Planning for Retirement Today... ...To Be Ready When It Comes A Workshop for Professional Church Workers of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Planning for Retirement Today Table of Contents Introduction............................................................................................................................................................2 Retirement Exploration Exercise..............................................................................................................3 Envisioning Your Retirement................................................................................................................................4 A Sample Week in Retirement.................................................................................................................5 Retirement Planning: Finances I..............................................................................................................6 Financial Security Exercise........................................................................................................................7 Retirement Planning: Finances II.............................................................................................................8 Retirement Savings Options...................................................................................................................14 Maintaining Your Health.....................................................................................................................................18 Long-Term Care Insurance......................................................................................................................19 Health Style Exercise...............................................................................................................................21 Estate Planning — POAs, Wills, Health Care Directives, Living Trusts.............................................................23 Who Will Manage Your Affairs When You Can’t?................................................................................26 Living Arrangements...........................................................................................................................................28 Where to Live...Some Tools to Use.........................................................................................................29 Pulling Up Stakes.....................................................................................................................................29 Where to Live...Some Factors to Consider.............................................................................................30 Staying in Your Present Home................................................................................................................31 When is it Best to Announce Your Retirement?................................................................................................32 Balancing Work, Play, and Learning...................................................................................................................33 Work Reorientation Exercise..................................................................................................................36 Leisure Interests Exercise #1...................................................................................................................37 Leisure Interests Exercise #2...................................................................................................................40 Living in Retirement............................................................................................................................................41 A Pre-Retirement Schedule.................................................................................................................................43 Pre-Retirement Countdown................................................................................................................................43 Your Retirement...Questions to Ask Yourself....................................................................................................44 Conclusion............................................................................................................................................................44 Optional — Dependent Exercise #1....................................................................................................................45 Optional — Dependent Exercise #2....................................................................................................................45 Optional — Marriage & Family Exercise.............................................................................................................46 © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. 1 Introduction Planning for Retirement Today At some point in your life, thoughts about retirement have probably crossed your mind. Along with these thoughts come many questions. • • • • • • • Will I have enough retirement income? Where will I live? How will I handle health concerns? What will I do with my time? Who will I be in retirement? How will I live out my faith commitment? What about when my earthly life ends? Complete “Exploration” Exercise #1 & #2 It is important that you understand the significance of preparing for the last third of your life. There is also real value in recognizing that retirement is an ongoing and continuous process. In our short time together we hope to be able to provide some insight into what you need to think about today to help you prepare for tomorrow! As we review this material, there are a few assumptions to keep in mind: • • • • We are healthier. We are living longer. We need to begin planning today for a fulfilling tomorrow. We are responsible for our retirement! Retirement means I am free FROM . . . 2 . . . but what am I free FOR? © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. Retirement Exploration Exercise The more we know about ourselves the better we can live our lives and achieve personal satisfaction. Sometimes responding to the most simple questions can provide insight otherwise unavailable to us. Respond to the following questions, and see if you discover anything new about you! 1. I plan to retire in either ______ years, or in ______. 2. As of right now, my retirement planning program could be described as: ______ None ______ Just being formulated ______ A good beginning ______ Completed 3. My greatest concerns in retirement are: ______ Not having enough assets/income ______ Inflation ______ Lengthy illness/other health issues ______ Difficult family/other relationship ______ Being bored ______ Missing my friends/coworkers ______ Not being productive/useful ______ Making the wrong choices (home/work/etc.) ______ Other: ______________________________________________________________________ 4. In retirement, I’m looking forward to: ______ Freedom to do what I want ______ Time for hobbies and other interest ______ More time for family and friends ______ Starting a new career (full-time, part-time, volunteer) ______ Making my own decisions ______ Rest ______ Travel ______ Other: ______________________________________________________________________ © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. 3 Envisioning Your Retirement Planning your time… Everyone knows that financial security is a key component of a happy retirement. How you choose to spend your time in retirement is critical as well. If you don’t have any idea what you’d like to do in retirement, you might start by thinking about how you will replace your usual work schedule. For most people, the goal is to get the most out of a precious resource—time. It’s a time for a lot of new choices! Envision yourself in the future. You are now retired. Think about these questions: Where am I living? (Geographically, housing) Who are the people around me? (Who is my community?) What is around me? (Books, gardening, tools, etc.) What am I doing? (For fun…growth…work…) What am I worried about? (Health…finances…losses…) At my age, what is my life expectancy? Look at a typical week and divide up the amount of estimated time spent working, volunteering, playing, and learning in the circles. 4 As it is Today As I would like in Retirement © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. A Sample Week in Retirement Assume this will be a typical week a year after you are retired. Write in the ways you expect to use your time. Sunday Monday __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ Tuesday Wednesday __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ Thursday Friday __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ Saturday __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. 5 Retirement Planning: Finances I Basic Budgeting & Finances: What you do today is important for tomorrow! One of the most frequently asked questions by those planning to retire is: “How much do I need to save for retirement?” The answer, of course, is as individual as you are. But finding that answer is a critical part of preparing for retirement. Studies find that people who do calculate how much they need to save for retirement are much more likely to reach their savings goals than those who don’t. Setting goals is important. Think about what you’d like to do when you retire. Do you want to travel? How about going back to school? Will you be moving to a more or less expensive location? Are you planning on staying close to home in quiet pursuits? Whatever your retirement lifestyle goals may be, it needs to be figured into your financial plan. Key to knowing how much you’ll need in retirement is knowing how much you need now. Do you know where your income comes from and where it goes? Do you know where your income will be coming from after retirement, and what you’ll need to spend it on then? What about any debt load you may have … do you have a plan to eliminate it before retirement, or will you be comfortable carrying debt into retirement with you? Finally, are your finances in order to spend 20+ years in retirement, keeping in mind the average rate of inflation? Even if the numbers work now, will they work further into your retirement, and what can you do about them? Remember, retirement is an expense-driven event! Knowing your expenses at retirement, and as you go through retirement, will help you understand what you will need to set aside for retirement. This next section of our workshop will deal with these common, everyday questions and help you find some of the answers! Complete Financial Security Exercise Resource Materials: THE KEY TO THE PROPER MANAGEMENT OF MONEY 6 © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. Financial Security Exercise Having enough money is certainly a priority in planning a successful retirement. Without adequate financial planning, your retirement will suffer. But success in this areas isn’t totally dependent on dollars and cents. Almost everyone can point out monetarily rich people who are not happy people. What you spend in retirement will depend largely on the priorities you give to various areas of your life. The point of this exercise is to become aware of and prioritize personal values that relate to your retirement years and then establish financial perspectives. Decide the priority of importance of each of these 10 life areas by placing a number from 1 to 10, with 1 having the highest priority, next to it, indicating its level of importance to you in retirement. Remember, there are no right or wrong answers, just what is right for you. If applicable, how closely do you and your spouse agree? ______ Physical health ______ Family ______ Independence ______ Leisure interests ______ Friends ______ Material possessions ______ Mental wellness ______ Leaving a financial legacy ______ Travel ______ Home © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. 