Curriculum of Retirement Education Brochure
From MTA: In keeping with our commitment to bring you information that our members may benefit from, we recently met with MetLife to understand their capabilities in helping our members build financial freedom through financial education workshops. We are delighted to share this information with you. The foundation of MetLife's program is entitled Curriculum of Retirement Education (CORE). Recognizing the need for members to be educated on financial matters, CORE is designed to help plan participants set goals for educated planning and investing, and to help them attain the security, comfort and quality of life they desire in retirement. Having been in business for more than 140 years, MetLife has learned a lot about employee benefit needs over the years. In their recently published Employee Benefit Trends Study, MetLife reported that many employees are turning to their employers for advice and guidance about benefits, retirement and general financial needs. The report indicated that 58% of employees in the education industry say they are behind in their retirement savings goals or have not even started. 1 The issue is obviously an important one. I encourage you to review the attached brochure and speak to your superintendent about implementing MetLife's CORE financial education program. During your conversation, it will be helpful for you to know that 403(b) plan regulations changed, effective January 1, 2009. With the advent of the new 403(b) rules, there are communication requirements related to 403(b) plans that employers must meet in order to avoid tax issues that may arise if their plan's eligibility rules do not comply with the Universal Availability requirement. Employee group seminars can help with meeting the regulations' effective opportunity requirement. Saving for retirement is an important issue for our members. By advocating a program such as this in your school district, and helping to promote attendance, you can help ensure that members receive a program of financial education that can help them plan smartly for future comfort and security. If you have any questions or need further information regarding this program, please contact Chris Burnes at 508.870.1925, ext. 4465. Sincerely, Constance T. Dery Constance T. Dery President, MTA Benefits, Inc.
The CORE seminar series is divided into three distinct tracks that address a broad range of information at a variety of levels -- for employees at every stage of life.