Posted 8:38 a.m. Monday, Aug. 11, 2025
Curious about Retirement, check out one of the many webinars offered by Employee Trust Funds (ETF)!
October 2025
Beneficiary Designations – What Happens to My Account When I Die?
Death is never easy to talk about, but it’s important to know what happens to your WRS account when you pass away. You can make sure ETF knows who you want to receive your WRS assets upon your death by keeping your beneficiary designation up-to-date.
By the end of this webinar, you will be able to:
- Define beneficiary and standard sequence
- Explain the importance of a beneficiary form
- Identify who or what could be a beneficiary
- Select the appropriate beneficiary form
- Update your beneficiary (Note: Major life events such as marriage or divorce do not automatically change a beneficiary designation.)
Tuesday, October 7, 11:00-11:30 a.m.
Wednesday, October 22, 1:00-1:30 p.m.
Thursday, October 30, 6:00-6:30 p.m.
Preparing for Your Retirement
Planning to retire in the next 5 years? Then this webinar is for you. Learn about your WRS benefits and the retirement process.
By the end of this webinar, you will be able to:
- Explain how the WRS retirement benefit works
- Recognize eligibility and prepare to apply for benefits
- Identify the different types of annuity options
- Prepare for health and life insurance changes in retirement
- Find additional resources
Tuesday, October 7, 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 23, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
For dates before and after October:
Wednesday, August 20, 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Thursday, September 4, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Tuesday, September 30, 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, November 5, 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Thursday, November 20, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Tuesday, December 2, 6:00- 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, December 17, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
September 2025
Additional Contributions
Looking to increase your WRS retirement? Learn how additional contributions can increase your WRS retirement benefit.
By the end of this webinar, you will be able to:
- Define additional contributions
- Identify how additional contributions increase your retirement fund
- Arrange to make additional contributions to your WRS account(s)
- Find and use ETF resources to calculate your additional contribution amount
Wednesday, September 3, 1:00-1:30 p.m.
Tuesday, September 9, 6:00-6:30 p.m.
Thursday, September 18, 11:00-11:30 a.m.
Variable Fund
Does putting money into the Variable Fund make sense for you? You and your employer put money into your WRS account to save for your future. The money in your account is then invested to increase your savings. By default, your money goes into the Core Fund, but you can choose to put half your money into the Variable Fund.
By the end of this webinar, you will be able to:
- Define Variable Trust Fund and explain how it works
- Analyze how the Variable Fund can affect your retirement benefit
- Elect to join or cancel the Variable Fund
Tuesday, September 2, 6:00-6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, September 9, 11:00-11:30 a.m.
Thursday, September 25, 1:00-1:30 p.m.
WRS Benefits: For New and Mid-Career Employees
Are you a new employee or someone who still has at least 5 years to go before you can retire? It's never too early to start planning for a secure retirement. Learn how to maximize your WRS benefits.
By the end of this one-hour webinar, you will be able to:
- Appreciate the benefits of the Wisconsin Retirement System
- Designate a beneficiary or several beneficiaries
- Join or cancel the Variable Fund
- Use additional contributions to supplement your savings for retirement
Tuesday, September 2, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Wednesday, September 17, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Thursday, September 25, 6:00-7:00 p.m.
August 2025
How to Use ETF’s Online Retirement Calculator
Curious about how much money you’ll get during retirement? Our most-used online tool, the retirement calculator, lets you see how much money you may get in the future.
By the end of this webinar, you will be able to:
- Find information on your Statement of Benefits used for calculations
- Enter information into the WRS Retirement Benefits Calculator
- See an unofficial estimate of your WRS Retirement Benefits online
Wednesday, August 20, 1:00-1:30 p.m.
Overview of the Wisconsin Retirement System
Are you new to the Wisconsin Retirement System? We’ll let you know what to expect.
By the end of this webinar, you will be able to:
- Identify and explain the elements of the Wisconsin Retirement System
- Explain how the WRS pension works
- Identify benefits available through the WRS
- Find resources for more information
Thursday, August 28, 1:00-1:30 p.m.
