Your Retirement in Focus

Join us in a republish of a previous episode to help you get prepared for your retirement. Are you considering retiring this year?  Have you met with one of our counselors or received an estimate of your retirement benefits?  These are just a couple of the topics that are discussed in this episode.  Carlos Marshall, New Retirement Manager, and Winston Buckley, Communications Director, give best practices to ensure you receive the necessary information to make the application process as easy as possible for you.  We also discuss TRS outreach events, working in retirement, and service purchases.   If you haven't had the chance to meet with us one-on-one in a virtual or in-person format, and are within 2 years of retirement eligibility, be sure to log in to your TRS account online and register for a session today! We want to hear from our members! Please email the show for topic inquiries, questions and comments! Contact us at podcast@trsga.com. Host: Everett Crockett For more information visit: www.trsga.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trsgeorgia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdQHR__UTfknu9XAjNWsc5g Timestamps 00:00 - Intro 02:06 - Member Resources 04:44 - Pre-Retirement Counseling Sessions 06:16 - TRS Events & How to Request Them 12:27 - Employer Advertising for TRS Events 14:13 - Summer Retirement Application Deadlines 14:44 - Sick Leave Balances 15:15 - Service Purchases & Air Time 16:46 - Requesting a Benefit Estimate 17:35 - How to Apply for Retirement 19:09 - Options for Working in Retirement 24:40 - Final Recommendations 27:56 - Outro

2022 has been a year for the record books for TRS. This has been the 1st full calendar year since the pandemic's beginning that our Atlanta and Macon offices have been open to the public.  Our daily operations have not ceased, yet many processes have transformed from how they were years ago.  Not to mention, TRS has added several improvements to become both more efficient and productive.  Join us as we hear from Dr. L.C. (Buster) Evans, Ed.D., about the system's accolades, accomplishments, fund performance and more. Host: Everett Crockett Guests: Dr. L.C. (Buster) Evans, Ed.D. If you haven't had the chance to meet with us one-on-one in a virtual or in-person format, and are within 2 years of retirement eligibility, be sure to log in to your TRS account online and register for a session today! We want to hear from our members! Please email the show for topic inquiries, questions and comments! Contact us at podcast@trsga.com. For more information visit: www.trsga.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trsgeorgia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdQHR__UTfknu9XAjNWsc5g

Are you considering retiring this year?  Have you met with one of our counselors or received an estimate of your retirement benefits?  These are just a couple of the topics that are discussed in this episode.  Carlos Marshall, New Retirement Manager, and Winston Buckley, Communications Director, give best practices to ensure you receive the necessary information to make the application process as easy as possible for you.  We also discuss TRS outreach events, working in retirement, and service purchases.   If you haven't had the chance to meet with us one-on-one in a virtual or in-person format, and are within 2 years of retirement eligibility, be sure to log in to your TRS account online and register for a session today! We want to hear from our members! Please email the show for topic inquiries, questions and comments! Contact us at podcast@trsga.com. Host: Everett Crockett For more information visit: www.trsga.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trsgeorgia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdQHR__UTfknu9XAjNWsc5g

In this episode we bring you highlights from some of the best parts of interviews we had throughout the year.  In these clips you'll hear information about things to consider as an active member, considerations for retirement, innovations at TRS, and even information about the ERS plan.  Guests in this episode include: Dr. L.C. "Buster" Evans - Executive Director of TRS Mr. Jim Potvin - Executor Director of ERS Paige Donaldson - Director of Employer Services & Contact Management at TRS Dale Alexander - President & Founder of Alexander & Co. Danny Kofke - Founder of The Wealthy Teacher Jerry LeBlanc - Retirement Planner & Training Coordinator at TRS Niki Morse - Counseling Manager of Member Services at TRS Cherie Brown - Supervisor of Employer Services at TRS Rhonda Lastie - Retired TRS member We want to hear from our members! Please email the show for topic inquiries, questions and comments! Contact us at podcast@trsga.com. Host: Everett Crockett For more information visit: www.trsga.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trsgeorgia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdQHR__UTfknu9XAjNWsc5g Million Dollar Wagon - https://milliondollarwagon.com/ The Wealthy Teacher - http://wealthyteacher.weebly.com/ Employees' Retirement System of Georgia - https://www.ers.ga.gov/

