Pension Sense Blog
Pension Sense
Pension Sense is published twice a month on Wednesdays and sometimes more often. Expect helpful information on member benefits, the investment portfolio, corporate engagement activities and more. Ideas for future posts? Email us at Newsroom@CalSTRS.com.
CalSTRS operations during COVID-19
Every day brings new developments related to the coronavirus, and the uncertainty can be unsettling. During these challenging times, we want you to know that the health and wellness of our members and staff are our top priorities. We remain committed to securing the financial future of California’s educators. You can rely on us to pay your benefits and help you prepare for retirement.
Spring into action with myCalSTRS
You can postpone spring cleaning for a few weeks, but don’t delay taking the opportunity to sign up for myCalSTRS—where you can view important messages and information about your retirement any time you’d like.
Become one of the more than 200,000 CalSTRS members who have already signed up to use myCalSTRS.
CalSTRS LOVES teachers
It’s February and love is in the air! It’s the perfect time to appreciate the contributions our teachers make to benefit the lives of their students. We asked our members what fuels their passion and their secret for a rewarding career.
The value of engagement
As a long-term investor, CalSTRS engages companies to align their
policies and business practices with the changing world around
us. This short, animated video explains how engagement improves
corporate sustainability and creates long-term value for CalSTRS
members.
CalSTRS acts on climate
Whether you’re retired or actively teaching, chances are you’ve spoken with a young person who is concerned about climate change. In less than two years, the climate strike movement has spanned millions of people in hundreds of countries around the globe, and the movement’s protests reflect the public’s growing sense of urgency for governments and businesses to act on climate.
Retirement planning IRL (in real life)
In an age when smartphones and web apps are displacing real-life interaction, sometimes “old-fashioned” communication is the most effective way to have your questions answered.
That’s why we encourage you to visit CalSTRS in person as you plan your retirement.
We have eight member service centers, including our headquarters in West Sacramento, where you can learn about retirement—whether it’s close at hand or far in the future.
Our New Year’s resolution
Most folks’ New Year’s resolutions are about exercising more, eating healthy or saving more money.
One of CalSTRS’ New Year’s resolutions is to keep up an annual tradition: learning from you.
Holiday greeting from CEO Jack Ehnes
Happy holidays from CalSTRS CEO Jack Ehnes and all of us at CalSTRS: We can’t thank you enough for all the work you do. Enjoy some time to rest and recharge.
Give yourself the gift of compound interest
It’s the holiday season, and right now you’re probably worried about finding the right gift for everyone on your list. We understand the feeling! But while you’re fulfilling everyone else’s holiday wishes, consider giving yourself a more secure retirement by starting or increasing your contribution to your supplemental savings account.
Plan ahead to fill the retirement income gap
What California’s educators need to know about Social Security
In a world with few assurances about future income, the CalSTRS Defined Benefit Program is like a security blanket for California educators. If you’ve worked a full career in education, 50-60% of your preretirement income will be replaced with your pension.
The challenge, however, is that financial experts advise replacing 80-90% of your preretirement income annually once you retire.
What is the value of engagement?
When a company in our investment portfolio is not advancing sustainable business practices, we don’t simply ignore the problem or sell our holdings.
That would be like stuffing dirty laundry into a closet and shutting the door.
Understanding your retirement benefit formula
As a California educator, you help build a better future for your students while you work toward a secure financial future of your own.
The CalSTRS Defined Benefit Program is the cornerstone of your educator retirement savings and also provides survivor and disability benefits. CalSTRS invests contributions from the state, your employer and your monthly paycheck to ensure a reliable monthly retirement benefit for all our members.