7 Retirement Planning: Finances II Your retirement income from Pensions, Social Security, and your Personal Savings! IDENTIFYING RETIREMENT INCOME: The Three-Legged Stool Who will meet the need? • • • • A balance can be achieved only by using each leg of the stool. Taking away the support from any one of the three legs creates an imbalance. An individual’s responsibility in utilizing his/her own resources is essential in making the stool balance. Does your stool need a fourth leg? Post-retirement employment is becoming a reality for many retirees now! Individual Savings Investments Real Estate Employer Retirement Pension Government Social Security Leg One: Retirement Pension(s) Pension Considerations: • • • Your benefits as a member of the Concordia Retirement Plan Pension benefit accrued by your spouse Pension benefits from previous employer(s) How You Accumulate Pension Benefits Through the Concordia Retirement Plan: • • • Concordia Retirement Plan Primary Benefit Concordia Retirement Plan Supplemental Retirement Account Concordia Retirement Plan Retiree Medical Supplement When Can You Retire? • • • • • Normal Retirement Early Retirement Late Retirement Continuing to Work after Age 65 (In-Service Benefits – Primary Only) Benefits to Surviving Dependents Resource Materials: Brief Summary of Benefits 8 © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. Basics and Benefits Of the Concordia Retirement Plan: One Plan — Three Parts! • Primary Retirement Benefit (PRB) Paid only in the form of a monthly benefit (annuity) Payment options: Joint-life 100% Survivor Benefit Joint-life 70% Survivor Benefit Single-life (no Survivor Benefit) • Supplemental Retirement Account (SRA) Payable as a monthly benefit or in a lump sum Payment options: Joint-life 100% Survivor Benefit Joint-life 70% Survivor Benefit Single-life (no Survivor Benefit) Ten-year Certain & Life (Guarantees a minimum of 10 years of payments) Lump-Sum Distribution Direct Rollover or Payment to Member • Retiree Medical Supplement (RMS) Available to workers serving at employers that have adopted “The Church’s Plan” benefit package Payable only in the form of a monthly benefit Payment options: Joint-life 100% Survivor Benefit Joint-life 70% Survivor Benefit Single-life (no Survivor Benefit) Decreasing annuity (Benefit is greater prior to age 65, then reduced) Tax Issues • • Your retirement benefits are taxable Housing exclusion for retired ministers of religion Working After Retirement • • • You will be considered either “full-time” or “retired” Eligibility to receive benefits is based on that status After age 65 you may begin receiving an in-service benefit while still full-time Your most recent Personal Summary of Benefits (PSOB) provides important information on the benefits you have as a full-time worker from the Concordia Plans. The online PSOB is an expanded version of the print statement you received. It is updated each year when the new print statements are mailed. Currently, the online version has retirement planning tools that allow you to calculate your benefits at ages 58, 60, 62, 65, 67, and 70*. It also includes tools to help you calculate your needs in retirement by comparing your retirement expenses to your retirement income … it will help you see how much you might need to save! *If you have not yet attained that age! © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. 9 Leg Two: Social Security Social Security is the largest source of income for the majority of people age 65 and over. More than 9 out of 10 people age 65 and older receive Social Security. This program was not intended to be the only source of income when earnings are lost due to retirement, death, or disability. It is important to understand that is was designed to provide benefits in conjunction with pensions, savings, life insurance, and other sources. Retirement Benefits: • • • • Normal Retirement Age Early Retirement Earnings Limitations Survivor Benefits For the most accurate and up-to-date information on benefits provided by Social Security, check out their website at www. socialsecurity.gov. How Does Social Security Work? The federal Social Security program provides benefits for workers who contribute to that program and are insured at the time a “payable event” occurs. The amounts of those benefits are based on the worker’s Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) which is the payment a worker is entitled to receive at retirement age (65 for those born before 1937 and later for those born after 1937), and based on an average of a worker’s highest 35 years of indexed Social Security wages. A worker must be fully qualified, or have enough quarters of participation, to receive benefits. • • Each year the Social Security Administration determines the maximum earnings on which you pay Social Security taxes. There is no limit to the earnings upon which you pay Medicare taxes. Each year the Social Security Administration determines whether or not there will be a cost-of-living increase to Social Security benefits. This increase is generally based on the annual Consumer Price Index. There is no guarantee of a cost-of-living increase in any given year. When You Retire: • • • • • 10 Benefits may be paid to you when you retire at 65 (or your normal retirement date if born after 1937, up to as late as age 67). You may begin receiving a reduced benefit as early as age 62. Benefits MAY be paid to your spouse if they are also age 62 or over, or any age and caring for your child who is under age 16 or disabled prior to age 22. Benefits MAY be paid to your unmarried child if they are under 18, or 18 if in high school, or any age if disabled prior to age 22. If you begin receiving your Social Security benefit prior to your normal Full Retirement Age (FRA), your benefit will be subject to an annual earnings limit. If your earnings exceed the annual limit, your benefit will be reduced by $1 for every $2 you earn above that limit, There are special rules that will apply in the year you reach your FRA. There is no limit after you reach your FRA. © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. If You Become Disabled: • • • Benefits may be paid to you at any age before Full Retirement Age. Benefits MAY be paid to your spouse at any age if caring for your child who is under 16 or disabled before 22, or if your spouse is age 62 or older. Benefits MAY be paid to your unmarried child if they are under 18, or up to 19 if in high school, or any age if disabled before age 22. When You Die: • • Benefits MAY be paid to your spouse if they are age 60 or over, or age 50-59 if disabled, or at any age if caring for your unmarried child who is under 16 or disabled before age 22. Benefits MAY be paid to your unmarried child if they are under 18, or up to 19 if in high school, or any age if disabled before age 22. The Social Security administration does have MAXIMUM FAMILY BENEFITS that are payable, and these can affect payments to your dependents. To qualify for retirement benefits, you must be fully insured; that is, you must have the required credits under Social Security. Most workers need 40 credits to qualify for retirement benefits—or about 10 years. To qualify for disability benefits, you must be so severely impaired that you cannot perform any substantial gainful work. The impairment must be expected to last at least 12 months, or to result in earlier death. You must have earned at minimum number of credits under Social Security, based on the year of your birth. Benefits begin after a waiting period of five full months. To qualify for survivor benefits after your death you must either have been fully insured or currently insured. This will determine the level of benefits payable to your survivors. Non-duplication of benefits: A person eligible for more than one Social Security benefit for a particular month receives, in effect, the larger of the two benefits. For example, a widow of a deceased worker who is also a retired worker would receive the larger of either her retirement benefit or her benefit as a widow, but NOT both. Taxability of benefits: If you work while receiving benefits, you still pay Social Security and Medicare taxes on your earnings, regardless of your age. (You do not pay Social Security or Medicare taxes on your pension benefits, as they are not considered earned income.) Benefits are generally tax-free; however, those with higher total adjusted gross incomes may be taxed. There is a special step-rated “threshold” to determine the amount on which you may be taxed. Please contact your tax advisor to determine if any of your monthly benefits from Social Security will be subject to taxes. To request information from Social Security about your benefits, call the Social Security Administration at 800-7721213 and ask for a Request for Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement. For more information about Social Security and many of the benefits and programs that it offers, visit their website at www.socialsecurity.gov. There are many helpful tools available at this site to use in your retirement and financial planning! © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. 11 Leg Three: Individual Savings You have the benefit of a retirement program provided by your employer and benefits from Social Security. However, you will still need additional income when you retire, so a regular plan for the accumulation of savings is essential. Some Basic Principles of Saving: • • • After your commitment to the Lord, pay yourself a percentage (10% minimum goal) of your income first and invest it wisely. A savings model: • 10% to the Lord • 10% to Yourself (Savings) • 80% to Live On • If you are not sure that the “10-10-80” savings model works for you, considering starting with a smaller percentage, then gradually increase it every few months until you reach your maximum savings comfort level. Invest pre-tax dollars when possible, as pre-tax dollars grow faster than after-tax dollars. (Depending on your personal financial situation and the types of income you will have after retirement, you may wish to invest after-tax dollars, such as in a Roth IRA, to lower your post-retirement taxes. These are the types of questions that you should discuss with your financial planner.) The First Step: Establish a Savings Plan Set Short-Term and Long-Term Goals You Must Have an Emergency Cushion Are you saving for a home? Are you paying for/saving for a child’s education? Are you saving for retirement? How long do you have to accomplish your goal(s)? Risk vs. Reward: What Strategy is Right for You? Conservative Investor Moderate Investor Aggressive Investor How do you and your spouse (if applicable) compare? Striking the Right Balance is Important! Savings Options … The magic of compounding! The “Rule of 72” (72 ÷ interest rate = time it takes your money to double) Savings Accounts Money Market Accounts Certificates of Deposit (CDs) Investment Options … Helping your money grow over the long term! 12 Don’t invest in what you don’t understand! Look for investments that will earn enough to outpace the cost of living/inflation. Don’t forget that higher returns also often mean higher risk! © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. Stocks You own a “share” of the company When the company’s earnings are up, you may receive dividends When stock prices fall you could lose some or all of your investment Stocks are generally a higher risk than savings or bonds Bonds You are “loaning” money to issuing entity For a set period of time (anywhere from a few months to 30 years) You receive a periodic rate of interest over the life of the bond Bonds are generally a safe investment Risk of market value of bonds going down if interest rates go up U.S. Savings Bonds, Treasury Bills (T-Bills) Sold by federal government Principal protected/not subject to interest rate risk Municipal Bonds (Munis) Sold by states, cities, local governments Generally exempt from Federal taxes on interest (and possibly state tax, too) Insured Bonds Generally lower interest; third party guarantees payment of principal & interest Low risk of default Corporate Bonds Issued by companies and may include: Zero Coupon Bonds Bought at less than face value Receive payment when bond matures of initial investment + interest Convertible Bonds Can be converted into stock High-yield Bonds (Junk Bonds) Issued by companies with low ratings Higher risk of default Mutual Funds A pool of money supplied by investors Invested in various securities like stocks, bonds, money markets, etc A way to diversify investments and balance risk © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. 