8th Annual Financial Education Conference
Are you on the road to financial wellness? Wherever you are, it’s time to take the next step! Start the year off right with the 8th Annual Financial Education Conference, offering workshops and seminars on a variety of topics. From preparing your taxes to preparing for retirement, we have something for everyone and every stage of financial planning. You will find details and descriptions below, even regester online!
Not working from one of our Washington campuses? This year we are pleased to introduce a variety of online tools and resources that coincide with the themes and topics of our vendors’ on campus seminars, available to you anytime and anywhere! Check out our online financial planning resources.
Help us spread the word at Georgetown by posting a flier in your office. Click here to download and share.
Seminars & Workshops
Retirement Orientation for Faculty & Staff REGISTER
January 9 from 9:30 - 11 AM, Leavey Program Room
Do you find yourself worrying about the "how to's" of retiring from Georgetown University? If you answered yes, we invite you to put your mind at ease by joining the Office of Faculty and Staff Benefits for its newly developed Retirement Orientation. This new program is designed to provide you with an informative, practical and thoughtful orientation on how to navigate the retirement process at Georgetown. This orientation makes a great primer for the Retirewise series from MetLife on the main campus, or the one-hour Retirement Income Planning seminar from Fidelity Investments at the Law Center.
Estate Planning for the LGBT Community REGISTER
January 10th from 12-1 PM, McShain Lounge (Small)
When it comes to planning for the future, the LGBT community faces unique challenges due to the current legislative landscape. This educational workshop outlines many important estate planning considerations for both LGBT individuals and couples. It also provides participants with specific solutions for different situations and circumstances. You will better understand the impact of state and federal laws, learn about strategies to preserve wealth and help minimize taxes and learn how to ensure your partner inherits your estate in an efficient way.
Your Dependent with Special Needs REGISTER
January 17th from 1-2 PM, HR Conference Room
Families with children and other dependents with special needs, no matter what the age or disability, face many serious questions about how to best prepare for their future well-being. This workshop addresses such critical issues as protecting government benefit eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), creating Special Needs Trusts and the importance of a will. Taking steps now can help arrange for a loved one's well-being today and tomorrow.
Tax Strategies REGISTER
January 24 from 12-1 PM, McShain Lounge (Small)
Basic tax planning information intended to help individuals plan for retirement in a tax efficient manner. At this workshop, you will learn about:
· Different state and local tax treatments
· Tax rules for home sale, charitable contributions and child care tax credit
· Keeping accurate records
And more!
Your Retirement: A Personal Journey REGISTER
January 25 from 1-2 PM, 1300 Harris Building (Wisconsin Ave)
Examining retirement planning at all stages, this seminar from TIAA-Cref helps identify savings gaps that can prevent participants from reaching their retirement goals, demonstrates how important it is to choose income options based upon individual needs and provides a comprehensive discussion of income options.
Clothing Swap
February 1 from 12-3 PM, McShain Lounge (Large)
PLUS a Free-for-All from 2-3 PM No donations needed!
Now accepting donations for the GUWellness clothing swap! As you clean out your closet for the new year, consider trading in your gently used, unwanted clothing and accessories for something new (to you)! Drop your haul off at the Office of Faculty & Staff Benefits anytime before 11 AM on February 1st and we’ll send your tickets to you before the swap.
No clothes to swap? No problem! You can donate canned goods in lieu of clothing items or even stop by between 2-3 PM for a free-for-all, no donation needed! Canned goods and items remaining after the final swap will be donated to a local charitable organization. Click here to learn more.
Understanding Medicare REGISTER
January 29 from 1-2 PM Leavy Program Room
Want to learn more about the different parts of Medicare and what they cover? This presentation will provide a comprehensive view of Medicare and give you a better idea of how they coordinate with supplemental insurance benefits. Register today!
Understanding Your Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) Benefits REGISTER
January 30 from 1-2 PM McShain Lounge (Small)
Are you thinking of going back to school? Currently pursuing a bachelor's or master’s degree? Have kids heading off to college soon? Join Tuition Assistance Program Analyst, Mary Cooper, for the rundown on what benefits are available to you and your dependents through Georgetown, the TAP application process, tax implications and more. Additional session to be held at GU Law Center. This session makes a wonderful primer for Vanguard’s Saving for College seminar on February 6th, where you can learn how to fill in the financial gaps.
Retirement Income Planning REGISTER
February 4 from 12-1 PM, Georgetown Law Center, Room TBD
This seminar, designed for those over age 50, helps you determine if you are on track to retire comfortably. Fidelity Investments will help you determine your different income streams, identify expenses, find out if you will have enough savings to retire when you want to, and what you may need to do to set your retirement accounts back on track.
5 Habits of Highly Successful Investors REGISTER
February 5 from 12-1 PM, McShain Lounge (Small)
This seminar from TIAA-Cref provides employees with a fundamental knowledge of investing that will help get them started. We'll cover:
- Setting financial goals
- Realizing tax advantages
- Reducing risk with diversification
- Allocating assets
- Understanding expenses
Saving for College REGISTER
February 6 from 12:00-1:30 PM, McShain Lounge (Small)
Saving for a child’s education is no small task. Rising tuition can make planning for this major life event seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be! Get the information and tools you need to create a financial saving plan with his seminar. You will:
· Learn how to calculate how much you need to save for college.
· Understand 529 plans and other college saving options.
