RETIREMENT PLANNING MADE EASIER

The CERF 457 and 401(a) Retirement Plans are powerful tools to help employees reach their retirement dreams.  A new feature was recently added to the CERF plans to make preparing for retirement a little easier.  Reality Investing is a tool that offers different retirement planning strategies for different types of investors.

 Some people like to take a “hands on” approach when it comes to investing for their future.  Others would prefer to leave the investment decisions to the professionals.  Whatever your style, Reality Investing offers tools that can help you.  For more information on the CERF 457 and 401(a) Savings Plans and/or Reality Investing, contact our Great West CERF Savings Plan Representative, Jim Ellison, at 1-877-895-1394, ext.120.

457 Contributions

The maximum amount that may be contributed to 457 plans during 2007 is $15,500.  For those members 50 years of age or older, an additional $5,000 may be contributed as a catch-up.  For 2008, the limits will remain the same. 

NOTE:  If you contribute to the CERF 457 Savings Plan, be sure to check your quarterly Great-West statements to confirm all contributions have been deposited correctly into that account (#98992-01). If you are eligible, only those contributions deposited in the 457 Savings Plan account will receive a match from CERF. 

Need Quick Answers?
Try Our Quick Reference Guide

The CERF Quick Reference guide is available to provide you with fast access to contact information for the pension plan and savings plan.

Upcoming Holidays

May 8 - Truman's Birthday

May 26 - Memorial Day

July 4 - Independence Day

Have you changed marital status?

If your marital status changes from married to single, you should contact your County Clerk to complete a Form 4: Change of Information.

Keep your beneficiary designations up-to-date!

If you are single and have several years of service, you should complete a Form 8: Beneficiary Designation-Single Vested Death Benefit.  This form allows you to designate a beneficiary to receive a refund of your contributions should you die after reaching vested status.  These benefits are in addition to the $10,000 death benefit payable to your named beneficiary(ies). 

You should complete a Form 1A: Beneficiary Designation-$10,000 Death Benefit to designate a beneficiary to receive the $10,000 death benefit should you die while actively employed with the county.

Have you moved? Has your address changed?

Please contact your County Clerk as soon as possible to complete a
Form 4: Change of Information.

Helpful Reminders...

• Contact one of the CERF Benefits Specialists to request a benefit estimate by phone or e-mail.  Your benefit estimate will be mailed to your address on file at the CERF Administrative Office.

• Until final salary, hours and contributions information through termination date is received from the County Clerk on an employee ready to retire, the CERF Administrative Office cannot commence retirement benefits. However, benefits will be paid retroactively to the day the retiree is entitled.

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