13 Retirement Savings Options Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) • Established by Congress to encourage people to save for retirement by providing tax advantages • Investment is made with post-tax dollars, but contributions may be deducted when a worker files his/her income tax return • Earnings grown on a tax-free basis • The IRS sets annual limits as to what may be contributed to an IRA • Penalties for early withdrawal Roth IRA • Contributions are made on a post-tax basis, but investments grow tax free • Distributions are generally tax exempt • Generally subject to the same limits as traditional IRAs • Cannot participate if your adjusted gross income is in excess of the annual IRS limit • Penalties for early withdrawal Financial Advisors of Planners Find the Right Advisor • Education • State Registration • Certified Financial Planner (CFP) • Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) • Certified Public Accountant (CPA) • Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) ASK: What is their experience? What are their qualifications? What services do they/their firm offer? What is their approach to financial planning (e.g., attitude toward risk)? Will they be the only person working with you? How will you pay for the service? (Hourly fee, commissions, percentage of assets?) How much do they typically charge (estimate of possible costs)? Are there any conflicts of interest you should be aware of? Have they ever been disciplined for any unlawful or unethical actions in their professional career? Remember, your choice of a financial advisor will affect your financial future. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and to do your own investigating! Remember, you’ll be building a lasting relationship … so the advisor you choose will probably also be asking you a lot of questions … this will insure a good “fit” between you and the advisor you choose! You can check them out using the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) website at: http://www.sec.gov/investor/ brokers.htm 14 © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. How Concordia Plan Services Can Help with This Leg: Concordia Retirement Savings Plan (CRSP) This is a 403(b) tax-deferred savings plan available to Concordia Plan members whose employers have joined The Church’s Plan. Workers who elect to defer a portion of their salary on a pre-tax basis to save for retirement will have a portion matched. The current basic match is 50% of the first 2% of compensation deferred by the member. Employers may provide an additional 50% match on the next 2% or 4% of a worker’s compensation if they elect to provide this option for all their workers. For example: $40,000 annual salary $800 – 2% deferral by member $400 – employer match Total invested for retirement - $1,200 If you’re not contributing at least 2% of your total compensation (as reported to Concordia Plan Services), you’re missing out on “free money” for your retirement! And remember, you pay no income tax on what you have deferred, nor are you taxed on the match when it is put in. Plus, rostered ministers of religion do not pay any self-employment taxes on voluntary contributions to a 403(b), either! KEY POINTS about the Concordia Retirement Savings Plan (CRSP) In order for a worker to begin saving with the CRSP, an employer must adopt The Church’s Plan package. Workers then receive a PIN letter and an enrollment packet including details about investment options and how to enroll. • • • • • • • • MetLife Resources has been selected to administer the CRSP. They are one of the largest and most stable financial service companies in the world, and have significant experience with 403(b) tax-deferred savings plans. A MetLife representative can meet with you to help you plan for the future! You can save for retirement with pre-tax dollars. A basic match of 50% of the first 2% of compensation you contribute to CRSP will be provided. (The basic match is funded by your employer’s contributions to the retirement program, and will be made quarterly to your account.) Your employer can elect to provide an additional optional matching contribution for all workers each year. Worker and employer-match contributions are immediately 100% vested. The compensation used to determine the employer’s basic match is the total compensation reported by your employer for Concordia Retirement Plan purposes at the beginning of each calendar year. • IRS regulations govern the total amount a worker can defer on a pre-tax basis each calendar year. The CRSP does follows IRS guidelines. Elective deferral limits are based on a worker’s taxable income. The match provided by an employer through the Concordia Plans is based on a worker’s total reported compensation as defined by CRP provisions. You must be enrolled in the Concordia Retirement Plan and receiving compensation from an enrolled LCMS employer to participate in the CRSP. The CRSP provides an investment tool, ProManage, to help workers who do not feel comfortable choosing investment options or rebalancing their funds on their own. In return for using this service, ProManage charges an annual custodial fee. This fee can be adjusted every quarter, but cannot exceed 32 basis points. © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. 15 The CRSP does have an administrative fee of $30* per year ($5 per quarter) that is paid to MetLife to administer the program. This is well below the normal cost that you might pay with other companies. In addition, mutual fund companies may assess certain annual fees and expenses. These would be outlined in the individual prospectus for each fund. Unlike individual 403(b) plans, however, there are no other fees associated with the program (no loads, holding requirements, advisory fees, upfront fees, etc.). The Concordia Retirement Savings Plan is fully compliant with all of the new I.R.S. regulations that have recently been issued regarding 403(b) plans! Resource Materials: Brief Summary of Benefits 16 © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. Leg Four — Earned Income: A Little Goes a Long Way Will your retirement stool need a fourth leg to stand firm? For many people, the answer is yes! But just a little earned income in retirement can make a big difference in how long your retirement savings might last! Assume you’ll need $3,300 each month after retirement at age 65. If you receive $2,300 from Social Security and the Concordia Retirement Plan, you’ll need another $1,000 each month. Assuming your nest egg is worth $100,000 when you retire, compare the difference if you withdraw the needed $1,000 each month, versus part-time earnings of $500 per month and only withdrawing $500 each month from your savings: At age 68: Withdrawing $1,000 per month: Withdrawing $500 per month: At age 70: Withdrawing $1,000 per month: Withdrawing $500 per month: At age 75: Withdrawing $1,000 per month: Withdrawing $500 per month: @ $80,000 balance @ $100,500 balance @ $67,000 balance @ $101,000 balance @ $20,000 balance @ $103,000 balance This example assumes a 6.5% average annual return, which is hypothetical and used for illustrative purposes only! “I started out with nothing. I still have most of it.” – Michael Davis © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. 17 Maintaining Your Health Remember not to neglect the importance of good health habits! • As a member of the Concordia Health Plan (CHP), have you taken your online Health Assessment? You can find a link to it on our website. Click on “Health & Wellness” and then click on “Health Assessment.” Complete Health Style Exercise Become familiar with your Concordia Health Plan options, based on your age at retirement. (Or other health insurance, as applicable.) • You may be able to continue your existing coverage under the CHP for yourself and your eligible dependents as a retired member if: • You are age 55 or older at the time you retire (cease to be a full-time LCMS worker) and: • You have been a member of the CHP for at least 5 consecutive years immediately prior to retirement or • You must be serving at an employer that is participating in The Church’s Plan at time you retire and • You must have accumulated at least 5 years of Retiree Medical Supplement (RMS) service credits in the CRP prior to retirement and • You must have been a member of the CHP for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to retirement. • If you do not meet the above criteria, you may be eligible to extend your coverage for a maximum of 15 months. Types of CHP Coverage Available as a Retired Member • • • • Between the ages of 55 and 65, if you continue CHP coverage as a retired member, your coverage is like that provided for active workers. You can continue to participate in the same plan coverage option as you had before you retired or you can change to a lower-cost option (with higher deductibles). Each year in the fall, as long as you are under age 65. You can elect to stay in the same option for the following year, or you can change to a lower-cost option. At age 65 and thereafter, if you continue CHP coverage as a retired member, you will be provided Medicare supplemental coverage, which means Medicare is your primary coverage and the CHP supplements Medicare. (If you are age 65 or older and still employed full time by an LCMS employer, the CHP will remain your primary coverage and Medicare Part A will be secondary. You will not need to enroll in Part B of Medicare until such time as you actually retire.) If your spouse is enrolled in CHP as your dependent, he/she will stay in the active member coverage until he/she reaches age 65, at which time the coverage will change to the CHP Medicare supplemental coverage. If you have a child enrolled in CHP as your dependent after you retire, he/she will stay in the active member coverage until he/she ceases to be an eligible dependent. It is important