University of Mary Washington Human Resources is happy to offer a Virginia529 webinar for our employees on Tuesday, June 28,  from 2 to 3 p.m.

Watch this webinar to learn about saving for future education expenses for children, grandchildren or yourself. UMW employees will receive an exclusive offer – a $25 gift code to open a new Invest529 account.  More details about this offer will be shared during and after the webinar.

During this webinar, you will learn how to:

• Save for tuition and other college costs, such as housing and textbooks
• Take advantage of tax-free earnings
• And most importantly meet your savings goals

** Click HERE to register for the webinar **

October is open enrollment for participants in the Optional Retirement Plan for Higher Education (ORPHE). You have the opportunity to change providers, effective with the first payroll in 2022. Open Enrollment occurs annually from October 1 to October 31. All provider changes must be completed in your myVRS account by October 31, 2021.

Two provider options are available: DCP (record kept by MissionSquare Retirement formerly ICMA-RC) and TIAA. Register for an online open enrollment meeting to learn more about your options during open enrollment.

If you wish to change providers during open enrollment, you can view your options and make a selection in myVRS. Once logged in, the following message will appear on your account home page through October 31, or until you make a provider change:

No action is required if you do not wish to change your provider during the open enrollment period.

Please note that selecting a new provider does not impact your balances. If you wish to transfer balances to your new provider you will need to request a plan-to-plan transfer. For additional information or assistance, please email orphe@varetire.org.

Additional information on the ORPHE plan is located at https://orphe.varetire.org/  and the open enrollment page is located at https://orphe.varetire.org/plan-details/open-enrollment.html  and FAQs at https://orphe.varetire.org/plan-details/open-enrollment.html#collapse3

Registration is required for all sessions and individual consultations. It’s easy to register online: visit www.varetire.org, click on the Defined Contribution Plans tab, select your plan’s website, then go to the Education page and click the View group seminars link or call VRS-DC-PLAN1 (877-327-5261),
option 2.

Visit your plan’s website to view the schedule of Upcoming Webinars on
the Education page.

Agenda for all sessions is as follows –
9:00 – 9:45 a.m.
457 and Cash Match Features and
Highlights (Non-Hybrid Plans Only)

10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
457, Cash Match and Hybrid Defined
Contribution Plan Investments

11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
457 and Cash Match Distribution
Options (Non-Hybrid Plans Only)

1:30 – 4:00 p.m.
Individual Consultations

Schedule of Upcoming Virtual Education Meetings

North Central Region
JUNE 30, JULY 12, AUGUST 5

South Central Region
JUNE 23, JULY 11, AUGUST 18

Western Region
JUNE 9, JULY 15, AUGUST 10

Southwestern Region
JUNE 17, JULY 13, AUGUST 9

Northern Virginia Region
JUNE 16, JULY  14, AUGUST 12

Eastern Region
JUNE 16, JULY 21, AUGUST 25

Southeastern Region
JUNE 2, JULY  7, AUGUST 4

SCHEDULE OF UPCOMING VIRTUAL EDUCATION MEETINGS Registration is required for all sessions and individual consultations. It’s easy to register online: visit www.varetire.org, click on the Defined Contribution Plans tab, select your plan’s website, then go to the Education page and click the View group seminars link or call VRS-DC-PLAN1 (877-327-5261), option 2.

Visit your plan’s website to view the schedule of Upcoming Webinars on the Education page.

Agenda for all sessions is as follows –

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Hybrid Features and Benefits Overview (Hybrid Retirement Plan only)

10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Plan Investments Seminar (457, Cash Match, and Hybrid plans)

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Individual Appointments (457, Cash Match, and Hybrid plans)

HYBRID PLAN SESSIONS

JUNE 9 North Central Region

JUNE 3 South Central Region

JUNE 2 Western Region

JUNE 8 Southwestern Region

JUNE 10 Northern Virginia Region

JUNE 9 Eastern Region

JUNE 9 Southeastern Region

Virtual appointments are available for our Participants with TIAA (ORPHE or 403(b) participants).  We have scheduled virtual appointments for April 15 and June 9.  Register for one of the sessions at www.TIAA.org/schedulenow.  Please see Learn How to Save With Your VRS Defined Contribution Retirement Plan for details.

