Life is a story, and retirement is just the next chapter. As retirement grows closer, you may be struggling with one of the hardest questions: What happens next?

As University of Colorado faculty and staff approach this next transition, Employee Services is here to help. Each year, we host Retirement Ready — a series of educational sessions designed to help faculty and staff nearing retirement age outline their next chapters and create the retirement story that suits them.

Be the author of your story with Retirement Ready

Anyone within five years of retirement should begin planning as soon as possible, and the Retirement Ready virtual series is a great way to learn more. This year’s Retirement Ready presentations include webinars hosted by TIAA, PERA, Social Security and Medicare, as well as on-demand courses from Employee Services.

Watch on-demand courses

Employees should prepare for the speaker series by visiting the Retirement Ready website to access details on CU’s benefits for retirees, review guides and checklists and watch one of our retirement prep courses: University of Colorado 401(a) Retiree Benefits or University of Colorado PERA DB Retiree Benefits. These courses are available year-round from the Retirement Ready homepage.

Webinar schedule

Register for the Retirement Ready virtual sessions that apply to your retirement plan enrollment.

• Feb. 25 — Pre-Retirement Planning Workshop (PERA enrollees only): This PERA workshop will guide you through three key steps to help you retire with confidence: how to estimate your future retirement income, identify expenses and address any gaps that might get in the way of reaching your retirement goals.
• Feb. 26 — Set your retirement date: Understand the factors to get you to your goals: For anyone starting to think seriously about when to retire, this webinar takes you through steps of deciding when the time is right, including estimating retirement expenses, closing any income gaps and understanding key milestones that can impact your retirement finances.
• Feb. 27 — Social Security Basics: Social Security is a large part of retiring and one that often leaves people confused. This interactive lecture, hosted by Social Security, provides clarity on Social Security retirement benefits, pre-retirement planning and more.
• March 3 — Medicare 101: This presentation covers the four basic parts of Medicare: hospital insurance, medical insurance, Medicare Advantage plans and prescription drug plans. Experts from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will detail how Medicare works with other insurance and provide helpful informational resources. The final 30 minutes will be reserved for questions.
• March 4 — Retirement Process Meeting (PERA enrollees only): Designed for PERA participants who are 1–2 years from retirement, this webinar outlines everything you need to apply for retirement with confidence. You’ll learn about the forms you’ll need to complete, how and when to submit your forms, option selection, taxes and more.
• March 9 — Estate Planning: Major life events can impact your long-term financial goals. Learn how to handle your finances without losing sight of retirement and manage your financial well-being during times of transition and grief.
• March 11 — PERACare (65 and older) (PERA enrollees only): Learn about the PERACare health benefits program, including eligibility, pre-Medicare and Medicare plan choices, prescription benefits and other subjects.
• March 12 — How to get the most out of your retirement income: Whether you’re new to managing your finances or want to improve your current financial practices, this webinar will help you learn how to manage your money and balance your priorities so you can enjoy your retirement while maintaining a strong savings foundation for the long run.

Register today for Retirement Ready.