Be Well UC Helps You Learn How to Save Well

October is “

It’s YOUR Health

” month with Be Well UC and a big component of wellness that we often overlook is our financial wellness. 

Oct. 18-24 is National Retirement Security Week.  Be Well UC and your retirement benefits providers are ready to answer your questions and help you prepare for your future – no matter how close (or not so close) you are to retirement.

• Want to learn more about your Financial IQ?   Our Save Well page has the details about an online challenge to learn more about your financial IQ, provided by TIAA-CREF.  Click here to login and get started, as each 5-question quiz you complete by Oct. 31 adds your name as a possible winner for a $20 UC Bookstore.  More importantly, the results of the quiz will shed light on areas of financial wellness you may want to learn more about.
• Did you know you can meet with a retirement vendor right on campus? Representatives from several of our retirement plan vendors are available on campus for one-on-one appointments to discuss your retirement goals and help you determine what’s best for you.  Contact those you’d like to meet with directly and schedule your personalized appointment: Fall 2015 schedule/contact info.  
• Online resources-There are many resources available online including:

1. FeedthePig.org is a website provided by AICPA (American Institute of CPAs) to help you master your money, master your credit & debt and plan ahead.
2. ChoosetoSave.org - Ballpark E$timate is an interactive tool, with accompanying apps, that can help you determine how much you should save to fund a comfortable retirement.
3. WISER (Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement), in partnership with the US Administration on Aging, developed the National Resource Center on Women and Retirement Planning.  
4. MyMoney.gov provides information about how to spend, earn, save and invest, protect and borrow wisely, and includes a page with tools and checklists to get you on the right track.
5. Additional resources available at the bottom of the Save Well page.

• Not sure if the Windfall Elimination Provision affects you? If you missed the presentation from Sue Denny from the Social Security Administration, click here to review her slides to learn a bit more.  Still have questions? Try the online calculator provided by the Social Security Administration, or contact them in your preferred method: http://www.ssa.gov/agency/contact/

• Additional savings options are available anytime. Supplemental retirement savings plans under Internal Revenue Code 403(b), and 457 are available to anyone who receives a UC paycheck.  Learn more about this option for tax deferred savings opportunity to invest in your retirement.

• A quick to-do list.  As we get closer to our Annual Enrollment period (Nov. 1-30), we encourage you to log in to ESS (Employee Self Service) and review your current elections and determine what else you may want to consider, knowing that representatives will be available at the Benefits Fairs.  Questions you may want to ask yourself:

1. Do I have my Life Insurance beneficiary designated?
2. Am I enrolled in a supplemental retirement savings plan?  Should I be?  Should I increase my contributions?
3. Do I need to sit down with an advisor to review my current investments or options to invest?

Looking for a bit more guidance?  Make sure to Save the Date for the Benefits Fairs next month to meet with providers and staff who can help you determine what steps you may want to take during open enrollment.  

• Wednesday, Nov. 4, at UC Clermont
• Friday, Nov. 6, at the Kingsgate Marriott (Main Campus)
• Tuesday, Nov. 10, at UC Blue Ash

If you’d like to learn more about Be Well UC including how your privacy is protected, consider reviewing our

Frequently Asked Questions page

, which outlines major topic areas and includes a comprehensive listing of the FAQs.  If you have a question we haven’t answered,

contact us

– we’re here to help you succeed!