Thomas Klassen, Associate Professor

Michelle Hannen, Manager Pension Administration System

The York University Retirement Planner (YURP) is an online tool that helps plan members project entitlements from the York University Pension Plan. YURP is a complement to the annual Pension Statement because it allows estimating of monthly benefits at any time from age fifty-five up to December 1 in the year the member turns age 71. Members can make changes to a variety of assumptions, such as changes to their salary or workload. This session will be a walk through the YURP system and all the features.

Michelle Hannen, Manager Pension Administration System

Changing economic times have made us all look more closely at our economic future in retirement. The Minimum Guarantee Benefit has become a far more important aspect of our pension plan, as a result of fluctuating rates of return in York's pension plan.

Terisa Ducharme, Associate Director, Pension and Benefits

Many at York have decided to stay beyond their normal retirement age of 65, and many are considering it. With the end of mandatory retirement, you now have the option of when to retire. Please join us for this seminar if you are interested in understanding the impact to you when you work beyond 65.

Terisa Ducharme, Associate Director, Pension and Benefits.

Your York pension forms a major component of your retirement income. You need to know what impacts on it, how early retirement is calculated, implications of various pension options and what happens to your pension upon death either prior to or after retirement.

Ed Esposto, LL.B., Royal Bank Private Council. Ed specializes in estates/trusts and taxation.  He has been practicing law for 15 years and brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise.

Terisa Ducharme, Associate Director, York Pension & Benefits Office Terisa has more than 15 years of experience in pension & benefits administration.

When you retire you will have to choose which pension option to take.  For many people, this can be a difficult decision to make.  This seminar will help you understand the various pension payout options and the implications of choosing a pension option versus transferring the pension funds to an outside financial institution.  As well it will review York's post-retirement health benefits.

John Harries, B.A.M.Div Director of Education and Development, Humanitas. A long-time presenter for the R.P.Centre, John assisted in the production and presentation of several pre-retirement planning programs. He is experienced in organizational consulting, adult education and counseling. John was formerly the Director of York’s Career Services.

Retirement may now represent one-third of your life-span.  What are you going to do with all of those years?  What will you life be like after you leave the full-time workforce?  This 90 minute lecture will provide you with all the basics.

Terisa Duchame, Associate Director, York Pension & Benefits. Terisa has more than 15 years of experience in pension & benefits administration.

This seminar will help those members of the York community considering retiring within the next few years.  It will take a comprehensive look at what you must know before leaving York.  Examples of topics explored are; notice periods, timing, self-serve pension estimates, and reduced expenses once you retire.

Carien Jutting, CFP, PRP Carien has over 30 years experience in the financial services industry.  Eleven years ago she left the corporate world to go into business for herself.  Her specialty is retirement income counseling, and tax planning for individuals and small business people.

This seminar will give you a comprehensive look at what you must know before retiring. Information focuses on the financial: how much money you need to retire, setting a retirement date, CPP/OAS, conversion of RRSPs, balancing expenditures and incomes, taxes, and more.

Carien Jutting, CFP, PRP Carien has over 30 years experience in the financial services industry.  Eleven years ago she left the corporate world to go into business for herself.  Her specialty is retirement income counseling, and tax planning for individuals and small business people.

York offers its retirees a very good based of post-retirement health benefits.  This seminar will talk about considerations when topping up or adding additional health coverage.

Best Doctors: Karen Wilson R.N, BSCN, Regional Clinical Director of
Ontario. Karen is responsible for presenting and distributing information about the Best Doctors benefit package and offerings to a variety of employers and employee groups throughout Ontario.

OTIP: Robin MacDonald BA.,CLU, R.I.B. PRP. Robin is responsible for the retirement preparation education program at OTIP, which includes assisting education employees with post-retiree benefit issues. Robin has provided workshops and seminars to teachers and other educators for over 15 years.

The McLennan Group (CARP's Insurance): Denis R. Scodellaro, Director, Sales and Distribution. Denis has joined TMG recently and is responsible for developing a variety of products to meet the needs of various insurance distributors and their customers. He has over 30 years experience with Life, Health and Travel Insurance Companies.

A panel representing three major health care providers will explain their products and talk about items to consider when topping up or adding additional health coverage over and above your York Retiree Benefit package.

Jury Kopach has over 30 years experience working with employees of Canadian industry, government, and post secondary teaching institutions to prepare them financially for their retirement.  He currently teaches Personal Financial Planning at Atkinson College.

This seminar is intended to increase your knowledge of mutual funds and your general level of comfort in making investment decisions. Learn the basics of mutual funds: what are they, how do they work, where do you buy them, how risky are they, how much do they cost, and how much money do you need to open an account? As well, discover the fundamental investment strategies every beginner investor needs to know. Learn the key ingredients of selecting and building a mutual fund portfolio that will fit your needs. Understand how to use mutual funds within and outside of your RRSP’s.  Learn how current market conditions should impact your selection process.