that you become familiar with Medicare benefits and what is/is not covered. • • • Enrollment is normally completed when applying for Social Security benefits. Enrollment may be deferred if you are still working and covered by an employer group health plan, which is your primary coverage, without incurring a penalty. It is still possible to purchase Medicare coverage even if you are not receiving Social Security benefits. Cost of Medicare: • • 18 Part A (Hospitalization): No cost to you Part B (Medical Expenses): The monthly premium is set each year by Medicare. The premium varies and is higher for those with higher incomes. © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. The Concordia Health Plan & Medicare: • The CHP is designed to supplement coverage provided by Medicare to protect against the financial burden of a prolonged illness or serious injury. • You may be eligible for coverage as a Medicare member if: • You are eligible for Medicare, and Medicare is your primary payer for medical care • Dependents may be eligible for coverage if: • They are enrolled as the dependent of a CHP member • They are age 65 or older • Medicare is the primary payer for medical care • Benefits: • Hospital: Pays 100% of the Medicare-approved hospital related expenses not paid by Medicare • Medical: Covers a percentage of the Medicare- approved medical expenses not paid by Medicare, with the exception of the annual deductible • Additional Services not covered by Medicare: Full prescription drug benefits; foreign hospital and medical care; private duty nursing; hearing plan • Cost of the Concordia Health Plan Medicare Supplemental Coverage is set each year by Concordia Plan Services Termination of participation is allowed at the end of any month, but re-enrollment in the CHP is not allowed after retirement. (Except for the Medicare managed care exception.) • • • Medicare Managed Care Plans Managed care plan options offered to Medicare recipients in place of traditional Medicare benefits paid under Parts A and B Re-enrollment in CHP is allowed if participation was terminated to participate in a Medicare managed care plan, and proof of continuous coverage is provided when re-enrollment in the CHP is requested Resource Materials: Brief Summary of Benefits Concordia Health Plan for Medicare Members Long-Term Care Insurance Recent surveys indicate that there is a 50-50 chance that Americans will have a major long-term care expense in their lifetime. The average cost for a year’s stay in a nursing home can be as much as $83,500, or about $229 per day! Assisted living averages about $3,200 per month, with specialized care up to $4,700 per month. Most people, obviously, cannot afford to pay this out of pocket! Medicare will pay for up to 100 days in a nursing home (20 at 100% and 80 with coinsurance), however there are a number of restrictions. It must follow a hospital stay of a certain length and certain other required skilled nursing needs must be met. Medicaid may pay for some long-term care; however, you must be nearly out of assets to qualify. Long-term care insurance might be your best protection against ongoing health-care costs in your later years. It is always good to discuss this option with your financial professional before making a decision. Of course, family history and your own personal medical history will have a big impact on your decision. © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. 19 Sample Long-Term Care Policy Checklist (You may wish to use this list when comparing policies.) • • • • • • • • • • • • Insurance company rating … A+/AA Underwriting … Front-end (Front-end underwriting means the insurer asks in-depth questions about your health and requires a physician’s statement before insuring you.) Coverage for any level of care Coverage for Alzheimer’s Benefit triggers … ADLs or cognitive impairment Daily coverage … will it cover the average daily cost of a nursing home? Elimination period … 0 to 100 days (This is the amount of time you’d have to pay for long-term care before your insurance benefits kick in. When choosing an elimination period, ask yourself how long you’d be willing or able to cover long-term care expenses on your own. Seek guidance from your financial professional.) Admission to any facility Coverage for adult day care Home health-care coverage Benefit period (i.e., how long you will receive benefits) … at least 3 years Inflation protection Make Sure Your Policy Covers All Three Levels of Care: 1. Skilled (24-hour supervision) 2. Intermediate (nursing care that’s not round-the-clock) 3. Custodial (assistance with activities of daily living or ADLs); this is the type of care needed most! ADLs Include: • • • • • Transferring (e.g., moving from a bed to a chair) Bathing Eating Dressing Continence/toileting How much you pay for a policy will probably be determined by how many ADLs you are unable to perform. Check the policy carefully before you make a decision. For example, some policies might kick-in if you are unable to perform only two ADLs, and others if you cannot perform three or four. Depending on what company you purchase the policy from, it might also have an impact on the cost. Many companies actually don’t carry long-term care insurance, they are the “third-party” providers or middlemen in the transaction. Of course, this could mean that you are paying slightly more in order to pay that third party! Plus, you need to know how many “levels” you might need to go through if you have questions about, or issues with, your policy. You may wish to discuss your long-term care needs with your financial advisor. He or she might have access to resources that could assist you in obtaining coverage, or reviewing available coverage. You may wish to discuss this with trusted friends/others who have already purchased long-term care insurance. If you know people who have coverage, and especially those who may have used their coverage, you can find out how satisfied they are with their policy and the provider! 20 © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. Health Style Exercise Score each section and then check your results using the score key at the end! Almost Always At Times Never 1. I avoid smoking cigarettes 2 1 0 2. I smoke only low tar and nicotine cigarettes or I smoke a pipe or cigars. 2 1 0 ________ ________ ________ 4 1 0 Cigarette Smoking If you never smoke, enter a score of 10 and go on to the next section. Smoking Score: Alcohol & Drugs 1. I avoid drinking alcohol, or I drink only 1 or 2 drinks per day. 2. I avoid using alcohol or other drugs as a way of handling stressful 2 1 0 3. I am careful not to drink alcohol when taking medication. 2 1 0 4. I read and follow the label when using prescription or over-thecounter drugs. 2 1 0 ________ ________ ________ 1. I eat a variety of foods each day such as fruits, vegetables, grains, lean meats, dairy products, beans, nuts, & seeds. 4 1 0 2. I limit the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol I eat. 2 1 0 3. I limit the amount of salt I eat by only cooking with small amounts, not adding salt at the table, & avoiding salty snacks. 2 1 0 4. I avoid eating too much sugar, especially in the form of soda or candy. 2 1 0 ________ ________ ________ 1. I maintain a desired weight (not over or underweight). 3 1 0 2. I do vigorous exercise for 15-30 minutes 3 time per week. 3 1 0 3. I do exercises that enhance my muscle tone for 15-30 minutes 3 times per week. 2 1 0 4. I use part of my leisure time in individual or team activities that increase my level of fitness. 2 1 0 ________ ________ ________ 1. I have a job or do other work that I enjoy. 2 1 0 2. I find it easy to relax and express my feelings freely. 2 1 0 Alcohol & Drug Score: Eating Habits Eating Habits Score: Exercise/Fitness Exercise/Fitness Score: Stress Control 3. I recognize and prepare for events that are likely to be stressful 2 1 0 4. I have close friends or others to whom I can talk about personal matters or call for help. 2 1 0 5. I participate in group activities or hobbies I enjoy. 2 1 0 ________ ________ ________ Stress Control Score: © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. 21 Safety 1. I wear a seat belt in a car. 2 1 0 2. I avoid driving if drinking alcohol or using drugs. 2 1 0 3. I obey traffic rules and speed limits. 2 1 0 4. I am careful when using products or substances that are potentially harmful. 2 1 0 5. I avoid smoking in bed. 2 1 0 ________ ________ ________ Safety Control Score: To see what your score means to you, score each section individually and see the comments below! Score Key — Health Styles Test Scores of 9 & 10: Excellent! Your answers show you are aware of the importance of this area to your health. More importantly, you are putting your knowledge to work for you by practicing good health habits. As long as you continue to do so, this area should not pose a serious health risk. It is likely you are also setting an example for your family and friends to follow. Since you achieved a very high score on this part of the test, you may want to consider other areas where your scores indicate room for improvement. Scores of 6 to 8: Your health practices in this area are good, but there is room for improvement. Look again at the times you answered with a “sometimes” or “almost never.” What changes can you make to improve your score? Even a small change can often help you achieve better health. Scores of 3 to 5: Consult your physician. Your health risks are showing! Would you like more information about the risks you are facing and about why it is important for you to change these behaviors? Perhaps you need help in deciding how to succeed in making the changes you desire. In any case, help is available! Scores of 0 to 2: Obviously, you were concerned enough about your health to take the test, but your answers show you may be taking serious and unnecessary risks with your health. Perhaps you are not aware of the risks and what to do about them. You can easily get information and help you need to improve if you wish. Again, consult your physician! (Original source of test and score key: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.) 22 © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. Estate Planning POAs, Wills, Health Care Directives, Living Trusts How you determine what happens to your assets when you are no longer able to make those decisions! Successful estate planning transfers your assets to your beneficiaries quickly and with minimal tax consequences. It can also assure that your family members know how you’d like your financial and medical affairs to be handled if you become incapable of making your own decisions. This is only a general overview of some of the aspects of estate planning. You should consult an estate attorney, and possibly your CPA or tax advisor, for guidance and help with your specific needs! Even if you don’t think your estate is very large, it likely that you have possessions that have significant value to you and to those you care about, and you want to make sure that they are passed on to the person(s) you choose. Take Stock of What You Own: • • • • • • • • • • Residence/other real estate Savings, CDs, Money Markets, etc. Investments, stocks, bonds, mutual funds Retirement Accounts Life Insurance Policies and Annuities Ownership Interest in Business, etc. Motor Vehicles, boats, trailers, etc. Jewelry Collectibles, art, antiques Other personal property You may need professional advice to determine realistic values. Make a Will: • • • • • Designates the transfer of your property and assets after you die Almost half of all Americans die without one! If you die without a will (intestate) the court steps in and distributes your property according to state law, which may not coincide with your wishes If you have no apparent heirs, it’s even possible the state could claim your estate They’re not just for the rich; they ensure that whatever your assets, they will go to the beneficiaries you designate Probate is a legal term which means to “prove” a will. The court determines that your will is a genuine statement of how you want your estate to be distributed. Depending on how your estate is structured, it could be a very short, or a very long, period. Some assets can be distributed directly to beneficiaries (life insurance, some death benefits from pensions and ongoing survivor benefits, etc). A qualified estate attorney or financial planner can help you determine what is best for you. To be valid, a will must comply with the laws of the state in which you live. Only about half of the states recognize “homemade” wills. Certain states require that certain language be used. Again, it’s best to have yours drawn up by a qualified professional. © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. 