Join us as we wrap up our second season! This episode will highlight TRS's accomplishments throughout the calendar year of 2021.  It has been a year that has been full of challenges and surprises but TRS has continued to provide excellent customer service to its retirees.  Dr. L.C. "Buster" Evans, Executive Director of TRS, joins us to give an update about the plan's assets, key metrics about the system, as well as updates to the State Charitable Contributions Program and more!  We want to hear from our members! Please email the show for topic inquiries, questions and comments! Contact us at podcast@trsga.com. Host: Everett Crockett Guest: Dr. L.C. "Buster" Evans For more information visit: www.trsga.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trsgeorgia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdQHR__UTfknu9XAjNWsc5g

In this episode we had the opportunity to interview Danny Kofke, The Wealthy Teacher, as he describes just how he lives a wealthy lifestyle on a teacher's salary.  Danny shares both professional and personal testimony to give great advice on just how he and his family were able to overcome life's challenges and still stay on track to plan for financial security in retirement.  As a former teacher, Danny can relate to the challenges that many educators face with keeping up with the day-to-day demands along with life that continues to come full speed. Danny’s love of teaching and personal finance has led him to write four books.  His everyday approach to handling money has led to appearances on numerous television shows including Fox & Friends, The CBS Early Show, CNN’s Newsroom, The 700 Club and The Clark Howard Show.  He has also been interviewed on over 600 radio shows and featured in a number of publications including USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Yahoo.com, Money Magazine, Consumer Reports, Reader's Digest and The Huffington Post. Danny's wife, Tracy, was a first grade teacher before becoming a stay-at-home to their two daughters - Ava and Ella.  She recently returned to the classroom.  Despite living on Danny's $42,000 yearly teaching salary for eight years, the Kofke's are on track to pay off their final debt - the mortgage - this year, have a one year emergency fund in place, will retire with a sizable nest and, most importantly, live wealthy lives on less. Danny wants to show others if this school teacher can do well financially, they can too! http://wealthyteacher.weebly.com/ www.trsga.com

In this episode we sat down with Dale Alexander of Alexander & Company as he shares personal testimony and his professional experience with educators across the state of Georgia.  Dale discusses how the Teachers Retirement System's monthly benefit serves as a cornerstone in retirement planning for so many.  He also gives invaluable advice to active members to help them make wise decisions to prepare for retirement.  Alexander & Company produced The Million Dollar Wagon video which has had a great impact by encouraging educators to continue in their fields and serves as a reminder of just how well a pension stacks up against defined contribution plans.   Please subscribe and be sure to follow us on Facebook and YouTube as well by searching Teachers Retirement System of GA. www.trsga.com www.milliondollarwagon.com

In this episode, we interview retired TRS member, Mrs. Rhonda Lastie, who served at Athens Technical College.  Mrs. Lastie shares a wealth of knowledge and gives great advice to active members on what they should be doing to prepare for retirement.  Also, she gives helpful tips to our current retirees to enjoy their retirement to the fullest.  You do not want to miss this episode!   Please subscribe and be sure to follow us on Facebook and YouTube as well by searching Teachers Retirement System of GA.

In this episode, we will discuss things you should be thinking about as a new member of TRS. This is the last episode in this series and we discuss some things outside of TRS you should think about as well.  It's never too early to start planning for your retirement and financial literacy is an important part of it! Please subscribe and be sure to follow us on Facebook and YouTube as well by searching Teachers Retirement System of GA.

In this episode, we will discuss things you should be thinking about as a new member of TRS. We are doing things a little different and will be releasing this episode in parts with this one being part three of four.  Jerry LeBlanc, CFEI, Employer Training Coordinator and Retirement Planner at TRS, discusses the TRS formula, and things you should be thinking about early in your career as it pertains to your retirement planning. Please subscribe and be sure to follow us on Facebook and YouTube as well by searching Teachers Retirement System of GA.

In this episode, we will discuss things you should be thinking about as a new member of TRS. We are doing things a little different and will be releasing this episode in parts with this one being part two of four.  Shaleste Miller, Retirement Planner II at TRS, discusses the importance of starting to plan early in your career for retirement and touches on the importance of compounding interest. Please subscribe and be sure to follow us on Facebook and YouTube as well by searching Teachers Retirement System of GA.

