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In this issue:

• From Anthony's Desk
• October is National Retirement Security Month
• SECURE 2.0 Act raises age for RMDs
• System financials are available for your review
• New video feature available

From Anthony's Desk

Notes from ORS Director Anthony Estell

Welcome to your September 2023 issue of the Proactive newsletter.

Saving for the future is important when it comes to your financial and retirement security. Setting clear goals and building good saving habits help prepare you not only for the major milestones, financial emergencies, and the necessities in life, but also for the activities and things you enjoy today.

Savings, checking, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit (CDs) can boost your savings by earning interest while keeping your money safe.

With all the changes over the past few months, many banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions — brick-and-mortar and online — are offering more competitive rates on their products.  It may benefit you to check on the rates of return on your accounts. With a little looking around, you can likely find higher-yield interest rates, which can result in real additional savings for you.

Saving and investing are habits, not destinations. We’re here to help you discover practices to save well, reduce debt, and build toward your retirement and financial security.

Retirement is about preparing. That’s why the Michigan Office of Retirement Services and Voya Financial work to provide you with useful resources, including for National Retirement Security Month in October.

We hope you find helpful information in this issue of Proactive.

Anthony Estell, director
Michigan Office of Retirement Services

October is National Retirement Security Month

Living in an ever-changing financial landscape, saving enough for retirement is a genuine worry for many.  More than half of Americans (56%) say they are concerned that they won’t be able to achieve a financially secure retirement, according to the National Institute for Retirement Security.

While so many struggle with uncertainty, you can look ahead by taking an active role with your finances. Get to know your spending habits, set a realistic budget, maximize your savings for retirement, and other needs to get started.

Join the Michigan Office of Retirement Services (ORS) and Voya Financial as we host in-person and online events throughout October. In-person events are scheduled in Lansing on Wednesday, Oct. 11, and in Detroit on Thursday, Oct. 26. For more regarding in-person and online events, as well as registration information, check out our National Retirement Security Month website.

Be sure to follow ORS on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube as we provide resources and share tips to help you reach your goals this National Retirement Security Month.

SECURE 2.0 Act raises age for RMDs

In December 2022, the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) 2.0 Act raised the age in which individuals need to take a required minimum distribution (RMD).

RMDs are the minimum amounts, as set by the IRS, that individuals must begin taking withdrawals from retirement plan accounts, like a 401(k), 403(b), or 457(b) accounts. More than the minimum can be taken but, if the minimum is not taken, the account owner is subject to an excise tax the SECURE 2.0 Act drops to 25%, formerly at 50%. It may be lower than 25% if the withdrawal is corrected in a timely manner.

Beginning in 2023, individuals must take their first RMD by age 73, and in 2033 by age 75. If you turned 72 in 2022, or earlier, you must adhere to the earlier rules, which would have meant taking the RMD by age 72.

The rules are slightly different for those who contributed to a 403(b) plan before 1987. See the IRS FAQs, Q16.

Many retirement plan administrators, like Voya, will send letters to those participants who need to take an RMD. Even so, the responsibility rests with the taxpayer to take the distribution at the appropriate time.

System financials are available for your review

The Michigan Office of Retirement Services (ORS) cost-effectively provides retirement pension and retiree healthcare plans to more than 310,000 retirees. With almost 590,000 total customers, ORS provides these services at about $70 per active member and retiree. This, according to the latest report from CEM Benchmarking, was $35 below the national peer average of $105 per active member and retiree.

Each year, the Judges Retirement System releases its financial information through the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and the Summary Annual Report. ORS also produces a condensed, two-page version that is published in the Connections retiree newsletter. We’re sharing it with you, as an active member, to better inform you of the overall health of system.

New video feature available

Hear answers to commonly asked questions in less than two minutes when you view the new ORS video feature, “Ask Our Experts.”

In this edition, Kendra clears up confusion regarding Medicare commercials, and.Jason provides guidance for snowbirds.

If you have a general question for our experts, send it to ORS‑Outreach@Michigan.gov and we may feature it in a future video.