23 Will Preparation Services Active workers enrolled in the Concordia Disability and Survivor Plan have the opportunity to receive legal assistance through Will Preparation Services. This services is made available by Minnesota Life, through Ceridian LifeWorks. Visit their website at www.lifeworks.com and use will as your User ID and preparation as the password. You can also call toll-free at 877-849-6034. There are also legal services available to members of the Concordia Health Plan through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offered through Cigna Behavioral Health. You can call toll-free at 866-726-5267 or visit www.cignabehavioral. com for more information. Basic Elements of a Will Include: • • • • • • • • • • • Preamble – Your final comments; can be a great place for a final witness of your faith Your name and place of residence Who your personal representative is (formerly executor) A brief description of your assets and how they are to be divided Names of spouse, children, family members, other beneficiaries, etc. Specific gifts, such as collectables, antiques, autos, etc. Establishment of trusts, if desired Cancellation of debts owed to you, if desired Names of guardian(s) for minor children, if applicable Your signature Witnesses’ signatures Your Personal Representative: • • • Carries out, or executes, the instruction in your will Duties may include: • Collecting your assets • Paying creditors • Paying taxes • Notifying Social Security & other agencies/companies of your death • Canceling credit cards, subscriptions, etc. • Distributing assets according to your wishes If no Personal Representative is named, a probate judge will appoint one, most likely a bank or attorney, which will add to the cost of probate Minimizing Estate Taxes: 1. Giving away assets during your lifetime Generally, federal tax law allows each individual to give away a certain amount per year to anyone, without paying gift taxes, subject to certain restrictions. 2. Using the marital deduction Generally, federal tax laws permit you to transfer assets to your spouse without incurring gift or estate taxes. A drawback can be an increased liability upon the subsequent death of the surviving spouse. 3. Living Trusts An arrangement under which one person (trustee) holds legal title to the property for another (beneficiary). You can be the trustee of your own living trust, keeping full control over all property held in trust. Different kinds of trusts can help you avoid time in probate, reduce estate taxes, or set up long-term property management. • Do you need a trust? • Advantage to making a living trust is that property left through the trust doesn’t have to detour through probate court before it reaches the intended beneficiary. (See information on probate. Since the trust is the “owner,” those assets are not probatable, as they are not owned by you.) • Not everyone has to worry about probate, and some people don’t need a living trust. 24 © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. • How does a living trust avoid probate? • Property you transfer to the trust before your death doesn’t go through probate, as it isn’t “your” property. The successor trustee would transfer ownership to the beneficiaries you name in the trust. That normally can be accomplished in just a few weeks, and there are generally no lawyer or court fees to pay. When all of the property has been transferred, the trust ceases to exist. (Note: If you and your spouse are joint trustees and one dies, the other becomes the trustee, and the successor trustee’s duties don’t go in effect until both are deceased.) • Is it expensive to draw up a living trust? • It can be. That’s why it’s not for everybody. If what your beneficiaries would pay out in probate costs are about the same, or less than the cost of the trust, you might not want one. • Is it a hassle to hold property in a living trust? • It does require some crucial paperwork. Everything that you want covered by the trust must be deeded over to the trust (house, cars, bank accounts, CDs, and the like). That, too, might incur some expense. The good thing is that trusts, unlike wills, are not a matter of public record—so a record of what’s in the trust doesn’t need to be submitted to probate court. • A living trust does not protect you from creditors. • A creditor who wins a lawsuit against you can go after property in a trust, just as if you still owned it yourself. Generally, after your death, all property you owned, including assets held in a living trust, is still subject to your lawful debts. It can be more difficult for creditors to know who inherits property in a trust, simply because of the fact that it is not public record. During probate, known creditors must be notified of the death and given a chance to file claims, but, again, the trust doesn’t go through probate like other assets. • You still need a will with a living trust! • A will covers any property not in the living trust. You can include a clause in your will to “pour over” any unnamed property to your trust. And, if you don’t have a will, any property not in your trust will pass just the same as for any other person who dies intestate. 4. Charitable giving Charitable gifts are not taxed if the contribution is made to a religious, charitable, or educational organization. You, or your estate, may be entitled to a tax deduction for contributions to a qualifying organization. For information on how you can leave a gift to the church, speak with a gift planner in the LCMS Foundation. Estate planning is very complex and is subject to changing laws. Plus, estate laws vary greatly from state to state. Be sure to seek professional advice from a qualified attorney, and perhaps a CPA, when planning your estate. The money you spend now can mean less expense for your beneficiaries at the time of your death. There are resources available through Concordia Plan Services if you are looking for legal advice and don’t know where to turn! © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. 25 Who Will Manage Your Affairs When You Can’t? Everyone faces the possibility that sometime during their lifetime they may become incapacitated. Many people assume that their spouse or children will automatically be allowed to make financial and/or medical decisions for them. This is not necessarily true. What do you need to make sure that your wishes are carried out? 1. Power of Attorney A Power of Attorney (POA) is a legal document that allows one person to appoint someone else to act on his/her behalf. • A durable POA stays in effect throughout the principal’s lifetime, beginning as soon as it is signed. It must contain language stating the agent’s power is to stay in effect even if the principal is incapacitated. • A conventional POA gives the agent whatever powers the principal chooses for a specific period of time, beginning when it is signed. • A springing POA is triggered by a specific event, such as incapacitation. These must be carefully drafted by an attorney so there is no question at to when that “springing event” occurs. For most estate planning purposes, a durable POA is normally used. Signing a POA does not mean that you cannot manage your own affairs; but you must realize that your agent can also act on your behalf at any time as long as the POA is in effect. And you can revoke or cancel a POA at any time; just destroy it or make a new one. If you do make changes, it is good to let all parties involved know. All POAs end when the principal dies. This prevents the duties of the agent from interfering with the duties of the personal representative of the estate. 2. Advance Directives Advance Directives are written documents that tell your doctors what kind of treatment you’d like to have if you become unable to make medical decisions. They do vary from state to state, so you need to make sure you have them reviewed if you move. It’s also very important that they be signed by you before you become very ill! • Living wills come into effect when a person is terminally ill. It allows you to specify the kind of treatment you want in specific situations. • Do Not Resuscitate order (DNR) specifies that if your heart stops, or if you stop breathing, you are not to be given CPR. • Durable Power of Attorney for health care specifies whom you’ve chosen to make medical decisions for you. It is activated any time you are unconscious or unable to make medical decisions. The person you name must: • Be willing to speak on your behalf. • Be willing to deal with conflict among family and friends should it arise. • Know you well and understand your wishes and values. • Be willing to talk to you about these issues. • Be someone you trust with your life. You can have more than one person in this role. It can be a “both/and” arrangement or an “either/or” arrangement. As with all other documents, these do not need to be complicated, but they must be done correctly and comply with the laws in your state. For this reason, they, too, should always be prepared by your attorney. You should also review them with your doctor and your family members, and make sure that they are all aware of your wishes. All involved parties should also be given copies of these documents. 26 © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. Estate planning is not a one-time job. There are a number of life-changes that might call for a review of you plan, including: • • • • • • • • The value of your assets change significantly. You marry, remarry, lose a spouse, etc. You have a new child or grandchild. You move to a different state. The personal representative of your will or administrator of your trust becomes incapacitated, dies, or your relationship with them changes significantly. One of your heirs dies or has a permanent change in health. You have a child who attains age 18. Laws affecting your estate change. Resource Materials: The Key to the Planner www.aarp.org – This website offers free, useful information on estate planning. www.irs.gov – Up-to-date information on estate tax. www.abanet.org – website of the American Bar Association offers information on finding and using an estate planning attorney. Take advantage of the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) available to Concordia Health Plan members through CIGNA Behavioral Health! You can find the “provider” link at www.ConcordiaPlans.org. Some legal services are available through our EAP. Legal assistance is available to active enrolled workers (in the CDSP) through Will Preparation Services. This is made available by Minnesota Life, through Ceridian LifeWorks. Some of the features offered include: • • • • • Will creation Financial Calculators Legal Forms Legal Library Referrals Important Notice: This document is not intended to provide legal advice! It is being provided as general reference information. Before making any legal decisions, you are strongly encouraged to seek professional legal advice. © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. 