Pension & Retirement Education Program

Many retirees wish they began focusing on financial and retirement planning much earlier in their lives. The truth is: No matter how far along you are in your career, careful financial and retirement planning are critical.

PREP is designed to help members of all ages prepare for retirement. PREP is structured to allow you to tailor the program to fit your needs. Stay for the entire seminar (see the full agenda) or just the modules below that would be of greatest significance to you:

• NYSTRS Benefits: Your pension, disability coverage, loans, vesting, death benefits. (8:45-10:15 a.m.)
• Financial Planning: Saving early, catching up, withdrawals, financial advisors. (10:30-11 a.m.)
• Social Security: Benefits, eligibility rules, when to collect, earning limits. (11-11:25 a.m.)
• Estate Planning: Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, health care proxies, living wills, long-term care. (11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.)
• Retirement — A New Beginning: Planning ahead, staying active and healthy, relationships, relocating. (1:30-2:30 p.m.)
• The Retirement Process: Retirement options, "resigning" vs. "retiring," choosing a retirement date, retirement checklist, monthly payments, taxes, earnings limitations on NYS public employment. (2:35-3:30 p.m.)

Seminars are held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with registration beginning at 8 a.m. Please note the timeframes above are the typical schedule, however, the times for modules may change depending on the availability of the presenters. There is no fee to attend and your spouse/companion is welcome to attend, but you must make a reservation in advance. (Note: These seminars are not designed for individual retirement counseling.)

PREP seminars often fill up, so book early. Can't attend a seminar now? We begin taking reservations for our three PREP schedules during the year in: mid-September (fall schedule); mid-December (winter/spring schedule); and, mid-May (summer schedule).