WRS teachers: Here’s your opportunity to elect two members to the Teachers Retirement Board. Three candidates are vying for two seats on the Board. Review their statements and vote!More Election >
Helping Your Future
Self by
Robert Conlin, ETF Secretary
When I started with the State of Wisconsin nearly 25 years ago, I
was fortunate to have a grizzled, experienced colleague as a sort of mentor to
show me the tricks of the trade. “Dan” shared advice and insights gleaned from
years of doing the job that helped this newbie avoid many a painful or
embarrassing mistake and made me a better and more valuable employee.
Interestingly, I think, the best piece of advice he gave me had nothing to do
with the job and everything to do with my future well-being. More
ETF >
Looking
Back at 2016 and Forward to 2017 by Michael Williamson,
SWIB Executive Director
The start of a new year is always exciting. The change of the
calendar from December to January gives us the opportunity to look back at and
celebrate our successes from the past year. It is also a time to identify
opportunities that lie ahead. As investors, we are no different than many of
you, we take a step back and look at the past year’s performance, while
looking forward to identify opportunities and potential challenges. More SWIB >
SWIB has announced
preliminary 2016 investment returns of 8.5% for the Core Trust Fund and 10.6%
for the Variable Trust Fund. How will this affect your WRS account? More Investment Returns >
Join Naveen and the thousands of other WRS employees who have jumped in and assessed what they know, and need to do, in order to improve their financial well-being. It starts with a confidential and secure, 10-minute online survey that will teach you about your levels of financial knowledge, self-confidence, stresses and behaviors. Once you’ve completed the survey, you will have access to free online tutorials and free financial coaching. The Challenge is also open to friends and family members! More Financial Fitness >
New Technology Puts SWIB at Industry Forefront
SWIB is once again leading the way among public pension funds by implementing new technology that supports a move toward in-house investment management across multiple investment strategies. More Technology >
A solid understanding of risk allows SWIB to better manage opportunities, trade-offs and costs involved with different investment approaches and increases the chances that we will “make money”. More Managing Risk >
The Group Insurance Board will
be reinstating the exclusion of benefits and services related to gender
identity if four contingencies are met. One of the contingencies has already
been met with a federal court’s preliminary injunction. The Board meets next on
February 8 to continue deliberations on health insurance program structural
changes for 2018, which may include self-insurance and/or regionalization. More Health Insurance >
Q. When should I request a
retirement estimate and when should I apply?
A.You should request your retirement estimate approximately
six to 12 months before you retire. We can accept your retirement application
up to 90 days before the date you terminate employment.More Estimate and Application >
Members Like Virtual Appointments!
ETF is offering a new service for members who are within
a year of retirement: virtual retirement appointments. These appointments are
convenient (no travel time) and easy to schedule. More Retirement Appointments >
ETF Earns Honors for Education on Retirement Planning, Security
ETF’s
EMPOWER campaign and the Wisconsin Deferred Compensation Program (WDC) have
been recognized for effectively increasing awareness of retirement planning and
financial security. Outcome: Women participating in the WDC have increased
their pre-tax savings by 3% and their post-tax contributions by 10%. More Awards >
Other News & Features
ETF
Receives Performance Award
ETF has received the Challenger
award through the Wisconsin Forward Award program, in recognition of its strong
commitment to best practices in business performance and organizational
excellence. More Challenger Award >
A look at WRS Financials
Sound funding and plan design principles keep the WRS
financially strong. It’s our responsibility to let you know how the WRS is
doing. More Financials >
ETF Seeks Individuals with Abandoned Accounts
Every January ETF publishes a notice of individuals age 70
or older who have abandoned WRS accounts. Members or their heirs have 10 years
after published notification to apply for the benefit. More Abandoned Accounts >
Many Ways to Stay
Informed About Your Benefits
ETF continually looks for ways in which you can make fully informed decisions
about your WRS benefits. This includes providing quality, convenient and
easily-accessible information and resources that work for you, on your
timetable. More Informed Decisions >
Villa Recognized Among Top Investment Leaders
SWIB Chief Investment
Officer David Villa has been named to Chief Investment Officer magazine’s
Power 100 list, a ranking of investment leaders from around the world. More Villa Recognized >
Improved Well
Wisconsin Program for 2017
Employees
and their spouses/domestic partners enrolled in the State of Wisconsin or
Wisconsin Public Employers Group Health Insurance Program now have access to an
improved Well Wisconsin Program through StayWell. More Well Wisconsin >
ETF, SWIB Board
Meetings 2017
Find out about meeting dates for the WRS governing boards,
the Group Insurance Board and the SWIB Board of Trustees. More 2017 Meetings >
WRS Calculators
Request Benefit Estimate