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June 2025 – Information from your retirement system |
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Welcome to your summer 2025 issue of the Proactive newsletter.
This quarterly newsletter is only part of fulfilling our mission at the Michigan Office of Retirement Services: Empower you for a successful today and a secure tomorrow.
We strive to provide you with information when and where you need it. We are constantly working to improve our services for you, including the quality of our communications, response times, feedback, and engagement.
I want to share a few of our customer service metrics with you to give you a snapshot of the volume of work we do. During the 2024 calendar year, we:
- Answered 234,150 phone calls.
- Responded to 41,087 questions on the miAccount Message Board.
- Received a 95.1% Customer Service Call Center satisfaction rating.
- Processed and approved 6,669 retirement applications.
As I mentioned before, we are always working to be better. We use your feedback to continuously improve our processes. We want you to have the most accurate and timely information that helps with the decisions you need to make to achieve your retirement outcomes.
Your well-being, success, and financial independence in your day to day and retirement are important to us.
Anthony Estell, executive director
Michigan Office of Retirement Services
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Did you know you can take free video-based online courses at your own pace and at no cost?
Whether you need to build your professional skills or just want personal enrichment, look no further than your local library.
Many public libraries across the United States partner with LinkedIn Learning, an online learning platform providing thousands of courses and tutorials in business, leadership, technology, and creative fields like photography and art.
Want to take free music lessons? Need to improve your communication skills? How about earning a professional certificate in Microsoft, Adobe, or another software? It’s all available through LinkedIn Learning when you access the service through your library’s online portal.
Although there is a cost associated with LinkedIn Learning, courses are completely free when using your library card.
If you don’t already have a library card, you can get one for free at your local branch. To create your LinkedIn Learning account, go to your library’s website, click the LinkedIn Learning link, and enter your library card number and PIN. Browse the course list or search for a specific topic to find video-based courses taught by experts.
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Estate planning isn't just for the wealthy — it’s for anyone who wants to protect their loved ones and ensure their wishes are honored.
With a few simple steps, you can safeguard your future and provide clear guidance for your heirs.
Start by visiting the Michigan Department of Treasury’s MI Money Matters website, where you can create a free account and access estate planning resources.
Your plan begins with three essential documents:
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Will: Specifies who inherits your property after death. Use free tools or consult an estate attorney for complex cases.
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Power of attorney (POA): Grants a trusted person the authority to manage your finances if you become incapacitated.
- Advance healthcare directive: Includes a living will (your end-of-life care preferences) and a healthcare POA (someone to make medical decisions on your behalf).
MI Money Matters’ free online tools can help you create a basic estate plan. MI Money Matters also offers educational videos and next-step guidance. For complex estates, consider working with an attorney or financial planner.
Beyond estate planning, MI Money Matters provides personal finance education, offering insights into saving, borrowing, loan repayment, retirement planning, and more through interactive tools and customized action plans.
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Over the next several months you will likely be taking time off from work. In addition to addressing the immediate need of vacation or family activities, why not use some of that time to practice for retirement?
People practice their swing before golfing, or test drive a vehicle before making a purchase. Why should retirement receive any less pre-planning?
Retirees responded to a Michigan Office of Retirement Services Facebook post, providing retirement advice from their own experience. You can practice their advice or your own ideas while on vacation. This may help you determine what activities you may wish to pursue once you are retired.
Here are a few of the suggestions received from our retirees:
- Make new friends when you travel.
- Learn new hobbies.
- Do things for yourself and others, maybe volunteer.
- Keep your body and mind active.
- Live simply
Whatever you may decide to do during retirement, if you practice it before you are retired, you will be more likely to be happy doing it when you reach retirement.
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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.
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Mental health can’t wait. Are you feeling overly emotional? Having difficulty concentrating? Be aware of the common warning signs of mental health struggles, and visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness website for a screening and full list of symptoms.
Mental health encompasses your psychological, emotional, and social well-being and is connected closely to your physical health and ability to cope. Millions of people (estimated to be 1 in 5 U.S. adults) are affected by mental illness.
Beyond seeking help from a professional for therapeutic and medical intervention, consider the use of self-help strategies and resources, especially when you’re struggling. Find creative ways to heal. Some people may find writing, painting, dancing, performing, or singing to be a great outlet to work through complex emotions.
Check out Mental Health America’s Mental Health Month Action Guide to DIY your way to peak mental health. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available by calling or texting 988.
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