Envisioning the Retirement Lifestyle You Want

The picture of retirement has vastly changed over the years. Many retirees are more active and lead busier lifestyles. It’s never too early to start thinking about your retirement years. Creating a vision board is a technique used frequently to visualize your retirement dreams, wants, and needs. This allows your vision to feel real. Does your retirement include relocating to a new place? Maybe you plan to travel frequently. Is a low-key, laid-back retirement more your style? Everyone’s visions are unique to them and it’s important that you keep this in mind as you plan your retirement as well.

Once you have determined what you would like your retirement years to look like, a great first step is to contact CAPTRUST, a complimentary service offered to UNC System employees. CAPTRUST provides unbiased investment advice and will help you create your Retirement Blueprint to track your progress. Meet one-on-one with a personal CAPTRUST advisor who will review your personal financial situation and assist to determine your best investment strategy to ensure you are saving enough to last your lifetime. To know what to expect from your Blueprint appointment, click here to watch a brief video. To schedule your CAPTRUST appointment today, call 1-800- 967-9948 or click here to register online.

Retirement-eligible employees of the UNC System are required to participate in one of the mandatory retirement plans, either the UNC Optional Retirement Program (ORP) or the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System (TSERS). Under these plans participants are required to contribute six percent of their salary to their chosen plan and are eligible to be vested* in the employer contributions once they meet the vesting requirements. While our mandatory plans, along with Social Security, often provide the financial means to cover your basic needs in retirement, you may want to consider boosting your retirement savings to meet your retirement goals.

The UNC System offers the Supplemental UNC System 403(b) and UNC 457(b) plans through TIAA and Fidelity that provide the opportunity for additional savings. For more information about our supplemental plans, click here to review our Supplemental Retirement Plan Decision Guide

If you are interested in contributing to a Supplemental UNC 403(b) or 457(b) plan, you will need to a complete a Salary Reduction/Deferral Agreement linked below and turn this in to your institution’s Benefits office. Once you have completed this step, be sure to visit your chosen carrier’s website to set up your account, elect your beneficiaries, and choose your investments.

• UNC 403(b) Salary Reduction Agreement
• UNC 457(b) Salary Deferral Agreement

* See your retirement plan’s Plan Documents or contact your institution’s Benefits office for employer contribution vesting requirements.