Welcome to your March Proactive newsletter. 

Heads up: Changes are happening with our online content to enhance your experience. 

We strive to meet new federal web accessibility standards by April 24. The State of Michigan — and other state and local governments — is doing so under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. 

These upgrades are on our websites, software applications like miAccount, newsletters, emails, documents, social media, YouTube videos, and the Voya Financial-managed State of Michigan 401(k) and 457 Plans. 

These steps are to better support you in your retirement journey, ensuring equal access for everyone.

Every financial story starts somewhere. Your story begins with you. 

To help, the Michigan Office of Retirement Services (ORS) is taking part in America Saves Week. Our financial empowerment campaign runs April 5-11. 

No matter where you are or want to go, be sure you: 

• Build a strong foundation.
• Expect the unexpected.
• Plan with purpose.
• Tackle debt with confidence.
• Focus on your future. 

Watch for emails from ORS and State of Michigan 401(k) and 457 Plans manager Voya Financial. 

Discover more on the ORS social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.

Wherever you are in your journey to retirement, keeping your personal information current is an important step in protecting yourself and those who depend on you.  

Below are steps you should take at least once a year with your employer and personal accounts to ensure your records and future retirement stay on track. 

 1. Confirm or update your demographic information  

Your demographic information (name, address, marital status, etc.) must always be current with your employer and personal accounts. This can help prevent delays in benefit processing, minimize interruptions in important communications, and protect your beneficiary designations. 

Notify your employer and personal account administrators promptly of life changes such as marriage, divorce, birth of a child, etc.  

 2. Keep your beneficiaries up to date 

Your beneficiary designations determine who receives benefits when you die. This applies to benefits, investment account balances, or life insurance whether through work or a private account. Review beneficiaries regularly and update them after major life events. Keeping these aligned avoids confusion and protects your loved ones. 

 3. Maintain a current address on file 

If you’ve applied to retire, it’s especially important to have a personal (non-work) email address on file with us. Employer email access often ends at retirement. A personal email address will help you receive important retirement updates as well as access online retirement resources. A personal email can aid with uninterrupted communication before, during, and after retirement. 

Are you getting married or going through a divorce? These big life changes can impact your retirement plans. 

Take some time to review your finances, retirement goals, and your contribution rates to keep your retirement on track. Make sure your beneficiaries are up to date on all your retirement accounts.  

If you have a pension, log in to miAccount to update your pension beneficiaries. If you have retirement savings in the State of Michigan 401(k) and 457 Plans, log in to your Plans account to update your beneficiaries and to change your contribution rates.  

If you’ve moved, notify your employer and they’ll update your address with ORS and Voya Financial. If your name changed, notify ORS by using the Name Change Request for Active Employees (R1131X) form. Also contact Voya at 800-748-6128 to report a marriage, divorce, or name change.