27 Living Arrangements Where we live in retirement will affect our retirement lifestyle more than any other single decision! If you are married, it is very important that you and your spouse discuss and agree on this issue! If it has not already been discussed, you and your spouse should make a list of your top choices and use them as a starting point for discussion. • • • • • • • What factors led you to choose this location? Will your home provide reasonable comfort now … 10 years from now? What do you need for comfort? What is the proximity to family, friends, church, or other activities? How close feels appropriate? If you have medical concerns, are there facilities nearby for your particular needs? Will it give you and/or your spouse adequate opportunity for volunteer service or part-time employment? What DO you want to do? As a full-time church worker, you need to evaluate the “pros” and “cons” of remaining at or near a former congregation or school after retirement. The ministry of the congregation/school should always be uppermost in everyone’s mind! If you intend to stay in your present home you should determine if it would continue to serve your needs as you age, and what changes you might need to make prior to retirement. A note to ministers: Sometimes staying where you are just won’t be an option. Careful evaluation of the impact on your staying at, or leaving, your current parish should be done before any decisions are made! 28 © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. Where to Live: Some Tools to Use Three place I might consider retiring to: _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ With your spouse, discuss the “pros” and “cons” of each of these potential locations, plus their choices, if different! If you’re thinking of moving once you’re retired, here are some tools to use when checking out your potential new retirement location. Pulling Up Stakes Among people age 60 and older who moved across state lines in the past several years, the largest number settled in: Florida Arizona California Texas North Carolina 19.1% 6.4% 6.1% 4.8% 3.7% Before you start packing you might want to take at look at the following “relocation calculators.” Although many are designed to help people with work-related relocation, they can also be helpful to retirees. www.retirementliving.com — A look at taxes and other demographics in each state, including income tax (or lack of it) for retirees, property tax, etc. By the way … the state with the lowest tax burden is Alaska! Buy some mittens! (A paid membership is required to get full access to all pages.) www.relocationessentials.com — Click on “community research” to compare various communities. Median home values, average temperature, cost of living, groceries, health care, and even local crime rates. For example, one of the lowest crime rates is in Tucson, Arizona. www.bestplaces.net — Can give information on people, climate, housing, cost of living, transportation, religion, etc. Also comments/feedback from residents. www.bsu.edu/wellcomehome/index.html — If you’re among the people planning to stay in your current home, this can help you figure out how to make it both safer and easier to navigate as you age. It’s a great site for any homeowner … staying or moving! © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. 29 Where to Live: Some Factors to Consider Read through this checklist of location and housing issues, definitions, and questions. Identify the FIVE most important to you. Then answer the questions to the right of the five you marked. ________ PLACE It feels like “home.” What does home feel like to you? ________ CONTINUITY It has a good balance of the familiar and the novel. What is the balance for you? ________ COMFORT The house will provide reasonable comfort … now … ten years from now. What do you need for comfort? What kind of housing will provide it? ________ CLIMATE It is in an area that provides the seasons, temperature, humidity, I prefer. What are these? ________ AFFORDABILITY It fits my budget. What do you have in yourretirement budget for house payments or rent and other housing expenses? ________ The location is close to family and friends. How close feels appropriate? PROXIMITY (Family/friends) ________ TRANSPORTATION Public transportation is available. How close to public transportation do I need to be now … ten years from now … later? ________ RELATIONSHIPS It is near people who will give stimulation and support. What do I require for this? ________ MEDICAL Medical facilities are nearby for my/our particular medical needs. How close is “nearby” and what are our needs? ________ The location will give adequate opportunity for the exercise of emerging vocations. What do I want to do? WORK AFTER RETIREMENT ________ CHURCH The congregation will be important as my worshipping community. How will I find this congregation? Will there be freedom to create relationships which will not cause tensions with those serving in full-time ministry in this congregation? ________ CULTURE (And sporting) There are sufficient cultural opportunities for me. Which activities are important to me? ________ VARIETY Intergenerational variety is important. What are my needs? ________ KEEPING FIT There are sufficient opportunities available for staying physically fit. What are my preferences? ________ STAYING PUT I prefer to retire and live in my present home in my present community. What conditions are necessary to make my current home ready for retirement? Will it still serve my needs in ten years … later? 30 © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. Staying in Your Present Home If you are considering staying where you are, consider the following: • • • • • • • • Is maintenance available and affordable? Are cabinets, appliances, and counters at a comfortable height? Where are the bathrooms, bedrooms, laundry room located? (Stairs?) Are electrical outlets in mid-wall rather than close to the floor? Are floors covered with non-skid surfaces? Do stairways have sturdy railings? Is lighting adequate? Do you have smoke/radon detectors? List things you like most about staying in your present home 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. List things in your present home to change before you retire 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. 31 When is it Best to Announce Your Retirement? • • • • 32 Concordia Plan Services prefers a three month notice when you are announcing your retirement. Contact Social Security, if applicable, at the same time. Concordia Plans will send out a retirement packet including the benefit application, information on receiving benefits, how much you might expect to receive, continuing health care coverage, and their related information. What about your employer, your district, and the like? Is three months enough? Probably not! • Consider the needs of the congregation, or whoever you are employed by, especially if they will be conducting “ministry needs” studies prior to filling a vacancy. • Consider your needs, and those of the congregation, when it comes to having enough time to plan and say “goodbyes.” Closure is very important. • Consider the needs of your spouse and family members as they might need to say their goodbyes. • If you are considering some sort of continued service in that same congregation after retirement, adequate time to study and lay out guidelines as to your duties and responsibilities will be needed. • Use the time after the announcement, but prior to actual retirement, to “zone in” on those special areas that you really want to get accomplished prior to retiring. It can be a time of “revitalization” as you go out with a “flourish” rather than just disappearing! • Use the time after your announcement to single out those people that you need to have special closure with. Those who have been close to you and helped you through your ministry might need additional time for recognition and their own personal goodbyes. Also, what about the people who “gave you grief” during your ministry? They, too, need your ministry and support, even if it’s just to thank them for making you “stronger” through their challenges. Many church workers are uncomfortable with saying goodbye, or receiving any sort of recognition. It is important to realize that this is needed by the congregation sometimes more than by the worker. You may have had time to let it “sink in,” but have those you’ve been ministering to? It is quite often hard for a congregation to move on with a new ministry and new leadership if they haven’t had adequate time for closure and to “grieve” the loss of a former shepherd or teacher. © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. Balancing Work, Play, and Learning Who Are You . . . In Retirement? Imagine you have been retired for two years and you are going to be introduced to a group of people who want to know what you do and what your interests are. What would you say to them if you were not permitted to use the words “formerly” or “retired from” or “spouse of?” “If you are what you do, if you don’t, you aren’t.” An important part of retirement is balancing your time with working, volunteering, recreation, and learning. • • • • • Identify activities (for pay or volunteer) that you would enjoy doing in retirement. In particular, identify ways in which you would like to serve the church after retirement. What resources does the Synod, your district, or your local congregation have to offer you? Continuing to learn is an important part of a healthy retirement. Identify learning opportunities (college courses, community center classes, etc.) that you might wish to take advantage of. Do you have hobbies that you wish to pursue? If they aren’t hobbies that you currently enjoy, you might want to “try them out” before retirement! Sit down and plan what a typical week will be like after you’ve been retired for a year or more. Do a daily schedule. How difficult is it to fill your days? Now is the time to develop the interests that you want to continue to pursue in retirement! © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. 33 Work — Sharing Time in Service to Others Complete Work Reorientation Exercise Identify 5 activities (for pay or as a volunteer) you would enjoy doing in retirement. