Pension Sense blog | December 28, 2021

Whether you’re adventuring in the snow, spending quiet time with your family and friends, or something in between, we hope you’re enjoying your well-deserved holiday vacation.

Once you get a moment to sit down and reflect before returning to school, please consider your long-term financial goals and how CalSTRS can help.

With that in mind, here are five facts every CalSTRS member should know:

1. Boost your pension with Pension2®

CalSTRS Pension2, a voluntary retirement plan with flexible 403(b), Roth 403(b) and 457(b) options for complementary savings, features low fees and expenses, offers tax-advantaged contributions, and provides objective advice and planning services at no additional cost.

2. Visit a CalSTRS office for select services

We gradually started reopening our in-person member service centers in October. At these offices, members can currently drop off forms, have documents reviewed for accuracy and completeness, and get answers to questions that can be addressed within a few minutes. You can call 800-228-5453 and select option 3, or send us a secure online message via myCalSTRS to request an appointment. More services will be available soon; please subscribe to this blog for the latest information.

3. Try our online benefit calculators

There’s no need to second-guess what your retirement income will be: we have five retirement planning calculators available online to help you with those important calculations at any point in your career.

4. Read up on everything CalSTRS

If you prefer to learn about your retirement benefits by reading instead of attending webinars or seminars, we have you covered. Our diverse array of educational member publications includes the comprehensive Member Handbook, fact sheets, and guides on working after retirement, determining disability and survivor benefits, purchasing service credit and much more.

5. Learn how our portfolio protects your pensions

Earlier this year, the Teachers’ Retirement Board (CalSTRS’ governing body) adopted a pledge to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions across the CalSTRS Investment Portfolio by 2050 or sooner, aligning with the science-based targets of the Paris Agreement, an international treaty on climate change. The board’s decision to make this net zero pledge is rooted in our promise of a secure retirement for you and your loved ones.

Keep in mind that in good economic times and bad, we will continue to pay your retirement benefit on time and in full as we have since CalSTRS’ inception in 1913.