Retirement Planning in the Palm of Your Hand

Transamerica Retirement Solutions recently launched a major update to its mobile application. The My TRSRetire app has been enhanced with new features that gives comprehensive access to your retirement accounts from any of your mobile devices. If you have not downloaded the app yet - it's easy - just go to your App Store and search My TRSRetire.

The user-friendly interface of this free app makes it convenient to obtain an overview of all your TA retirement plan accounts, and view information such as your account and loan balances, current asset allocation, and personal rate of return information. You will have the ability to complete transactions, such as managing contributions and updating investment allocations.

Get OnTrack® While Mobile
If you have not discovered the OnTrack tool on Transamerica's website, now you have no excuse not to be in charge of your forecast for the future. As a plan participant the app will provide you a snapshot of your current strategy and projected retirement income, along with a retirement forecast that is represented by easy-to-understand weather icons. This friendly features will help you assess your retirement plan with visuals ranging from rainy, cloudy, party sunny to sunny.

So what are you waiting for? Start understanding your retirement planing - wherever you are!
For more information, visit nslij.trsretire.com or call 844-NSLIJHS (844-675-4547).

Retirement Ready Class - June 23

If you have started to think about your retirement, you may want to take advantage of the health system's educational seminar hosted by Transamerica Retirement Solutions on June 23. This interactive presentation will address some of your concerns, as you and other employees plan the next chapter of your lives.

When and Where
Tuesday, June 23, Transamerica representative, Diane Aurelio will be presenting "Get Ready to Retire" 6 to 7:30pm at the Center for Learning and Innovation, Suite 101. This informational session will provide you — and your spouse — with a higher level of clarity and confidence, enabling you to ask the right questions when making decisions about your retirement.

What to Address
To get you on track, Diane will share a six-step process to retirement planning, directing you to reliable resources and sound choices. The five key areas of discussion include your lifestyle, investments, healthcare needs, protection, and income. Although there will be other participants in the room, the seminar promises to address your individual situation, by using interactive polling devices, addressing your situation in an open forum discussion. Topics such as Medicare, Medigap, the NSLIJ Retiree Medical Plan, your will, Social Security, and much more, will be covered in this 90 minute presentation.

Be Aware
Don't let your retirement planning overwhelm you! Understanding what you have now, and what you need in the future, is the key to your peace of mind. Attendees are registered on a first-come, first-served basis. Because you cannot register a guest through iLearn's registration, seats will be reserved for spouses.

To register for the event, visit iLearn:

1. Click on the search tab, and type in keywords "Retirement Ready Class" Date: June 23
2. Hit "Add Attendees" on the left of the course name
3. Click on the first letter of your last name, and search your last name
4. Check the box next to your name and hit "enroll"
5. An email confirmation will come to your inbox - accept it to your Outlook calendar

You are one step closer to a happy retirement!

Thinking About Retiring?

There's so much to think about when you are preparing for your retirement. Social Security and Medicare are the obvious, but some very basic questions can become overwhelming.

• Can I afford to retire?
• What will my budget be?
• How will I receive my pension?

These are all great questions and really not so basic. If you are considering retirement in the next couple of years start doing your research now. Transamerica is offering online webinars through nslij.trsretire.com's new link "Getting Ready to Retire?" These 30-minute presentations are provided, free of charge, on the five key areas - lifestyle, investments, healthcare, legacy, and income. All the topics that are critical to a more sustainable plan for retirement.

Get Organized
As knowledge is power, so is being organized. Get your personal information into one valuable document by downloading the "Personal Document Locator" under the "Getting Ready to Retire" tab on the TA site. This 26 page template will allow you to gather important data about your life, such as your loans, credits, financial dealing and contacts.
Your personal contact information about family, friends, and neighbors is also captured in the "Personal Document Locator".

Know Your Plan
Be on the lookout in early April for your next quarterly statement from Transamerica. Reviewing your statement should act as your gentle reminder to be smart about your saving strategy. Take this time to consider increasing your contribution, or allocating your funds to work better for you.
Keep in mind if you are anywhere near your retirement years (50 or over) your limit to your 403(b)/401(k) is 75% of your pay or $24,000.