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. What activities are related to your present work? What activities have nothing to do with what you do now? Identify ways in which you would like to serve the church after retirement. What resources does the Synod, your district, or your congregation have to assist you? Looking for new ideas about working in retirement? Whether you’re doing it for the income or just to stay busy, you might be interested in the following website: www.encorecareer.org. It has resources to help you if you’re looking for a new career, or just part-time work, in retirement! Continuing in the Ministry Staying where you are is often quite difficult, if not totally impossible, especially for pastors. • • • • 34 What’s at stake for the ministry you’ve been serving? What’s at stake for you successor? Assisting at your prior ministry can work successfully with a lot of pre-planning and careful understanding of limitations on all sides. There are more “horror” stories than “success” stories, so carefully review your options with your District President! © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. Play — Spending Time I would like to… 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Complete Leisure Internet Exercise #1 (and review #2) Learn — Investing Time I would like to learn more about… 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Do you know what educational opportunities are available to older adults in your area? Through community centers? Local colleges? © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. 35 Work Reorientation Exercises Some people say they want to work after retirement, some don’t. Some people were never intended to retire in the “traditional” way. The most important thing to do is to evaluate your options, realizing that what might be best for someone else isn’t always right for you. List as many different types of work that you might ever have thought of for yourself under each of the following four categories: 1. Full-time 2. Part-time 3. Own/new business 4. Volunteer What factors are important to you in the ideal post-retirement job? What other “personal enhancers” would add to your post-retirement job? Optional: Share with others in your small group/discuss pros and cons of your, and their, ideas. How can you help support others in their retirement plans? 36 © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. Leisure Interests Exercise #1 Leisure (play) is where you find it. One person’s leisure is another’s work. Retirement is a stage where, unlike previous life stages, leisure can become the most central focal point of your life. Leisure also falls into different categories, whether social, creative, solitary, etc. This exercise is designed to help you understand that leisure is all around you, even in activities that you may not have thought of as leisure! This may help you to itemize the many, many activities that are leisure. For each leisure activity listed, place a “√” in one of the boxes next to it, labeled “frequent,” “occasional,” or “never/hardly ever.” When finished, add up your points in each section, giving yourself 3 points for each “frequent,” 2 points for each “occasional,” and 1 point for each “never/hardly ever.” Then total all six categories. Based on the table at the end, how’s your leisure stacking up? Social Interaction Frequent Occasional Never/ Hardly ever Invite friends over Write letters (or e-mail) Attend parties Play cards/games Visit the neighbors Attend club/public events Argue Make social telephone calls Social Interaction Total: Spectator Appreciation _ ___________________ Frequent Occasional Never/ Hardly ever Watching TV Going to the movies Watching children play Bird watching Attending ballgames/spectator sports Travel and sightseeing Going to “live” theater Attending concerts People watching Notice changes in buildings/landscapes Spectator Appreciation Total: © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. _ ___________________ 37 Creative Expression Frequent Occasional Never/ Hardly ever Cook fancy dishes/dinners Plan a party Make flower arrangements Do woodworking/metal work/etc. Write stories or poetry Compose music Participate in any of the performing arts Paint or draw pictures Photography Home redecoration Doodle Creative Expression Total: Intellectual Stimulation _ ___________________ Frequent Occasional Never/ Hardly ever I attend lectures I visit the art/other museums I discuss/debate controversial subjects I go to the library I participate in service/volunteer activities I collect something I read I keep up on current events I see travelogs I take time to answer children’s questions Intellectual Stimulation Total: 38 _ ___________________ © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. Physical Exercise Frequent Occasional Never/ Hardly ever I work in the garden/yard I take walks I avoid the elevators/take the stairs Take part in sports (bowl/swim/golf/etc.) Dance Ride a bicycle Fish, hunt, or camp Refinish antiques Pick wildflowers Window shop Physical Exercise Total: Solitary Relaxation _ ___________________ Frequent Occasional Never/ Hardly ever I read I work crossword puzzles I hum or whistle I listen to CDs/tapes/records I keep scrapbooks I sit on the porch/deck by myself I loaf I day dream I watch the snow fall or listen to the rain I take naps Solitary Relaxation Total _ ___________________ TOTAL SCORE FROM ALL SIX CATEGORIES: _ ___________________ How does your leisure life rank now? Under 80: 81-100: 101-140: 141-160: 161-180: Are you sure you’re alive? You’re probably headed for that old rocking chair! You have a well-balanced recreational program. You either have an extra-ordinary zest for life, or you can’t add! WOW! It’s a wonder you can keep up with yourself! How do you picture this changing in retirement? Would your score differ if you were to re-take it as a retiree? © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. 39 Leisure Interests Exercise #2 Below is a comprehensive, but by no means complete, list of leisure activities. Which do you do now? Which ones might you be interested in taking up in retirement? Add your own … think outside the box! Acting/dramatics Antiquing Archery Attending auctions Attending concerts Auto racing Auto repair Backgammon Backpacking Badminton Baseball/softball Basketball Bicycling Billiards/pool Bingo Bird watching Board games Bookbinding Book reviews Bowling Boxing Bus tours Camping Canoeing Card games Carpentry Ceramics/pottery Checkers/Chess Civic organizations Coffee club Collecting coins Collecting other: Conservation/ecology Cooking/baking Crafts Cribbage Croquet Crossword puzzles Dancing: ballet Dancing (exercise) Dancing (social) Designing clothing Dining out Discussions Dominoes Drawing Driving Electronics Embroidery Encounter groups Exercising Fencing Fishing: fresh water Fishing: salt water Flower arranging Flying/gliding Folk dancing Football Fraternal orgs. Gardening Go to community center Go to races Go to nightclubs Go to opera/Ballet Go to plays/lectures Golf Gymnastics Hiking/walking Home decorating Horseback riding Hunting Ice Fishing Ice skating Jigsaw puzzles Jogging Judo/Karate Kite flying Knitting/crocheting Leatherwork Listen to radio Listen to CDs/tapes Marksmanship Mechanics Metalwork Miniature golf Model building Monopoly Motor boating Motorcycling Mountain climbing Needle work Outings Painting/drawing Parties Pets Picnics Playing music instruments Political activities Reading Religious organizations Roller skating Rowing/boating Rug hooking Sailing Scrabble Sculpture Sewing Shopping Shuffleboard Sightseeing Singing Skiing (snow) Skin diving Social drinking Square dancing Squash/handball Sunbathing Swimming Table games Table tennis Taking pictures Talking books Talking on the phone Tatting Tennis Travel abroad Visiting friends Visiting museums Volleyball Volunteering Watching entertainers Watching sports Watching TV Water skiing Weaving Weight lifting Window shopping Writing poetry Writing stories Woodworking 40 © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. Living in Retirement Ways to Spend Your Free Time! Here’s just a small list of places you can check for volunteer opportunities, ongoing education, or just travel and leisure time. Remember, those who do best in retirement are those who have a passion, or “cause,” that helps keep life meaningful for them! LCMS Volunteer Opportunities The LCMS offers many volunteer posts throughout each year, both short and long-term. For information, go to the LCMS website at www.lcms.org and click on the “Get Involved” link on the left. Some of these include: • • • • • Find out about short- and long-term volunteer mission opportunities with LCMS World Mission. Volunteer opportunities to assist with disaster relief and recovery are sometimes noted on the website of LCMS World Relief and Human Care. The 72—Partners on the Road (formerly Harvesters for Christ) are retired volunteers, laity and/or professional church workers, with hearts for those who do not know Jesus. Learn about how YOU can become a member of the Harvester for Christ Ministry teams of the LCMS District and Congregational Services—Outreach Ministry. Laborers For Christ (part of LCEF) provides opportunities for individuals to construct new facilities for mission and ministry. Servant Events, sponsored by the District and Congregational Services—Youth Ministry, offers opportunities for young people and adults to experience and grow in a Christ-like style of servanthood. Lutheran Hour Ministries LHM offers opportunities for you to get involved in short term mission and service projects either at home or abroad. Many are partnered with LCMS World Missions. Disaster relief, mission projects, teaching VBS in foreign countries — there are lots of opportunities. Go to: www.lhm.org & click the “How You Can Help” link on the left! The following organizations have been compiled to give an example of the many possibilities for service and/or educational opportunities. Concordia Plan Services and the LCMS do not necessarily endorse the organizations or resources listed. Heifer Project International Heifer Project offers hungry families around the world a way to feed themselves and become self-reliant. They offer opportunities to give of your time, your talents, and your treasures to help end world hunger. Call: (800) 422-0474 www.heifer.org Elderhostel Discover more than 8,000 learning adventures in all 50 states and more than 90 countries abroad. Elderhostel offers in-depth and behind-the-scenes learning experiences for almost every interest and ability. History, culture, nature, music, outdoor activities such as walking and biking, individual skills, crafts, study cruises: Enjoy these and many more with the not-for-profit leader in educational travel. Elderhostelers represent a unique community of adults united under a commitment to lifelong learning. Call: (800) 454-5768 www.elderhostel.org © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. 