Pension & Retirement Education Program

Many retirees wish they began focusing on financial and retirement planning much earlier in their lives. Don’t let that happen to you! No matter how far along you are in your career, careful financial and retirement planning are critical. That’s why our Pension & Retirement Education Program (PREP) seminar is so valuable.

The PREP seminar will help you understand your NYSTRS benefits while also providing essential retirement-planning tips. This information will help you develop a plan to achieve your retirement goals and dreams.

Topics covered during this half-day seminar include:

• NYSTRS Benefits: Your pension, disability coverage, loans, vesting and death benefits.
• Financial Planning: Saving early, catching up, withdrawals and financial advisors.
• Social Security: Benefits, eligibility rules, when to collect and earning limits.
• Estate Planning: Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, health care proxies and living wills.
• The Retirement Process: Retirement options, "resigning" vs. "retiring," choosing a retirement date, retirement checklist, monthly payments, taxes and earnings limitations on NYS public employment.

Seminars are held from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., with registration beginning at 8 a.m. 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).