Visit nslij.trsretire.com and click on the Getting Ready for Retirement blue button, and follow up by requesting a "Retirement Ready" one-on-one or group presentation from your site Transamerica retirement representative - today.

Schedule Time for a Brighter Future

With the official kick off to summer happening on June 21 what better way to celebrate the season than to think smart about all those sunny skies ahead.

Here to Help

In conjunction with North Shore-LIJ, the retirement experts at Transamerica Retirement Solutions is now offering one-on-one half hour retirement planning sessions with one of its' four on-site retirement consultants. These qualified experts will help you to analyze your current financial situation and help you to get on track for a bright and secure financial future. There are no fees or sales associated with these meetings, they are offered to you as part of your Total Rewards Package at North Shore-LIJ. Sign up today and:

• Learn more about saving and investing
• Enroll in the plan, if you have not done so yet
• Determine how much you should be contributing
• Understand the investment options offered to you through North Shore-LIJ
• Get familiar with the interactive investment tools on nslij.trsretire.com

Contact Information
For your convenience you can choose a time and place that best works for your by scheduling directly on the Transamerica website: nslij.trsretire.com.

To contact the reps directly:
For Franklin, Southside, Plainview, Syosset and Huntington hospitals, contact Paul Joseph at paul.joseph@transamerica.com or 914-268-8787

For Lenox Hill and Staten Island University hospitals and MEETH, contact Diane Aurelio at diane.aurelio@transamerica.com or 347-918-7693

For North Shore University, Forest Hills, Glen Cove and Zucker Hillside hospitals, and LIJ and Cohen's medical centers, and Corporate offices, contact Paul Darata at paul.darata@transamerica.com or 201-249-3380 or Steve Israel at steve.israel@transamerica.com or 516-459-3150.

Sunny Skies Ahead

Great news for all North Shore-LIJ retirement plan participants: the blackout period is over and your account is now accessible through our new administrator, Transamerica Retirement Solutions. In collaboration with North Shore-LIJ, Transamerica was able to successfully transfer most North Shore-LIJ retirement funds (with the exception of frozen plans) and align the Staten Island University Hospital funds in just a few weeks. Working hard to efficiently and effectively move your retirement funds is the first step towards building a valuable partnership with Transamerica, and the health system hopes you recognize this accomplishment with serious consideration for your future retirement.

Get Moving!
It's time to take a closer look at exactly what your retirement funds look like. To get started, visit nslij.trsretire.com or call 844-NSLIJ (844-675-4547) and set up your user ID and password. Once logged in you will be able to view and access your account.

Don't Know What to Do?
Transamerica representatives will be at many locations, running group meetings through May. Take advantage of this valuable resource and learn more about how you can actively participate in your financial future. Get closer to your retirement goals by learning how to manage your account with interactive tools that are not only easy to navigate through but actually fun to use. Reserve your spot today! Can't make a meeting? Webinars are also available at nslij.trsretire.com.

Keep it Going!
Now is  a great time to consider increasing your contribution to your 403(b) or 401(k) plan. Make an additional commitment to your future and aim for contributing at least 10% of your eligible pay. Can't quite afford that yet? Try the Auto-Increase service, this will automatically increase your contributions at set times. Start off slowly, maybe 1% every 18 months. Little by little your clouds will give way to sun!

New Fee Structure with Transamerica

We've received several comments regarding the health system's new retirement plan fee structure at Transamerica. This new fee structure was carefully considered by North Shore-LIJ for the benefit of all employees.

To Clarify
With Transamerica, you will pay one flat record-keeping fee. At MetLife, you paid a flat record-keeping fee and an additional fee that was a percentage of your total account balance. In other words, with MetLife, the more you saved, the more fees you had to pay. We hope that by removing this percentage-of-savings fee you will save more and not feel penalized by the higher fee.

