Where are these workshops held?
Most workshops are held at the agency in a conference room or training facility. For agencies that do not have such facilities, special arrangements may be made.
How do employees RSVP for a workshop?
RSVPs may be taken at the agency, or through the sponsoring financial professional’s office. This is a decision we leave to the agency representative.
How should we market the workshop to our employees?
We are happy to provide marketing and promotional material to the agency to distribute to its employees. A flyer has been created that agencies may forward by email to their employees. Flyers may also be printed and distributed to each employee, or posted in common areas such as break rooms and lounges. For agencies with printed or electronic newsletters, we can tailor an advertisement to suit the space.
What happens if I don’t have many employees?
For agencies that have few employees in one location, we will help to accommodate your situation. Often times, we are able to pair smaller agencies together to make the most of the training opportunity.
Do we need to separate CSRS and FERS employees?
There is no need to separate CSRS and FERS employees in the classroom. However, if your agency has a relatively equal amount of attendees in each retirement plan, we can separate employees for two distinct sessions. Many agencies have few CSRS employees left, so they simply integrate everyone into the same classroom.
What about employees who are far from retirement?
Because we have tailored this workshop to be very retirement-specific, the employees who typically benefit most from this workshop are within 5-10 years of retirement. Those who may be far from retirement may not be as eager to discuss decisions to be made at retirement as their counterparts facing retirement soon.
How often should this workshop be held?
Most agencies find that holding these workshops at least twice a year provides employees with a reasonable opportunity to attend. Larger agencies may wish to hold these sessions once a quarter to accommodate the number of employees requesting training.