TIAA, one of Illinois Tech’s 403(b) Retirement Plan vendors, has announced several Financial Essentials webinars running from March 16-24. Sessions are listed below, are open to all retirement plan participants regardless of the vendor with which they invest, and are available for on-demand viewing for 30 days following the live broadcasts. For additional information and to register, visit tiaa.org/webinars.

• The SECURE Act – March 16 at 11 a.m.: The SECURE Act (Setting Every Community up for Retirement Enhancement Act), passed on December 20, 2019, made sweeping changes to the retirement plan landscape. Learn about the changes and how they impact your retirement planning considerations.

• Strategies for staying on track – March 16 at 2 p.m.: No matter how much or how little money you can save for retirement, it’s important that you start now and stay invested for your future. You can learn how taking smart financial steps today, may help lead you to a solid financial future after you’ve stopped working.

• Social Security basics – March 17 at 11 a.m.: Social Security will likely play a significant role in building your retirement income. Learn the basics about Social Security including eligibility, how to apply, how your benefit is calculated and strategies for claiming benefits.

• Retiring in the new normal – March 17 at 2 p.m.: We all know how important it is to save for retirement. This presentation brings many of the risks to light so you have a better understanding of what you may be facing and what you can do about it, especially in this new environment. Namely, shifting your strategy from just growing your money to protecting what you’ve saved as it grows. And for those still working, we’ll talk about protecting your income in retirement, by creating a guaranteed income stream to help cover essential expenses and next steps you can take to help protect your retirement future.

• Understanding Medicare – March 18 at 11 a.m.: Paying for healthcare in retirement is a critical part of financial planning, and it is important to understand how Medicare operates and what choices you have. This webinar will help you understand some aspects of Medicare, including eligibility and what plans are available to you. We hope that you will join us for this educational event.

• Home buying 101: A financial primer for first-time home buyers – March 18 at 2 p.m.: Buying your first home is a big deal and comes with lots of new experiences—and expenses—along the way. Get expert insights on the key steps and considerations for your home buying journey, including the three phases: preparing to search, finding your home and getting to closing.

• Social Security strategies for married couples – March 23 at 11 a.m.: Married couples can take advantage of some strategies that may help to increase lifetime Social Security benefits. You can learn the basics about spousal benefits, understand the many variables involved in claiming strategies and how married couples can boost their benefits by coordinating the timing of their claims.

• Estate planning basics – March 24 at 11 a.m.: Ensuring that our assets will pass to loved ones, and causes that are near and dear is important to most of us. Discover the components of a basic estate plan and strategies to ensure that your wishes are met.

For information on Illinois Tech’s retirement plans, please visit the HR Portal Retirement Plan page. As always, questions regarding the retirement plan can be directed to Viktoria Rill in Human Resources at vrill@iit.edu or x73353.