New resources to help you prepare for your post-work life

Whether you feel anxious about or in control of your retirement planning, the Benefits Service Center has new resources to support you in 2022.

This year, the full Pre-Retirement Program will be held twice: April 4 to 14 and Sept. 12 to 23. The virtual sessions will cover financial and legal planning, Medicare, JHU retiree benefits, and nonfinancial considerations. A summer Pre-Retirement Program will host a pared-down version of the spring and fall programs.

Six new webinars will be offered along with those on topics of perennial interest to future retirees. Dates, times, and registration information for all events can be found on the Benefits & Worklife website by clicking on the Pre-Retirement Programs tab. Here's a quick look at some of the offerings:

Learn about JHU's new financial education and consultation services available to you through Marsh McLennan Agency's ProsperWise. Attend the upcoming webinar for an introduction on how to get the most from this digital platform and how to schedule a free consultation with an independent investment adviser.

Legal planning is critical at any age or stage of career. Attend the webinar Legal Protection for Your Family's Future to learn why it is important for you to have an advance medical directive, financial power-of-attorney, and a will or trust.

For mid-career faculty and staff, TIAA will host a webinar called Tomorrow in Focus: Saving for Your Ideal Retirement, and Yuval Bar-Or, an associate professor of practice at JHU's Carey Business School, will present a webinar titled Pillars of Wealth: The Basics of Investing for Mid-Career Employees.

Are you ready to plan for health care in retirement? A session called Understanding Health Savings Accounts will teach you how an HSA can be a financial tool to help pay for health care costs now as well as into retirement. Attend Transitioning to Medicare for a deep dive into the health insurance program—what it is and when and how to enroll; you will learn how Medigap policies and Advantage Plans work. Tune in to Mercer Marketplace 365+ Retiree to better understand how this service, available to JHU retirees, can provide consultations to help you make decisions about Medigap policies, Advantage Plans, and more.

For late-career faculty and staff, Benefits & Worklife is offering a new series of webinars hosted by TIAA:

• Paying Yourself: Income Options in Retirement
• Attention to Detail: Financial Finishing Touches for Women
• Retirement Income Diversification: What, Why, and How
• Social Security Basics

If you want to learn about eligibility for retiree status and JHU benefits in retirement, attend JHU Benefits in Retirement. Or register for Retire Right to learn about nonfinancial aspects of retirement preparation and tips on how you might use your employee benefits in your planning.

In addition to the expert-led webinars, Benefits & Worklife will be kicking off a new series of facilitated peer-support groups called Retirement Readiness, during which attendees can exchange thoughts, concerns, and resources about the psychological and emotional aspects of retirement. Conversations may include how you will spend your time, how retirement may impact your relationships, and how to find your purpose. JHU retirees will be guest speakers. Space is limited, so you are encouraged to register in advance.