It’s never too early to begin planning for your retirement, and our Route 1 and 2 are eLearnings available anytime on our website. Route 3: Destination in Sight marks the first educational opportunity offered as a live-streaming, interactive webinar led by ASRS Retirement Specialists, where you can ask questions and get real-time answers. Route 3 is designed for members within three years of retirement.
Here's an overview of the information covered in Route 3:
- Defined Benefit Plan and Pension Formula. Learn about the type of plan you and your employer contribute to and how your monthly pension benefit will be calculated.
- Retirement Criteria. Learn about eligibility for retirement and the difference between early, normal, and late retirement.
- Annuity Options. This section covers your seven annuity options for how your monthly pension will be paid to you and how leaving funds for your beneficiaries factors into your choice.
- Can You Afford to Retire? Discover retirement expenses you may not have considered, such as health insurance, and how other sources of retirement income can augment your pension in your retirement years.
- Service Purchase. Learn the "how" and "why" of purchasing past service you may have had with qualifying employers.
- Retirement Timelines and Member Responsibilities. Finally, learn what to expect and how to plan for the year before your intended retirement. Find out when you can submit your retirement application and the timetable for when and how you will start receiving your first pension payment. You'll also learn about the many online resources available to help you, such as videos and publications, as well as the importance of your myASRS secure account.
NOTE: While some members choose only to attend the Route 4 meeting (the final meeting in the series), the ASRS does not advise skipping Route 3. Route 3 is a prerequisite and provides a foundation for understanding what you will learn in Route 4. You will get much more out of your Route 4 experience if you have been through the preparation that Route 3 guides you through.
To see a list of upcoming meeting times and locations, visit our website's Member Education page. Meetings are typically scheduled two months out, with more meetings scheduled in high-volume retirement periods. Registration is required for both in-person meetings and webinars. You can register through your secure myASRS account. After logging in, select the "Communication & Education" dropdown from the left-hand navigation, click “Member Meetings,” and follow the prompts to register.
Ready to continue your journey? Click here to launch the pre-recorded video version Route 3 or here to see the list of upcoming Route 3 meeting dates.