Building your retirement savings is a healthy goal that should be supported by fees that do not increase along with your savings.

With MetLife, the annual and percentage fees resulted in an average total fee of $77 per year. At Transamerica, the annual record-keeping fee will be $60 for the 403(b) and 401(k) plans, and $90 for the 457(b). You'll see this fee billed in quarterly installments on your account statements (in addition to any fees charged by the companies that manage your investments).

One flat fee also means employees pay an equal and fair share of costs for administering the plan. Since a person with a low balance receives the same plan administrative benefits and resources as a person with a high balance, the health system and the Investment Committee believe this fee should be shared equally as well.

We hope this helps you better understand the changes to the retirement plans' fee structure. For more information, visit the Transition Portal on nslijtrs.retire.com.

Thanks very much for your feedback and support.

A Smooth Move to Transamercia

On March 28 at 4pm the North Shore-LIJ retirement plans will be transferred from MetLife to Transamerica Retirement Solutions (March 31 for Staten Island University Hospital plan participants). The few weeks that follow is known as the blackout period. This is the time period that you will not be able to access your retirement account with MetLife or Transamerica, meaning you will not be able to initiate any transactions such as investment transfers, withdrawals or loans. The blackout period is due to end the week of April 20, although Transamerica and North Shore-LIJ aim to end it sooner.

For Staten Island University Hospital Plans
Transamerica has been a valuable partner to the employees at Staten Island University Hospital for several years. Now that they have fully integrated with the health system their retirement plan's fund line-up will convert to the same fund line-up as North Shore-LIJ's. Read more from the Transition Newsletter. 
It's all coming together now!

No Worries
The transition to Transamerica was designed to be as seamless as possible. In fact, there is very little you will need to do. Here's what you don't need to do:

• Your account will transfer automatically, you will continue to save for your retirement without interruption
• Your investment strategy will stay consistent, and your contributions will be in the same or similar funds
• There are no forms for you to fill out
• Your beneficiary will transfer with your account

What About the Frozen Plans?
Frozen plans refer to retirement plans that are inactive and closed to new entrants. Frozen plans will not be transferred from MetLife to Transamerica until later in the year. If you have a frozen plan you will be contacted towards the later part of 2014.

Once the transition is over you will be notified via email and mail. At that time you will have to register and sign in online with a new username and password (that goes for Staten Island University plan participants too!). For more information, check out the North Shore-LIJ Transition to Transamerica portal at nslij.trsretire.com.

Retirement Plans Move in March

If you have a North Shore-LIJ retirement account currently administered by MetLife, take note those plans will be moving from MetLife on March 28 at 4pm and converted  over to our new record keeper Transamercia Retirement Solutions the week of April 20. Now is a good time to start thinking about the strength (or the weakness) of you retirement planning. Answer the following questions yes or no:

1. Without looking at your 403(b)/401(k) account, do you know how much you are currently contributing?
2. Do you know how much you have to contribute to these plans to receive an employer match?
3. Do you know the difference between a Cash Balance Plan and your 403(b)/401(k) Plan?
4. Is saving for your retirement a high priority?
5. Do you have any kind of plan for the future?

If you answered no to 3 or more of the above questions you should start paying more attention to your financial health. Step one to a healthier retirement: Start off by checking exactly what you are contributing to your 403(b) or 401(k) saving plan before the March 28 blackout begins. If you are still contributing under 6% you are not taking advantage of North Shore-LIJ's generous employer match. Once you hit 6% the health system kicks in 2%. Visit mlr.metlife.com or call 855-675-4547 to adjust your contributions today for a healthier tomorrow.

Transamerica Can Help

Retirement planning can be an overwhelming experience if you have no advice or direction. Over the next several months, take advantage of the educational tools and services that our new administrator, Transamerica, will offer. Onsite representative will be present beginning mid April to talk you through your concerns. Online investment tools will assist you once your account is active the week of April 20. 

Keep checking your email for more information about the conversion to Transamerica.

