Notes
Slide Show
Outline
1
Unclassified Retirement Seminar
March 2006
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Annuity
  • An annuity is a paycheck after retirement.  It is paid by the Wisconsin Retirement System for the remainder of your life.


  • Anyone with “sufficient credits” is eligible to receive an annuity.



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Annuity vs. Lump Sum
2005
  • If Annuity is less than $143.00 per month
    • Lump Sum
  • If Annuity is between $143.00 and $289.00
    • Either Lump Sum or Monthly Annuity
  • If Annuity is $289.00 or more,
    • Monthly Annuity.
  • These figures increase annually



4
Formula Calculation
  • Monthly average of three highest years
  • Times multiplier (1.765%,   1.6%)
  • Times number of years of service
  • Equals Monthly Annuity
  • Maximum of 70% of final average earnings
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Money Purchase Option
  • Total Account Value
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Full Retirement Benefit
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Age Reduction Factor
Based on age and years of WRS Service
  • Age 55 with 10 years of service…..64.8%


  • Age 55 with 25 years of service….84.0%


  • Age 55 with 30 years of service….90.4%
  • Age 57 with 10 years of service….74.4%


  • Age 57 with  25 years of service….93.6%


  • Age 57 with 30 years of service….100%
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Accelerated Payments
  • Available if under age 62


  • WRS pays a higher amount prior to age 62


  • WRS reduces at age 62


  • Social Security starts at 62


  • WRS (before age 62) equals WRS (after age 62) plus Social Security


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Add to your retirement
  • Buying back forfeited service
  • (terminated and withdrew money)


  • Buying back other government service


  • Military Service (Active)                       (one year of Military service for each 5 years of WRS)   Maximum = 4 years of additional WRS




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Annuity Options
  • For Annuitant’s Life Only
  • Life with 60 Payments Guaranteed
  • Life with 180 Payments Guaranteed
  • 75% Continued to Named Survivor
  • 100% Continued to Named Survivor
  • Reduced 25% on Death of Annuitant or Named Survivor
  • 100% Continued to Named Survivor with 180 Payments Guaranteed



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Taxation
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Will my retirement check increase?
  • Fixed Retirement


  • Fixed dividend adjustment applied on May 1


  • First year is prorated


  • Will never be lower than base annuity
  • Variable Retirement


  • Variable adjustment is applied to the variable portion on May 1


  • Can increase or decrease
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Fixed Trust Fund
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Variable Fund
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Yes, You can enroll in Variable
  • Complete a variable election form (available in Human Resources)
  • Effective on January 1, the following year
  • 50% of future contributions will be deposited in the Variable Fund
  • 50% of contributions will continue to be deposited in the Fixed Fund
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Calculate your retirement
  • Calculate your own by visiting the ETF website:


  • http://etf.wi.gov/
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If you die before you retire….
  • Death Benefits are paid to your beneficiary


  • Includes employee share and the state match


  • As long as you are an active employee
  • If you are over age 55:


  • Your beneficiary would be able to select a joint survivor option.


  • Could be calculated as a retirement



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Permanent and Total Disability
  • Must meet creditable service requirements
  • Must be totally and permanently disabled
  • Must not have reached normal retirement age
  • Must not be gainfully employed
  • 2 Physicians must certify total disability
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Health Insurance
  • Unused Sick leave credits pay for health insurance premiums


  • Premium from annuity check when credits are gone


  • Dual choice opportunities


  • Premiums reduce when eligible for Medicare @ age 65


  • If spouse is state employee, you can use both accounts


  • Supplemental Sick Leave (sick leave enhancement)




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Sick Leave Conversion
    • Hourly Rate
    • Base Monthly Rate / 174



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Supplemental Sick Leave
  • Must have 15 years of adjusted continuous service
    • Will match up to 52 hours for each year, 1 – 24
    • Will match up to 104 hours for each year 25 +


  • 500 hours credited for catastrophic illness
    • If 500 hours are used within 3 years of retirement
    • For one catastrophic illness
    • These hours are not matched
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Calculation of Supplemental SL
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2006 Monthly Insurance Premiums
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State Group Life Insurance
  • Provides death benefit after retirement:
  • If you have coverage in each of 5 years
  • And are eligible to receive an immediate annuity


  • No premium after age 65 if retired


  • Death benefit decreases
  • 75% of Basic Coverage while age 65
  • 50% of Basic Coverage age 66 and older


  • Convert to pay long term care insurance
  • Partial conversion to pay health insurance premiums after age 66,
  • if sick leave credits have been exhausted


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Other Insurance
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Employment after Retirement
  • Must be a good faith termination
  • May return to UW System employment after a 30 day break in Service
  • May work for another employer
  • Will not affect your WRS annuity
  • May affect your social security
  • These laws may change
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Supplemental Retirement
  • Tax Sheltered Annuity (403b)
  • 2006
  • Maximum = $15,000.00
  • Plus $5,000.00 if > 50 yrs
  • Plus $3000.00 excess deferrals*
  • *subject to past catch-up contributions
  • Wisconsin Deferred Compensation (457)
  • 2006


  • Maximum $15,000.00
  • Plus $5,000.00 if > 50 yrs


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What do I do when I’m ready to retire?
  • UW-EC or DETF
  • Order retirement packet long before retirement
  • Start early, 6 months to 1 year before retirement
  • Make an appointment with UW-EC HR office, or with DETF


  • Social Security


  • Ask questions about social security earnings


  • Ask questions about Medicare


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HELP

  • Human Resources – UW-Eau Claire
  • Donna Weber, Interim Director
  • weberdj@uwec.edu, (715)836-3871
  • Diane Willer, Benefits Specialist
  • willerdm@uwec.edu, (715)836-6007


  • Department of Employee Trust Funds
  • Toll free:  (877)533-5020
  • website: http://etf.wi.gov