· Look at other aspects of paying for college such as financial aid, grants and loans, Hope and Lifetime Learning Tax Credits.
· Learn about practical online tools for calculating how much you need to save and making sure you are on the right financial track.
Find more resources online with Vanguard as well as a college expense calculator.
Saving for College REGISTER
February 6 from 3:00-4:30 PM, 1300 Harris Building (Wisconsin Ave)
The same seminar described above, conveniently located for the Wisconsin Avenue crowd!
Feeling Secure in Your Finances REGISTER
February 7 from 12:30-2 PM, McShain Lounge (Small)
Financial planning is important for everyone, not just big families or big spenders. Feeling Secure is a financial overview designed for those new to the workforce or simply with little practical knowledge about managing financial affairs. At this session, you will:
· Learn basic principles of personal financial management using a net worth statement, spending plan worksheet, and structured debt-reduction strategy.
· Explore the benefits of employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRAs.
· Learn how to build an investment portfolio.
· Understand the roles of insurance and basic estate planning principles in planning for the unexpected.
Find more resources online with Vanguard.
Understanding Your Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) Benefits REGISTER
February 8 from 1-2 PM Georgetown Law Center, Room TBD
Are you thinking of going back to school? Currently pursuing a bachelor's or master’s degree? Have kids heading off to college soon? Join Tuition Assistance Program Analyst, Mary Cooper, for the rundown on what benefits are available to you and your dependents through Georgetown, the TAP application process, tax implications and more.
Retirewise REGISTER
February 5, 12, 19, and 26th from 2-3:30 PM, McShain Lounge (Large)
Coming to Georgetown Law Center in Spring 2013!!
Building the retirement you've always dreamed of shouldn't be a mystery - retirewise® can help. At this four part workshop series, you will learn about:
Module 1: Building the Foundation
You will envision the retirement you want and how you will finance it based on current and future retirement trends. We will cover some financial basics, as well as the importance of tax diversification. You will start to see how what you already have will contribute to the retirement you want. Topics include:
- Understanding the big picture of retirement planning
- Envisioning your retirement
- Using your money more wisely
- Having a tax-diversification strategy
Module 2: Creating and Protecting Wealth
You will begin to look at how to prepare before retirement to generate income during retirement. You will look at investment risk, investment strategies, retirement expenses and several sources of retirement income.
Topics include:
- Investment guiding principles, including asset allocation and portfolio diversification
- Understanding how to manage the risks you may encounter
- The investment spectrum and effect of taxes
Module 3: Establishing Your Retirement Income Stream
Building on what you have learned so far, you will learn how to structure a retirement income stream to address your retirement wants and needs. We will examine the risks that could impact your retirement funds and how to manage assets to help provide lifelong income. Topics include:
- The retirement income planning process
- Dependable sources of income, including Social Security
- Managing your retirement assets to help create additional dependable lifelong income
Module 4: Making the Most of What You Have
You will review the benefits your employer offers, together with other benefits for a clear understanding of how they fit into your retirement plan. We will look at the basics of estate planning, wills and trusts. Topics include:
- Your employer's benefit plan
- Protecting against unexpected expenses
- Estate planning basics
Online Resources & Webinars
What's Your Financial IQ?
Play this quick, daily financial quiz for 30 days to get a clear picture of your financial know-how. See where you need to brush up, discover where you could be earning more, and compete against your collegaues at other Georgetown campuses and challenge your friends to see who has the most sense when it comes to their cents. You will even be entered to win one of 3 iPads every time you play! That's up to 30 chances at a new gadget in just 5 minutes a day! The quiz kicks off on January 14th!
Back to the Future: Bring the Best of Your Past Into Retirement (Webinar)
January 17 from 12:30-1:30 PM REGISTER
Retirement can be anything you want it to be, however, choosing among the endless options and choices can be daunting. How will I spend my time? Will I get bored? Do I really want to spend my retirement the way my parents did? Alumni Career Services invites you to attened this webinar, led by Jason Levin (MBA’06), career and outplacement coach at Ready, Set, Launch, LLC, as he outlines how you can take a structured approach to retirement both by uncovering your past successes and aligning them with your current motivations and passions.
TIAA-Cref Learning Center
Whether you are just beginning your career or planning for retirement, the TIAA-Cref online Learning Center offers plenty of helpful financial planning information. You will find sections on retirement savings, financial education, estate planning, and more as well as links to TIAA's in-depth Financial Seminars available for viewing on the web! Click here to get to the Learning Center, or check out some of our hilights below:
Vanguard College Funding Resources
Not able to attend one of the on-location College Savings seminars? Never fear! Vanguard has a host of web resources and articles related to college funding online, as well as a College Saving 101 webinar and expense calculator.
More from Vanguard: Find more of Vanguard's financial "Insights" on topics like mutual fund basics, juggling multiple financial goals, reducing debt, building a safety net and more at Vanguard.com.
Fidelity Savings & Budget Calculators
The first step to a solid financial plan is building a budget (and sticking to it). Fidelity's quick and easy Budget Snapshot calculator.
Curious to see how much you could be earning for retirement by increasing your 403(b) contributions? Check out Fidelity's Contribution Calculator to see what your estimated gains would be (look at your last 2012 payslip in GMS to find your total contributions and employer match).
Have a Fidelity account? Utilize their in-depth online Retirement Income Planner to create an income and saving strategy that helps you meet your retirement goals (log-in required).