Jury Kopach has over 30 years experience working with employees of Canadian industry, government, and post secondary teaching institutions to prepare them financially for their retirement.  He currently teaches Personal Financial Planning at Atkinson College.

In this session you will be applying basic information in a practical way. You will learn how to analyze a prospectus, read and understand a mutual fund report, keep track of your funds in the business section of the newspaper, monitor your portfolio and assess the performance of your financial advisor. You will also learn how to know when to switch funds and/or financial advisors.

Marilyn Cartmill, Noel Corbett, Gerry Jordan, Susan Lanoue, Faith Lapp

A lively and diverse panel of York retirees speaks candidly about their experiences in retirement.  Find out why they retired when they did and how happy they are with their decision; plus, their concerns around finances and health, living solo, widowhood, returning adult children and how retirees use their time.

Peggy Edwards co-author of the 2005 book, "A Boomer's Guide: Intentional Grandparenting". She is a health promotion writer with The Alder Group and serves as a consultant on aging with the World Health Organization.  She has also co-authored "The Healthy Boomer" and "The Juggling Act".

At once informative  and highly entertaining, this seminar welcomes all into a challenging and ultimately rewarding life-role of grandparent.

See the attached "Grandparents and Parents: The Give and Take" tips by Peggy Edwards.

Ivan Fraser, BA, ACUIC, CMA, CFP, Ivan has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry.  He is an accountant and financial planner.  Ivan has spent most of his working career in co-operatives at all levels including CEO.  He has conducted presentations on a numbers of topics for the past several years.

How much do you need to retire?  It may be less than you think.  This seminar will provide tools to help you estimate how much you will require.  It will provide alternative options and ideas on how to make financing your retirement work for you.  Planning in advance will give you the lead-time needed to make your retirement dreams come true!

Jeff Smith, CGA, PRP, Jeff has over 35 years in the field of accounting, auditing and corporate and personal taxation.  As an early retiree (when he's not golfing or skiing) Jeff focuses his time building and maintaining his own Small Business Accounting and Personal Tax Services Company.

Are you finding that you have too much "month" at the end of the money?  This seminar is designed to provide you with valuable tips to help you manage your cash more effectively, save some tax, answer your RRSP questions and assist you with your short and long term investment strategy.

Rebecca Metcalfe R.N., B.Sc.N., M.Sc.N., President of Life Ventures. Prior to founding Life Ventures, Rebecca occupied key management and senior executive portfolios during her 30 year career in health, much of it in the public health sector. A warm, inspiring and insightful presenter, who weaves real life examples into her seminars,Rebecca infuses energy with enthusiasm.

Everywhere we look to-day we're bombarded with messages about how much money we'll need to retire to the lifestyle we'd like...however, do you know that the #1 predictor of your success in retirement is not how much money you have, but your health! This seminar will explore the normal changes in our bodies, for both men and women, which can be expected in mid-life and beyond. More importantly, it will provide easy and practical "investment" strategies for healthy living that you can implement immediately to harness and develop your greatest asset - your health!

Terisa Ducharme, Associate Director, York Pension & Benefits Office. Terisa has more than 15 years of experience in pension & benefits administration.

In light of the market turmoil it has come to our attention that there are many people at York, who do not understand the uniqueness of York's Pension Plan. We would like to invite you to join us for a much needed seminar on how the York Pension Plan works. This seminar will be beneficial for EVERYONE, long term and short term employees, and of all ages.

Greg Gillespie, CFP. and Ian Gillespie, CFP, CLU ChFC, Gillespie Adams & Associates

If you've made getting your personal finances in order a priority for the New Year and don't know where to start, then Personal Finance Budgeting 101 is for you. This session will lay out what you need to do to get your bills paid on time, balance your cheque book and create a fool proof budget. We'll also consider some tips and techniques for trimming your expenses without paring down lifestyle.

Greg Gillespie, CFP. and Ian Gillespie, CFP, CLU ChFC, Gillespie Adams & Associates

Creating an all weather retirement income involves planning for the risk of inflation, protecting against the risk of out living your money and minimizing the effects of market risk on generating regular and consistent retirement income. We’ll examine these risks and the products available to Canadians to mitigate them.

Greg Gillespie, CFP. and Ian Gillespie, CFP, CLU ChFC, Gillespie Adams & Associates

The public pension programs in Canada which include Old Age Security and Canada Pension Plan can make up an important portion of a retiree’s income. We’ll review these public pensions including the proposed changes to the CPP and look at retirement and tax planning strategies to maximize them.