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!

Financial Wellness Video is Live!

Ten minutes  - that's all it takes to gain valuable information about your retirement planning options and $260 in 2016 paycheck credits.

Pledge Option
Your ninth pledge option for 2015 is referred to as the Financial Wellness Video. Although it is a bit different from your other pledge options - it is just as important. After all, a big part of your future health and wellness is your financial security once you have stopped working. Although that may seem like decades away to some of you millennials out there - your saving opportunity is now.

In collaboration with Transamerica Retirement Solution, the health system's benefits team put together this special presentation (pledge) in hopes you will embrace the importance of understanding your saving actions. Whether you are well on your way to a prosperous retirement, or haven't even begun to think about it, this brief overview on the basics of investing will also educate you on the options the health system and Transamerica offer you as an employee.

What to Do to Complete the Pledge

1. Login to your TA account* on nslij.trsretire.com. 
2. Take a moment to review your "Overview" page and "Retirement Outlook".
3. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. On the lower right corner you will see a "Communications" box. Within that box is the link to the video.
4. When you click to view, an information box will appear. Here you will need to provide your name, an email address, your employee ID**, and a wellness code (which is pre-populated for you).
5. The video will begin. It takes a little under 10 minutes to complete this pledge, so be sure to schedule your time accordingly. 
6. You must watch and listen to the video in its entirety. No muting or skipping, or you will not receive the credit.
7. At the end of the video pledge (last screen) a red button will turn green. At this point you can exit the video and a certificate of completion will arrive in your email inbox.
8. Print and save the certificate. Your certificate will only appear once, even if you repeat the video.
9. Your pledge completion date will appear on your Wellness Summary in ESS in about 6 to 8 weeks.

*Don't have an account with Transamerica yet? If you are one of the many eligible employees who were automatically enrolled in either a 401(k) or 403(b) retirement plan upon hire, you can then set up your account. When on the sign up page - just hit "Get started now" and follow the prompts.

**Your employee ID can be found on your paycheck. Visit ESS - Personal Information - Payroll - View Your Paycheck. The ID is in the upper left-hand corner in a box marked general.

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.