Public Health Emergency Leave (PHEL) will be available for the duration of the Public Health Emergency declaration. Full-time employees may be eligible for up to 80 hours of PHEL beginning January 10th, the start of the new leave year (the 160 hours will end on January 9, 2021). Please note that the federal FFCRA leave expired on December 31, 2020.

The message below is from New York Life Insurance Company. You may recall they ran a special enrollment in 2015 and are running it again to deliver benefits to state employees through voluntary payroll deduction. A website has been dedicated for Virginia’s state employees as a substitute for the benefit fairs that aren’t happening this year. The message contains a link to a website where you can find information about New York Life’s benefits and request an agent contact you directly.

Dear State of Virginia Employees,

Protecting your family is what matters most to you, and it’s no different for us. Being an agent means being able to help families like yours. We want you to feel that you can rely on us for support.

Your window to add or increase coverage is open now. Your organization is offering all eligible employees a Guaranteed Issue Employee’s Whole Life insurance, which allows you to purchase cash value permanent life insurance to supplement your current benefit program. This life insurance protection has no medical exams, no medical questions, is available to your immediate family¹ and will stay with you should you leave your employer, as long as premiums are paid when due.

To view more information on Employee’s Whole Life Guaranteed Issue, please click here (or the play button below).

To schedule your initial meeting, follow the link above and enter your contact information so one of our agents can contact you directly.  Please don’t hesitate to give us a call or e-mail with any questions or concerns you may have in the coming weeks.

Sincerely,

Mark P. Riley, CLU, CLTC                              Albert “Rusty” Copland

New York Life                                                   New York Life

211 Mclaws Circle                                            4732 Longhill Rd. Suite 3201

Suite 1                                                              Williamsburg, VA 23188

Williamsburg, VA                                              Business: (757) 229-2054

Business: (757) 229-2900                                Fax: (757) 220-4830

mpriley@ft.newyorklife.com                         acopland@ft.newyorklife.com

Dear employees of the Commonwealth of Virginia and participating TLC agencies,

We are excited to announce the “Walk into the New Year” challenge! This challenge was created in partnership by CommonHealth, Virginia Department of Health, and Department of Conservation and Recreation. This movement challenge will encourage employees to visit state parks, get out, and enjoy nature, all while getting in their steps. This challenge begins on November 27 to help celebrate the Opt Outside initiative which encourages people to get outside rather than waiting in a line to shop. The 6-week challenge will also run through January 1, when all state parks are free to visit for that day! Walk into the New Year will end on January 8 and three lucky people will win a one year pass good for entry at any of the Virginia State Parks!

How to participate: Participants can complete the challenge in two ways. First, you can just walk, track your steps, and submit your self-reported steps at the end of the challenge. The second way to participate is to fill out the Bingo card. The Bingo card will have a wide range of physical activities you can complete and also some chances to just sit and enjoy your surroundings in one of Virginia’s beautiful state parks. Find a park near you by following this link to the Virginia State Parks website: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/find-a-park.

Use these links to log your steps on a weekly basis and submit your completed Bingo card.

Make it easy for your employees to earn a bonus from VACU

We’re making it easier than ever for your employees to join Virginia Credit Union with our new online membership site. There’s no paperwork for you, and no paperwork for them. And if they apply online, we’ll waive the minimum required deposit that we usually require to open an account.

Here’s all you need to do:

1. Download our flyer
2. Enter your company-specific information:

• Referral Code: 2110
• Organization: University of Mary Washington

3. Email the flyer to your employees or post in a public place
4. Your employees can also apply via this link, using the same information above

Let us know if you have any questions at all. Thanks again for your continued support, and please don’t hesitate to let us know how we can help you and your employees achieve your financial goals.

Best,

Partner Perks Team

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