Market Update by David A. Klassen, Chief Investment Officer
With the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500 index, and other global equity markets now selling off after a strong January, we wanted to provide our perspective on both the price action and the pickup in volatility.
Is marriage in your near future? In addition to planning your wedding, you and your spouse-to-be must decide how you’ll handle health insurance once you’re married. Let’s go through a few things you need to consider.
Helping UCC Retirees
In the United States, about 10,000 baby boomers reach retirement every day, and some are unprepared. Even though soon-to-be retirees are concerned with rising health care costs and retirement income, many have not planned for a secure retirement or examined the right health plans to meet their new standard of living and care.
All of us at one time or another have experienced some type of personal crisis or life event that resulted in grief, stress, financial loss, and more. At the Pension Boards, we are fully committed to your health and personal well-being. We care when life throws you a curve ball.
Effective January 1, 2018, the Pension Boards is pleased to introduce a new benefit that will provide personal short-term assistance to UCC Non-Medicare Health Plan participants and their eligible family members when faced with life’s unexpected challenges.
The Member Assistance Program + Work/Life Program, or MAP+Work/Life, offered through West Health Advocate Solutions, a leading clinical health advocacy company, is a no-cost benefit that gives you confidential access to a Licensed Professional Counselor or Work/Life Specialist. Through in-person visits, and unlimited, confidential phone consultations, these specialists can walk you through any of life’s temporary setbacks.
Receive 24/7 assistance with issues such as:
If long-term assistance is required, you can be assured that a counselor will make the appropriate, cost effective referrals to meet your specific needs. You will also have access to a wide database of resources and authoritative articles on the MAP+Work/Life member website: https://members.healthadvocate.com/.
Who is eligible?
One of the unique features of this benefit is that your extended family can use this special service. Eligible UCC Non-Medicare Health Plan participants, their spouses, dependent children, parents and parents-in-law are covered under this program.
Getting started
At its November 2017 meeting, the Board of Directors of the United Church Board for Ministerial Assistance (UCBMA) discussed the future of the Next Generation Leadership Initiative (NGLI) in response to its recent program evaluation. UCBMA Directors overwhelmingly affirmed NGLI and gave thanks for the vitality and vigor that pastors are stirring in the United Church of Christ from the mix of coursework, field trips, and cohort engagement.