From automated services for managing your money, to videos and articles that engage and educate, to on-site counselors who really care, you'll find what you need to help meet your challenges with confidence.
Workshops/Recorded Presentations
How do I Enroll and Save for Retirement? Learn about the features associated with the State of Connecticut 457 Plan and the 403(b) Plan. This includes a review of the Plan highlights, the importance of proper asset allocation and an overview of the various tools available to help you reach your retirement savings goal.
An Overview of the State of Connecticut Tier IV Plan: Learn about the features associated with the Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution sections of the Tier IV Plan. This includes a review of the Plan highlights as well as an overview of the various tools available to help you reach your retirement savings goal.
Options to Consider Before and After Retirement: Learn about the unique benefits your Plan has to offer, your distribution options, and those steps to consider as you approach (or reach) your retirement.
457 Plan Special 3-Year Catch-Up Option Tutorial: Learn about the plan feature available to 457 Plan participants who are not eligible to participate and contribute to the 403(b) Plan. This tutorial includes details about your potential eligibility, how to determine your catch-up amount and the specifics around the application process.
Deferral of Vacation and Sick Leave Payouts from your Final Paycheck Tutorial: Learn how you can contribute a portion of unused vacation and/or sick leave payouts from your final paycheck to the 457 Deferred Compensation Plan and/or the 403(b) Plan. By utilizing this option, you may reduce taxes from your final paycheck and potentially boost your retirement savings.
Watch this Workshop on deferring vacation and sick leave payouts
Nearing Retirement?
Is your finish line in sight? Check out these resources:
- Information on Deferral of Vacation and Sick Leave Payouts from Final Paychecks to 403(b) or 457 Plans
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- Information on staying in the plan when you separate from service or retire .
- Your Distribution Options.
- Social Security Retirement Estimator — Forecast your federal benefit.
- Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) Calculator — If you haven't started taking income by age 73.
- Detailed information on Required Minimum Distributions .
Financial Wellness Starts Here
Enter My Financial Life, your gateway to the full financial wellness experience. Start with the Financial Wellness Assessment to know where you stand on your personal financial wellness journey.
Financial Wellness Assessment
Get personalized tips for managing finances, achieving long-term savings goals, and preparing for emergencies.
Debt Manager Tool
Learn how to prioritize and build a better relationship with your money…one step at a time.
Budgeting Tool
Get personalized tips for managing finances, achieving long-term savings goals, and preparing for emergencies.
Your Choice on Taxes
Are traditional pre-tax or Roth after-tax contributions right for you? The Roth Contributions Calculator can help you decide.
Saving Enough?
- Contribution Accelerator will help you reach your savings goal gradually, by letting you schedule automatic, annual increases to your 403(b)/457 plan account contributions.
- The Retirement Income Calculator shows you if you're on track to meet your goal—and what to do if not. Plus, it updates every time you log in. Click "Get Started" after you access your account .
- How will saving for tomorrow affect your paycheck today? Find out with the Payroll Deductions Calculator .
- What's the hidden cost of a loan? Here are a few reasons to look before you leap.
Building Your Portfolio
Your plan offers something for every investor.
- DIY: Choose from a wide range of investment options.
- Customized Model Portfolio: Sign up for GoalMaker®, an optional asset allocation and rebalancing service available at no additional cost that invests among the options in your plan based on your "investor style" and time horizon. Learn more . For details about the GoalMaker Weighted Average Expense Ratio, click here .
- Have multiple retirement accounts? Consider consolidating.
The Counselor Is In
Your Empower retirement counselor is available to meet one on one with you virtually instead of face to face, until further notice. You are encouraged to use this resource. You can schedule an appointment and then attend from wherever you are. All you need is a phone and an internet-connected computer to access your private, secure online meeting room. That means you can get custom assistance from anywhere.
To set up a phone or virtual one-on-one consultation, click on the "Meet Your Counselor" tab and click your work location to contact your counselor today.
Need Quick Answers?
Click here to get answers to your top questions.
Learn more about tips for protecting your account .
Self-help tools are for your independent use and are not intended to provide investment advice. We cannot and do not guarantee their applicability or accuracy in regards to your individual circumstances. All examples are hypothetical and are for illustrative purposes. We encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding all personal finance issues. We do not provide investment OR tax advice; please consult a tax advisor for more information.
GoalMaker's model allocations are based on generally accepted financial theories that take into account the historic returns of different asset classes. But, of course, past performance of any investment does not guarantee future results. Participants should consider their other assets, income and investments (e.g. equity in a home, Social Security benefits, individual retirement plan investments, etc.) in addition to their interest in the plan, to the extent those items are not taken into account in the model. Participants should also periodically reassess their GoalMaker investments to make sure their model portfolio continues to correspond to their changing attitudes and retirement time horizon.