41 American Red Cross The Red Cross provides medical services, services to the Armed Forces, disaster relief, and international services. You can contact your local Red Cross for opportunities in your area, or go to: www.redcross.org and click the “Volunteer Time” link. Habitat For Humanity Habitat For Humanity members build homes and hope while learning new skills. They work through many different agencies, including local congregations, which are a primary partner in Habitat’s work, as people put their faith into action. Call: (229) 924-6935 x2551 or x2552 E-mail: [email protected] www.habitat.org National Park Service The National Park Service offers many opportunities for volunteer service in parks around the United States. Both short and long-term volunteer positions are available in selected parks from campsite hosts, to sign replacement, to helping with fundraising or educating young park visitors. When you go to the website you can search by park or by state. www.nps.gov/volunteer/ Check your local area and congregation, too! Most communities have ample opportunities for service, and special events for retirees. With all these opportunities, there’s no reason NOT to get involved and MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Remember, these are just some ideas to help get you thinking … the possibilities are almost limitless, so explore them. 42 © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. A Pre-Retirement Schedule 50 is a “magic number” when it comes to retirement planning! Turning 50 is a logical time at which to take stock of your retirement situation, whether your target date is 5 or 15 years away. That’s when you can start making “catch-up” contributions to your 403(b). You can also contribute to an IRA, including catch-up contributions! The following timeline may help you decide what you need to do and when you might want to do it: 1st Day on the Job, you may want to: Make sure you’re enrolled in the retirement plan! Begin participating right away in your 403(b) tax-deferred savings plan, making sure that you contribute at least enough to get the full employer match. Age 35, you may want to: Earmark a portion of each raise to your retirement savings. Your ultimate goal: Sock away 10-15% of your gross income (this include your employer’s match to your 403(b) plan). Age 50, you may want to: Start making catch-up contributions to your 403(b) and your IRAs, if applicable. Begin looking at your debt, especially credit card debts or loans, but also your mortgage, and try to eliminate as much as possible before retirement. It’s also a good time to review your pension benefits and retirement savings to see where you stand. Age 62-64, you may want to: Consider taking early Social Security benefit. However, you must realize that your payment may be reduced by 25% or more for life! Age 65-67, you may want to: Start collecting full Social Security retirement benefits, depending on your birth year. The earnings cap limit disappears when you reach your Social Security Full Retirement Age. Age 70, you may want to: Sign up for Social Security benefits, even if you’re still working full-time. Extra retirement credits end at this age for those who have delayed collecting benefits. Age 70½, it may be time to: Start taking minimum distributions from your qualified retirement accounts if you have not already done so. Of course, if you’re still working full-time, this isn’t required! Pre-Retirement Countdown 10 Years Before Retirement, you may want to: Assess your spending habits and create a budget. Set a tentative date to pay off your high interest debts if you haven’t already done so. Ask for benefit estimates for various retirement ages you might be considering. 5 Years Before Retirement, you may want to: Investigate housing and community options. If you’re considering relocating, give the new area a “trial run” to make sure it meets your needs and wants. Start giving some of those new ideas for your retirement “leisure time” a trial run, too! 2 Years Before Retirement, you may want to: Contact Concordia Plan Services and Social Security for benefit projections, information about working after retirement, Medicare and Concordia Health Plan coverage, etc. 1 Year Before Retirement, or at age 64, you should: Become familiar with Medicare (Parts A & B) and how your health coverage/claims will change after retirement. Get acquainted with programs and services for retired persons in the community in which you will retire, including volunteer opportunities through the Synod. Start finalizing some of those plans for continued work, leisure activities, and ongoing educational opportunities, as applicable. 3 Months Before Retirement, you will need to: Contact Concordia Plan Services and request a Retirement Application Packet. And, if you have not already done so, notify your employer of your impending retirement date. Also, complete your application for Social Security and Medicare benefits, depending on your age. 1 Month Before Retirement, you may want to: Finalize any last tasks at work. Make sure any plans for your time immediately following your retirement are in place. Prepare yourself for the mixed emotions you will experience! © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. 43 Your Retirement: Questions to Ask Yourself Have you decided at what age you would like to retire? If you have decided when you would like to retire, when will that be? How you decided what level of income you would like to have when you retire? If you have decided what level of income you would like, how did you make this determination? Have you discussed these decisions with you spouse (as applicable), and has he/she made similar decisions? In deciding when you are going to retire, was retiring at a particular age or retiring with a certain income more important? Why? If retiring at a particular age is more important, would you be willing to live at a lower standard of living to meet that date? If retiring at a particular age is more important, would you be willing to increase your savings now to meet that date? If retiring with a certain income is more important, would you be willing to work longer to meet that income need? If retiring with a certain income is more important, would you be willing to increase your savings now to meet that date? Have you decided what you will be doing with your time once you have retired from your current position? Have you evaluated your options for continued work, volunteer service, recreation, and family time after retirement? Have you determined where you intend to live after retirement? Have you shared this decision with your spouse (if applicable) and does he/she have similar plans? Have you evaluated your health care needs after retirement? Would you agree or disagree with the statement, “You are responsible for your own retirement.” Why? Would you agree or disagree with the statement, “Retirement means never having to work again.” Why? In Conclusion Think about the experience of planning for your retirement. What are the next two or three steps you plan to take? How prepared will you be for retirement? It’s up to YOU! As time allows, complete Optional Dependent Exercises #1 & #2, and Marriage & Family Exercise While, ultimately, the success of your retirement plans is up to you, it’s equally important to know that Concordia Plan Services is here to help you. Please feel free to contact our office whenever you have questions about your benefits or other retirement planning issues. 44 © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. Optional — Dependent Exercise #1 Our society as been delaying the “breaking away from the nest” process in recent years. Since 1970 there has been a 34% increase of 18-24 year olds and a 150% increase in 25-34 year olds living at home with their parents. Many things have contributed to this, especially salaries, cost of housing, and delaying marriage. In 1950 the average age of marriage for women was 20 and 22 for men. By 1990 these rose to 24 and 26 respectively. Divorce of both parents and adult children has forced them back to living together, too. Unfortunately, adult children remaining at, or returning to, home can easily grow into resentment or even selfrecrimination. Do you have direct or indirect responsibilities for children still? Do you still worry about your children? Read the following statements and react to them with others in your group: 1. 2. 3. It is best to let your child know what you expect before he or she moves back into your home. Make your convictions/desires very clear with regard to: a) Music b) Visitors c) Neatness d) Helping out/chores e) Hours, etc. Offer encouragement, not advice. Most adult children know they should be out on their own, and most would rather be. 4. Respect your child’s right to privacy. 5. Listen to each other. 6. If at all possible, set a timetable for departure. Optional — Dependent Exercise #2 Having other people dependent upon you creates a special situation for anyone preparing for retirement. It is sometimes important to think carefully about this issue, as it could needlessly contribute to anxiety as you prepare for this important life transition. It is the nature of our existence to have caregiving responsibilities. In the middle years, or “sandwich generation,” people often have lingering responsibilities for their own children and the growing burden of also caring for aging parents. This double bind can bring much stress with it. Directions: Discuss the following questions within your small group, if time allows. If this is a situation you are, or will be, facing, discuss it with your spouse or family members, too. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. In general, how do you feel about your present (or anticipated future) caregiving responsibilities. What level of burden do you currently feel regarding your caregiving for children, grandchildren, or aging parents? What would your life be like if you didn’t have caregiving responsibilities? Would you handle the caregiving responsibilities of other group members differently than they are?* What changes would you like to make in the way you handle your caregiving responsibilities? *Question 4 is optional, based on the comfort level of the group discussing this together. © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. 45 Optional — Marriage & Family Exercise A Guideline for Couples Approaching Retirement This exercise is designed to address your support system: Your marriage or significant friendship, etc. Most other issues in life line up behind this one in terms of priority, so it is crucial to build this one on a solid foundation, or just “double check” your foundation to make sure it is still strong! This is designed as “homework” for you and your spouse, if applicable! Re-negotiate your marriage contract! When you were first married, you developed a “contract” with your partner, whether written or not. Some things to consider in your contract: 1. How much time will we spend together? How much solitary time do we each need? 2. Do we have the same tastes? Which ones are different? How can we validate and support each other in these? 3. How will we spend our money? Give validating statements. Let your partner know you are listening to them and trying to understand. Give your partner some space. Respect each others need for privacy, especially as you will be spending much more time together in retirement! Encourage other friendships. No one can satisfy all of another person’s needs. If you spend all of your time together, what “new things” will you have to share in your conversations? Develop new routines. What activities might you participate in together? Separately? Swap and share roles in the home and life. Keep up your appearance (both of you). Make special efforts to communicate with each other! 46 © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. Notes/Things to do © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. 47 Notes/Things to do 48 © 2012 Concordia Plan Services. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. Education & Outreach Eustolio Gomez, Director of Education Concordia Plan Services 1333 South Kirkwood Road P.O. Box 229007 St. Louis, MO 63122-9007 Toll-free: 888-927-7526 Local: 314-965-7580 Fax: 314-966-1127 www.ConcordiaPlans.org E-mail: [email protected] 11622-0512
© Copyright 2025 Paperzz