Your Retirement in Focus

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 [email protected].

For more information visit: www.trsga.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trsgeorgia

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdQHR__UTfknu9XAjNWsc5g

In the fall, open enrollment season causes members to reflect on what benefits they currently have and what they will probably need during the upcoming year.  Sonya Kinley, Chief Human Resources Officer at TRS, gives us some great tips on what to consider during this time of the year.  She even offers some advice for newly hired human resources professionals to become more effective in their roles.  Additionally, during open enrollment, members will pay close attention to updating their benefits including health, life, dental, and others, but never quite get around to checking their retirement accounts.  Winston Buckley, Director of Communications and Outreach, discusses the importance of having an online account, updating beneficiary information, and using the website to avoid scams.

 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 [email protected].

Host: Everett Crockett

Guests: Sonya Kinley, SPHR and Winston Buckley, CDMP

For more information visit: www.trsga.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trsgeorgia

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdQHR__UTfknu9XAjNWsc5g

Did you know that certain retirees can come back to work in a full-time capacity and continue to receive their retirement benefit at the same time?  Well, House Bill 385 allows this type of employment for retirees with 30 or more years of service.  During this episode, we discuss the main provisions of the bill, eligibility, rules, and even some investment decisions you should consider.

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 [email protected].

Host: Everett Crockett

Guests: Dr. L.C. (Buster) Evans, Ed.D., Christy Gray, Paige Donaldson, Dale Alexander

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 and have questions about working in retirement?  Or are you already a TRS retiree and have had thoughts about your investment strategy in retirement?  Well, you have tuned in to the right episode!  Dale Alexander has returned to share some information about investing as a retiree and we also revisited our Return To Work episode number 6 which covers details about working as a TRS retiree.

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 [email protected].

Host: Everett Crockett

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 replay of one our episodes from the TRS Vault.  

Get out your pen and pad and get ready to take notes as Everett Crockett goes over the plan options and important information for you as you prepare for the application process.

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 [email protected].

Host: Everett Crockett

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 [email protected].

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 [email protected].

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 [email protected].

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