Get Financially Fit with Transamerica

After an extensive review North Shore-LIJ has chosen Transamerica Retirement Solutions as the new recordkeeper for the health system's  403(b), 401(k) and 457(b) retirement plans. Transamerica will replace MetLife on April 1, 2014, and will bring many benefits to its investors; including a flat-fee structure, user-friendly tools that encourage retirement saving, and commitment to education and financial guidance.

Be Prepared
The conversion of some 50,000 accounts, worth over 3.3 billion dollars, will begin on March 28 at 4pm with MetLife and will end the week of April 20 with Transamerica. This period of time is known as the blackout period and is common in all such transactions. Although you are still invested during this time, you will not be able to access your account. North Shore-LIJ and Transamerica will be working hard to end the blackout period as soon as possible and hope to restore access to your account earlier than the projected week of April 20.

Take the Time to Review
March is a good time to consider increasing your contribution to your retirement plan. If you do decide to boost your savings you can do so by contacting MetLife at mlr.metlife.com or 855-675-4547, prior to the conversion on March 28. Or you can wait after the blackout and contact Transamerica at 844-NSLIJHS (844-675-4547) or nslij.trsretire.com.

Did You Know?
The health system encourages all employees to be smart about saving by automatically contributing 3% of your pay into a 403(b) or 401(k) plan on the one-year anniversary of your hire. To further encourage you, North Shore-LIJ will throw in a 2% match if you increase your contribution to 6%. So start thinking now about how you can get financially fit in time for your retirement.

The timeline and notices for the conversion for North Shore-LIJ plans moving from MetLife to Transamerica and the timeline and notices for the Staten Island University Transamerica fund lineup change can be found on Employee Self Service and nslij.trsretire.com.

Be Money Smart

Did you know the health system automatically contributes 3% of your eligible compensation for your 403(b) plan account beginning on the the one year anniversary of your date of hire? Be smart and contribute at least 6% of your annual salary, and you will receive an additional 2% from the health system.
Here's how it works. After one year of service with the health system eligible employees may receive:

• 3% of  pay-based credits to your Cash Balance account
• 3% contribution of your eligible earnings to your 403(b) account (Benefit Group 1A receives 6% contribution)
• 2% employer matching contribution to your 403(b) account (that's if you contribute at least 6%)

That comes to 8% in employer contributions for Benefit Groups 1, 2 and 3 - and 11% for Group 1A! So what are you waiting for? Contact MetLife now and get money smart.

The Retirement Team is Here for You

The Investment Committee has got your back. Retirement planning should be a two way street, you invest your money and we help to invest it wisely. In addition to researching the best funds available for your Plans, the Retirement Team at North Shore-LIJ is here to help you plan for a secure future. In collaboration with the experts at MetLife, the health system offers the Retirewise Program, an informative retirement planning program with a classroom approach, educating employees about the options and opportunities they have through North Shore-LIJ. For more information and opportunities to save for your future, email: Retirement@nshs.edu. If you want a clear definition about the funds offered through MetLife, read more.

No Action Required

The Investment Committee at North Shore-LIJ is looking out for you. Researching, with your financial security top of mind, the Committee consistently looks for new ways to make your money work harder for you.

Beginning May 31, 2013 there are two fund changes:

First, Cohen & Steers Institutional Global Realty Fund will be replaced by Security Capital Fund. Security Capital Fund in combination with Morgan Stanley Institutional Global Real Estate I Fund, will now comprise the plan’s Global REIT option.

Second, RS International Growth Fund will be replaced by Dreyfus International Equity Fund. Dreyfus International Equity Fund in combination with Causeway International Value Institutional Fund, will now comprise the plan’s International Equity option.

Nothing for You to Do!
If you have a balance in the funds exchanged, your account and future contribution will be automatically transferred to the new investment options as on May 31. You will receive a confirmation in the mail or you can visit MetLife online after May 31. Do not hesitate to reach out to a MetLife representative - consultations are free. For a complete statement visit HealthPort.