display a fervor about investing that borders on zealotry. Does that passion get in the way of the instruction? Rarely. But the authors’ opinions tend to be front and center. Their missionary impulse may be an acquired taste for visitors to their sites.

Here’s an inventory of useful 403(b) sites, including several run by prominent mutual fund companies. 

Sites by Individuals

403bwise
John Moore and Dan Otter, two teachers from southern California, direct their exhaustive 403bwise toward all 403(b) plan participants. It includes a list of frequently asked questions and links to information on both annuities and mutual funds. There are message boards where users can post questions and describe their own experiences and an extensive library of articles from online magazines. Otter often writes articles, too. An especially interesting series tells the personal histories of various 403(b) plan participants.

Teachers and Money
Another West Coast educator, Gerald Hennings, gears his Web site toward teachers, who, he rightly says, are woefully uninformed about money matters. Hennings is a former corporate official, and his thoughts on investing and explanations of financial concepts, such as compounding and dollar-cost averaging, would serve just about any investor well. He also offers a "Best Investment Plan" that’s wonderfully simple: Make regular contributions to a retirement plan, and invest in a Vanguard index fund.

403(b) Rip-Offs
Established by Grant MacLaren, a retired Missouri community-college administrator, this site definitely goes on the offensive against lousy retirement-plan options. It rails against "insurance-company scams" and "greedy teachers unions." Instead of relying on such self-serving organizations, MacLaren says, 403(b) participants should take control of their own finances. To help in this effort, he provides links to news articles, investing sites, and 403(b) providers. Some might take issue with MacLaren’s style, but his message of self-reliance is tough to dispute.

Sites by 403(b) Custodians

Janus
Janus has perhaps the best fund-company site for 403(b) plan participants. Its frequently asked questions section details the basics of the firm’s 403(b)(7) accounts, which permit mutual fund companies to act as custodians of 403(b) money. The site also explains how to determine if such an account will best suit your needs, and it provides forms for setting up a new account and for transferring existing assets to Janus.

Fidelity
Plan participants interested in a Fidelity account can find a wealth of information on its site. Like Janus, Fidelity answers frequently asked questions and shows how to transfer an account to the firm. It also includes forms for establishing and transferring accounts.

Vanguard
Vanguard’s site is directed more toward employers than plan participants, but it does cover all of the basic individual investor questions. The Web site also allows you to request an application for a 403(b)(7) account.

TIAA-CREF
The pension giant must be relying on its reputation and dominant position in the market, because its Web site isn’t likely to generate a lot of 403(b) business. It offers general information about the firm’s retirement plans, but there’s nothing to help 403(b) participants establish accounts or transfer them to TIAA-CREF.

The Resource of Last Resort

Internal Revenue Service
If you can’t find what you’re looking for elsewhere, you’ll probably find it on the IRS Web site. Your search may not be short or easy--it’s the government, after all. Still, the most comprehensive explanations of 403(b) plans and other tax-sheltered annuity programs are here, in what amounts to an online version of the IRS’ print publication 571.