Pension Sense Blog
Pension Sense
Pension Sense is published twice a month on Wednesdays and sometimes more often. Subscribe for helpful information on member benefits, the investment portfolio, corporate engagement activities and more. Ideas for future posts? Email us at Newsroom@CalSTRS.com.
Explore your investment options with CalSTRS Pension2®
CalSTRS Pension2 offers the opportunity for CalSTRS members to build supplemental retirement savings through low cost, flexible 403(b), Roth 403(b), 457(b) and Roth 457(b) plans. Pension2 complements your CalSTRS retirement benefit and provides additional security for you in retirement.
Benefits, service credit available for CalSTRS member veterans
This Veterans Day, we’ll be thinking of our CalSTRS members who have served in the past and those still active in the reserves.
Returning veterans and current reservists have a right to receive pension credit and benefits through the federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). These members can opt to pay back their retirement contributions in order to count the time they were away toward their pensions, as long as they return to the same employer.
Four ways to celebrate National Retirement Security Week
Help us celebrate National Retirement Security Week by checking in on your retirement savings goals. It falls on October 18–October 24 this year, and we want to share with you a few helpful tips on how to prepare for your future retirement today.
Check your updated Retirement Progress Report on myCalSTRS
Whether you’re a new educator or in the homestretch of your teaching career, it’s a great time to review your Retirement Progress Report.
The Retirement Progress Report is an annual personalized overview of your CalSTRS account and benefits, including detailed information and resources for planning your financial future.
CalSTRS releases updated reports in mid-September, which are available online using your myCalSTRS account.
Longtime educator connects with migrant students, families through pandemic
In honor of Latino Heritage Month, we checked in with CalSTRS member Joe I. Mendoza.
When we talked to Mendoza for Teacher Talk earlier this year, he was enjoying working at the Ventura County Office of Education after 63 years as an educator. And he still is today, months into the pandemic.
Prepare for emergencies by enrolling in direct deposit
If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s to expect the unexpected. While you can’t predict when a future crisis will happen, you can take steps today to make sure you’re prepared when it does.
Review your myCalSTRS account
As you prepare for a new school year, it’s a good time to review your myCalSTRS account and update your personal information.
While you’re checking your address and contact information, make sure you’ve designated one or more recipients for your one-time death benefit. This can be a person, trust, estate, charitable organization, corporation or public entity.
Still serving our members remotely
CalSTRS continues to focus on serving our members during the fight against COVID-19. We have moved all member services to virtual or telephone sessions. To protect the health and safety of members and employees, our member service centers will remain closed to visits and forms drop-off until further notice.
Hotline protects CalSTRS from fraud and abuse
Maintaining the integrity of the California State Teachers’ Retirement System is our top priority. In support of this effort, we launched the CalSTRS Compliance and Ethics Hotline—a safe, secure and confidential way to report unethical acts or pension abuse. Any member of the public or CalSTRS employee can make anonymous reports via web or phone.
Retirement Readiness: We’re here for you
Although our physical offices are closed, we’re offering educational webinars on CalSTRS.com and CalSTRS benefits specialists are still available during business hours for benefit planning sessions via telephone. Please submit your Service Retirement Application at myCalSTRS.com or through the mail.
Hear from Sandy Blair, CalSTRS Retirement Readiness director, for
more on how we’ve adjusted the way we’re doing business during
the pandemic.
Oil, gas and the transition to a low-carbon economy
The Environmental Defense Fund is one of the world’s largest environmental organizations, with more than 2.5 million members and a staff of 700 scientists, economists, policy experts and other professionals around the world. CalSTRS consults with EDF on environmental issues that may impact our investments and engagement activities.
CalSTRS continues processing retirements remotely
If you’re planning to retire after this school year and are wondering how COVID-19 might affect those plans, rest assured, CalSTRS is continuing to process retirement applications without delay.
Your benefit is secure
A lot has changed over the past few months, and we understand this has been a difficult time for our members. Seemingly overnight, schools transitioned from planning the final classroom days of the 2019-20 school year to remote learning and social distancing. Educators scrambled to adapt lesson plans. Classes and exams moved online. Graduations and end-of-year celebrations were cancelled. These challenges do not begin to account for all the disruption in our members’ personal lives.
A message about the CalSTRS investment portfolio from CIO Christopher Ailman
CalSTRS Chief Investment Officer Christopher Ailman talks about
the long-term stability of the portfolio despite recent
volatility.
Teachers connect in classroom and beyond
We celebrate educators at CalSTRS all year long, so we wanted to give you some extra kudos to celebrate National Teachers’ Day this May 5.
Your love for your students and passion for education are particularly evident during these challenging times.
Three things to know this tax season
Due to the impacts of COVID-19, the federal and state tax filing deadlines have been extended to July 15. We want to make sure you have the information you need for an easy tax filing season this year.
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.