AT THIS TIME, ALL RETIREMENT CLASSES ARE VIRTUAL - - USING MICROSOFT TEAMS
Enroll in virtual classes, utilizing Teams, through EmployeeU.
For a complete schedule of upcoming classes visit our Retirement Class Schedule page.
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New Employee Orientation (NEO) - A representative from the Retirement Systems attends every NEO Part 2 - Your Benefits as a County Employee and conducts a 30-minute overview of the Defined Benefit Plan provisions for new hires. Anyone is welcome to attend.
Introduction to Fairfax County Retirement (Intro) (This is a detailed follow-up to the brief overview provided in NEO) - A brief but thorough introduction to the Defined Benefit Plan provisions for new hires. While specifically targeting new hires, anyone is welcome to attend. Email retirementcommunications@fairfaxcounty.gov for Teams link to join one of these bi-weekly classes. (60 minutes)
The Road to Retirement (RtR) - This class allows for a deeper dive into the County's Defined Benefit Plan along with general information about retirement.
This class is open to ALL members of the Employees' Retirement System, including FCERS School employee members.
RtR classes are offered on the 1st Tuesday of every OTHER month from 10:00am - 11:30am. (February, April, June, August, October, and December). 90 minutes
Retiring with Security (RwS) is a class that provides an overview of your Defined Benefit pension plan AND an overview of the County's Deferred Compensation plan.
These RwS classes are offered on the 3rd Tuesday of every OTHER month from 9:00am - 11:30am. (January, March, May, July, September, and November) 2.5 hours
The first half of the class is presented by a representative from the Retirement Systems and covers basic information about your pension, with a very brief overview of the Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP). This presentation explains how your pension works and discusses contribution amounts, benefit calculations, the Pre-Social Security benefit, survivor benefits, how to use the online benefit estimator, and more.
The second half of the class is presented by a representative from T. Rowe Price to give you information about the County's Deferred Compensation Plan (457) and help you understand how your Pension and Deferred Compensation can work together to provide you with financial security after you retire.
This class is open to ALL General County Employees - Civilians (ERS) and Public Safety employees (PORS & URS). Enrollment in Retiring with Security classes is done by self-enrollment through EmployeeU.
Planning for Retirement (PfR) provides information to help you understand how your County pension is calculated and how decisions you make with regard to years of service can affect your annual pension income. Once you understand how your retirement benefit is calculated, you will be able to calculate your own estimated benefit amount using variable salary information and years of service and make adjustments with regard to current or projected accumulated sick leave balances. Information will be provided to help employees understand the differences between Normal Retirement and DROP participation and things to consider when making your decision.
These sessions also provide information about the County benefits you may be able to keep when entering retirement (i.e. health, dental and life insurance) and how length of service can increase your health benefit subsidy. These information sessions are not open to employees who are currently participating in the DROP.
- Classes noted with space limits are only open to general county employees who plan to retire or enter DROP within the next two years. If you would like to have a spouse attend the class with you, please make a note of that on your initial application so space will be saved.
This class is offered monthly for ERS members and quarterly for Public Safety employees (3.5 to 4.5 hours)
Please pay close attention to the Descriptions on the Retirement Class Schedule page for the PfR classes, as there are SPECIFIC General County employee classes (ERS), and other classes that are open ONLY to Public Safety Employees (PORS & URS).
Please Note: Enrollment closes when class is full or one week prior to class date.
DROP EXIT -- Lunchtime Workshop - This fast-paced workshop includes brief presentations by Retirement Systems staff, the County's Deferred Compensation representative, and a member of the County's HR Benefits staff. All DROP participants must exit the DROP no more than three years after DROP entry. There are important decisions to be made about your DROP account balance, deferred compensation, and other County benefits after retirement. Attendees receive highlights of the most important details about exiting the DROP and transitioning into Retirement.
Workshops are offered the 3rd Tuesday of every OTHER month, from 11:45am - 1:15pm, including half an hour after the presentation for questions. (January, March, May, July, September, and November.) Content will be most helpful for employees who plan to Exit DROP within the following 6 months and still provide the mandatory 60-days notice to Exit the program. This workshop is not currently offered for School employees in DROP.
This workshop is for employees who are currently IN DROP!
Benefit Estimator Workshop (BEW) - Learn how to use the benefit estimator tool which is accessible in your online retirement account. Follow step-by-step instructions to calculate your own estimated retirement benefit and review the results.
The enrollment for this class is limited to allow class participation and questions. The workshop is offered the 2nd Tuesday of every OTHER month from 10:00am - 11:30am. (February, April, June, August, October, and December). (90 minutes)
Understanding Your Retirement - Special Request (UyR-SR) This class provides a 45-50-minute Defined Benefit Plan overview with time for questions after.
To arrange such a class for your Department or Agency, please contact Amy Bain & Carol Patterson by email.
All UyR-SR classes must be approved by the department head of the requesting agency. Class requests must be made AT LEAST 2 months prior to the requested class date and it is always helpful if you can provide several date options for us to ease coordination. Please note that due to resource constraints, UyR-SR class requests can only be accommodated if AT LEAST 20 people will be in attendance.
Generally speaking, the requesting agency handles all logistics for the class, providing a roster to Amy Bain & Carol Patterson at least one week prior to the class.
AT THIS TIME, like all other classes on the schedule, this class can only be provided virtually!
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SCHOOLS - The Road to Retirement, for School Employee members of FCERS --
This class provides thorough information about the County's Defined Benefit Plan along with general information about retirement.
This class is open to ALL members of the Employees' Retirement System, including FCERS School employee members.
RtR classes are offered on the 1st Tuesday of every OTHER month from 10:00am - 11:30am. (February, April, June, August, October, and December). 90 minutes
To register for this class, please send an email to retirementcommunications@fairfaxcounty.gov with your requested class date. Make SURE to provide your full name and the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number - do NOT provide your employee number
SCHOOLS - Understanding Your Retirement Benefit as You Prepare for Retirement, for School Employee members of FCERS --
This 2.5-hour class provides a comprehensive 80-minute Defined Benefit Retirement Plan overview, followed by a 1-hour Benefits presentation, with time for questions after. This class is offered every January/February and April on a Teacher Workday, as well as another 1-2 days in the late afternoon/evening in Spring, to accommodate a variety of schedules. Please check the Class Schedule, looking towards the bottom of the page for specific Schools Class dates. Then register through myPLT, using your FCPS username and password -- Search "Course Offerings" by using the key words "FCERS Retirement".