In this episode, we will discuss things you should be thinking about as a new member of TRS. We are doing things a little different and will be releasing this episode in parts with this one being the first of four.  Join Shaleste Miller, Retirement Planner II, and Jerry LeBlanc, Retirement Planner/Employer Training Coordinator, as they provide valuable information about TRS and your future. Please subscribe and be sure to follow us on Facebook and YouTube as well by searching Teachers Retirement System of GA.

For the month of July we will be doing things just different in the way that we release our episodes.  Instead of releasing the entire episode at once, we will publish our podcasts in parts each week on Saturday mornings at 11:00 AM.  This will allow for you to digest all of the valuable information provided.  We know that retirement planning can be a daunting task, but we at TRS are here to help.   This month we will be focusing on our new members of TRS, but this information is valuable to all of our members.  Thanks for the dedication to our young and adult learners across the state!

TRS Members, are you thinking about retiring early? Are you wondering what happens with your retirement benefit? What about penalties and sick leave? Listen as we dive into Early Retirement and eligibility requirements. Now that you have decided to retire, would you like to know where to apply and what to fill out online? Follow along with us as we go step-by-step through the online application process.  Host: Everett Crockett

Join us as we sit down with the Executive Director of the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia, Jim Potvin.   He will discuss plan options, PSERS, spending versus saving for retirement and so much more! He answers many of the questions that many state employees may have about their retirement plan including sharing his thoughts on the future of pensions.  Jim Potvin is the Executive Director of the Employees’ Retirement System of Georgia (ERSGA). He joined ERSGA in February, 2009 as the Deputy Director, after 15 years in private industry working in retirement plan administration and consulting. He was appointed as the Executive Director in February, 2012. Jim began his career as a pension administrator for Georgia-Pacific Corporation, before moving into a consulting role with Arthur Andersen LLP. He later joined Hewitt Associates, a global HR consulting firm, as the Location Manager for the RFM Pension Administration outsourcing group. At ERSGA, Jim is responsible for the administration and operations of five defined benefit plans, two life insurance plans, and three defined contribution plans covering more than 125,000 active members and 73,000 retirees. A native of Connecticut, Jim holds a B.A. in Mathematical Economics and Managerial Studies from Rice University, and an M.S. from Georgia State University. He is President of the National Association of State Retirement Administrators, and a member of the National Association of Government Defined Contribution Administrators, Inc., the National Conference of State Social Security Administrators, and the Government Finance Officers Association.

The Member Services Division of the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia provides counseling sessions, process new retirement applications and provide refunds to our members. Take a listen as we learn more about how this department functions and assist TRS members with retirement.  Guests: Dina Jones and Niki Morse

In this bonus episode, our Executive Director answers a few questions sent in by one of our listeners. We discuss the current financial stability of The Teachers Retirement System of Georgia. Contact us at podcast@trsga.com. Host: Everett Crockett

Do you have member or employer questions? Did you ever wonder how TRS assists its members? Do you have questions and are unsure of how to reach us?  How do I register for a TRS account? How do I reset my password? What are contributions? Who are TRS-covered employers? What happens after I obtain 40 years of service? Director, Paige Donaldson, Contact Management Supervisor, Alicia Sanders and Operations Manager Cherie Brown are all geared up to answer all of your questions!  For comments or questions: podcast@trsga.com Host: Everett Crocket

Join us as we wrap up our first season! This episode will highlight TRS's SCCP campaign, Are You Ready To Apply For Retirement, Retirement Plans and Working After Retirement episodes, TRS updates and more! We want to hear from our members! Please email the show for topic inquiries, questions and comments! Contact us at podcast@trsga.com.  Host: Everett Crockett  For more information visit: www.trsga.com

Are you wondering about payments after death? Do you need clarity on primary and secondary beneficiaries? Do you have questions about sick leave and receiving your benefit check? Listen as we dive into our Retirement Services Division and get all of your questions answered. Join us as we continue our discussion of beneficiaries with Jennifer Alridge in this podcast. We also sit down with Master Payroll Operations Manager, Evangeline Griffin to discuss pension checks, sick leave credit, IRS levy, bankruptcies, recalculations, and so much more!!