This week the Member Education staff of The Pension Boards-United Church of Christ, Inc. (PBUCC), hosted several United Church of Christ (UCC) members from the Middle Atlantic region for an all-day Pre-Retirement Seminar. The Seminar, held Wednesday, October 24, 2018, at PBUCC’s office in New York City, provided information and tools for retirement readiness for actively-contributing Annuity Plan members over 50 years of age.
Recently, PBUCC Staff and Investment Committee members met with outside experts from Northern Trust, Neuberger Berman, and GSAM to:
To be honest, the better performance by the U.S. versus the rest of the world is not entirely unexpected after a strong year for international stocks in 2017. Tax changes and less regulation have stimulated the U.S. economy, but the markets have recently started to gravitate to the idea that the U.S. represents the only investment opportunity in the world. Although Pension Boards’ Funds are allocating a majority of assets to U.S. investments, most experts know the benefits of diversification over the longer term, and international markets should not be ignored, especially when they hold value for the longer-term.
We thought you would like to see a current assessment of emerging markets by GSAM. We will continue to keep you informed on trends influencing global markets and your retirement funds.
*The EM Comeback report is used with permission of Goldman Sachs Asset Management.
Highmark recognizes how important it is to help those affected by natural disasters, so we’re putting temporary program changes into effect for those who are affected by Hurricane Florence. For those who reside in areas where States of Emergency have been declared, the following waivers have been put in place:
Have you ever walked out of a doctor’s office and forgot to ask a question about a symptom you’ve been having, or brought home a new medication and couldn’t remember if you were supposed to take it with a meal?
A little preparation before your next visit can help you ensure you’re getting the most out of your doctor visits, and ensure you’re being an active participant in your health – saving you time, money and worry. You can get more from your doctor visits by following these tips:
Before you go…
While at the visit…
In most cases, parents should carry life insurance for as long as their children depend on them financially. This is particularly true for single parents, especially those who are their children’s sole provider. It’s important to make sure that if you were to die, there would be enough resources available to support your children until they’re able to earn a living on their own.
Every adult needs certain estate plan documents. Among the essential documents for protecting the financial and emotional well-being of your loved ones are a will; beneficiary designations for life insurance, retirement plans, and IRAs; powers of attorney; and a living will. Making sure your beneficiary designations are up to date and creating a will should be your top priorities, as these items form the foundation of your estate plan. And, if you’re a single parent, a will plays an even more important role than usual in your estate plan.
An ABLE account allows an eligible person with a disability and his or her family to get tax advantages on savings for certain disability-related expenses, including qualified education costs. ABLE accounts were created by the federal Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2014.
Don’t miss out! UCC Non-Medicare Health Plan participants and their covered spouses/partners have can earn up to $300 each for completing Healthy Stewards Wellness Rewards activities. Get started by logging in at www.highmarkbcbs.com and clicking on Rewards Program.
Complete all three Wellness Reward activities and earn $300!
Contact a PBUCC Health Services Representative with program questions at 1.800.642.6543, ext. 2870. For login help, call Highmark Technical Assistance at 1.877.298.3918.
On January 1, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield became the administrator for the Flexible Benefits Plan for UCC Ministries (also known as the Flexible Spending Account or FSA).
FSA Plan participants may now access their accounts by logging in to Highmark at www.highmarkbcbs.com. Once logged in, click the Spending tab for an overview of your account, submit claims, or provide substantiation for a debit card purchase. Click here for additional information on using your account or contact Highmark BCBS at 1.866.763.9471 with questions.