Category: Wellness

ETF is offering a series of 30-minute, live, interactive webinars designed to increase your understanding of Wisconsin Retirement System benefits. Individuals can also ask questions at the end of these sessions. Visit our webinar page to learn more about any of the following sessions. Here is what others have said about our webinars:

Beneficiary Designations – What Happens to My Account When I Die?
Death is never easy to talk about, but it’s important to know where your money is going. Learn what happens to your WRS account when you pass away, why it’s important to designate a beneficiary and the importance of keeping your account up to date.

By the end of this presentation, you will be able to:

• Define beneficiary and standard sequence.
• Explain the importance of a beneficiary form.
• Identify who or what could be a beneficiary.
• Select the appropriate beneficiary form.
• Update your beneficiary.

Thu, July 8, 2021 11:00 am – 11:30 am
Mon, July 12, 2021 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Mon, July 19, 2021 6:00 pm – 6:30 pm

To register, go to: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/2945405148965240335

Newly Retired? What to Expect
When you first retire you may experience several changes.

We’ll help prepare you for some of these changes by discussing:

• When and how to change your retirement benefit payment option.
• When you’ll receive tax information.
• What mailings you will receive.
• Why your monthly payment may change.
• Rules you must follow if you return to work for a position under the WRS.

Thu, July 15, 2021 11:00 am – 11:30 am
Wed, July 21, 2021 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Thu, July 29, 2021 6:00 pm – 6:30 pm

To register, go to: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/9085128655494175247

Overview of the Wisconsin Retirement System
Are you new to the Wisconsin Retirement System? We’ll let you know what to expect.

By the end of this presentation, you will be able to:

• Identify and explain the elements of the Wisconsin Retirement System.
• Explain how the WRS pension works.
• Identify benefits available through the WRS.
• Find resources for more information.

Wed, July 14, 2021 6:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Tue, July 27, 2021 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm

To register, go to: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/7009006611178040077

Additional Contributions
Looking to increase your WRS retirement? Learn how Additional Contributions can increase your WRS retirement benefit.

By the end of this presentation, you will be able to:

• Define additional contributions.
• Identify how additional contributions increase your retirement fund.
• Arrange to make additional contributions to your WRS account(s).
• Find and use ETF resources to calculate your additional contribution amount.

Mon, Aug 9, 2021 6:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Wed, Aug 18, 2021 11:00 am – 11:30 am
Tue, Aug 24, 2021 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm

To register, go to: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/2243724316597313293

Annuity Options
When you get your retirement estimate, you’ll see that there are many options for receiving your retirement benefit. You can choose to receive the payment for your life or extend it beyond your life to your loved ones. The choice is yours. We’ll discuss how each option impacts the size of your payment and affects your loved ones.

By the end of this presentation, you will be able to:

• Define and explain annuity, annuitant, beneficiary and named survivor.
• Compare the different annuity options.
• Find resources with more information.
• Identify the next steps for you to choose an annuity option.

Wed, Aug 4, 2021 6:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Wed, Aug 11, 2021 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Thu, Aug 26, 2021 11:00 am – 11:30 am

To register, go to: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/2370337478582501389

WRS Retirement Benefit Calculation Methods
Have you requested a retirement estimate? Thinking about it? In this webinar we’ll discuss how we calculate your retirement benefit.

Thu, Aug 5, 2021 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Wed, Aug 11, 2021 11:00 am – 11:30 am
Thu, Aug 19, 2021 6:00 pm – 6:30 pm

To register, go to: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/623379528302479885

Preparing for Your Retirement
Planning to retire in the next 1-10 years? Then this webinar is for you.

We’ll discuss:

• The money you and your employer have put towards your retirement account.
• How your retirement account grows through investments.
• When you can retire.
• Options for receiving your retirement benefit.
• Rules you must follow if you return to work after retiring.
• What happens to your account after you die.
• Changes to your health and life insurance in retirement.

Learn in a way that fits your schedule (workday or evening). Attend this presentation in a live webinar!

Wed, Jul 14, 2021 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Wed, Jul 28, 2021 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Tue, Aug 10, 2021 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Wed, Aug 25, 2021 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Thu, Sept 9, 2021 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Thu, Sept 23, 2021 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

To register, go to: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/2273159340156240144

Click here to register for a Webinar!

Register for Wisconsin Strong Women Webinars in July

Check out these Wisconsin Strong Women morning webinars, which are free of charge and presented by Summit Credit Union, a Wisconsin Strong partner. Register now!

Wisconsin Strong Women: Build Financial Courage and Redefine Your Life
Event: July 13
Every day, our money choices move us closer to or farther away from our goals and dreams. We’ll lead you through exercises that you can use to identify habits, emotions and relationships that are holding you back from what you really want to do. Leave inspired to redefine your feelings about money and claim your best life.

Register for session: July 13 at 8:30 a.m.

Wisconsin Strong Women: Exploring Your Life and Money Attitude
Event: July 20
Your life is a reflection of your thoughts. Positive or negative, they can impact your dreams, goals, and how you want to live your life. You might think positively about many areas of your life, but what’s your money attitude? If you are a saver, splurge spender, stasher, goal-setter or dreamer, all of these, can impact your life. In this session, you will explore your current money attitudes and behaviors. You’ll also create a plan to ask more questions, get advice, and own your money.

Register for session: July 20 at 8:30 a.m.

Wisconsin Strong Women: Money Feng Shui – Unclutter Your Life to Attract Wealth
Event: July 27
Do you have positive money energy or are negative money messages blocking your potential? At this session, you will get tips, tools, and advice for creating more intentional money habits to build wealth and invite abundance into your life. The activities and exercises will get you reflecting and give you time to create steps toward change. Rid yourself of money disorder to attract good energy and flow so you can shift your lifestyle and own your money.

Register for session: July 27 at 8:30 a.m.

Wisconsin Strong Women
The Wisconsin Strong Women financial wellness education series is a part of the Wisconsin Strong: Your Financial Security™ program, offered by the Department of Employee Trust Funds. Wisconsin Strong is designed to empower Wisconsin Retirement System members to maximize their WRS benefits, save for the future, and achieve financial wellness at any age. You’ll find free financial wellness education, resources, and tools at etf.wi.gov/wi-strong. Follow along at #WIStrongSecurity.

Industry Experts Discuss Challenges Women Face in Achieving Financial Security

Women face unique challenges to achieving financial wellness and security throughout their lives. The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the problem. Find out why and more important, explore solutions on how to overcome the challenges at a special virtual discussion with industry experts, presented by the Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds.

Thursday, June 24
12 to 1 p.m.

Kathy Blumenfeld, Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, is set to moderate Wisconsin Strong Women: Unique Challenges to Achieving Financial Security. Panelists are:

• • Lara Hinz, Director of Programs, Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement
  • Dr. Joelle Saad-Lessler, co-author of Still Shortchanged: An Update on Women’s Retirement Preparedness, a report for the National Institute on Retirement Security
  • Amy Crowe, Financial Education Specialist, Summit Credit Union

Topics include women’s pay inequality, caregiving, access to Social Security benefits, outliving retirement income, and other factors that impact a financially secure retirement. In addition, panelists will recommend actions that women can take to navigate and lessen the challenges at every stage of their financial journey.

The event is free of charge. Register now!

Learn more about the presenters and event.