Educational Sessions

Ready to broaden your understanding of CalPERS beyond your specific role? In addition to serving over 2 million members in our retirement system and administering benefits for more than 1.5 million members and their families in our health program, we offer many additional benefit programs. Learn more about all things CalPERS, including our history, the structure and role of the Board of Administration, and other programs and benefits including:

• California Employers Retiree Benefit Trust
• The basics of a defined benefit plan and funding sources
• Educational opportunities and online resources
• myCalPERS for members and employers
• Supplemental Income 457 Plan

Join our health leaders for an interactive conversation on health care and the CalPERS health benefits program. You'll learn about trends driving costs, strategies to expand access, and the steps we're taking to improve the quality of our plans and the health of our members. Bring your questions to engage in the discussion so you can return home with valuable information.

Join us for an engaging discussion with Dan Bienvenue, interim chief investment officer, as he sheds light on how we are executing our investment strategies, emphasizing the significance of maintaining a steadfast commitment to drive long-term sustainability.

Don’t leave the Educational Forum with any unresolved issues. If you have questions, we have the panel session to answer them all on the final day of the Forum. Any operational topic is fair game, especially complicated issues that involve a collaborative solution across various parts of the organization. We’ll have leaders and experts from all CalPERS program areas on hand to address a wide variety of issues, including benefits, contracts, payroll, membership, service credit purchase, actuarial costs, health care, and disability retirement.

Do you process payroll and membership for your agency? Could you use technical support for your work in myCalPERS? Join us to learn about all the ways we can help you today and throughout the year. We’ll review the types of inquiries we’re equipped to handle and will also discuss a variety of myCalPERS functions including:

• Cognos reports for both payroll and membership teams
• Fixing file errors in XML and CSV formats

Did you know that CalPERS retirement benefits can affect Social Security — both the amount of monthly pension contributions before retirement and benefit payments after retirement? Join us as we explore the different types of Social Security coverage and how a CalPERS pension influences them. Let's unravel the complexities and pave the way for a healthy retirement for both you and your employees.

Curious about the most critical state legislative issues impacting CalPERS and our stakeholders? Join us for a review of the 2023 state legislative year, and the work we have ahead to engage state lawmakers in 2024.

As an employer, you're also a CalPERS member. The more you know about CalPERS retirement benefits and how they fit into your financial future, the more of a trusted source you'll become for your employees. We'll cover:

• How your retirement benefit is calculated
• Factors to consider when preparing for retirement
• Features available through myCalPERS

As the largest purchaser of public employee health benefits in California, we value and protect the health of our members. For over 50 years, the CalPERS Health Program has ensured California local public agency and school employees receive high-quality health benefits. Join us to learn how we put that experience to work for you. We’ll discuss:

• Unique protections that benefit local employers and members
• How we meet the needs of our 1,200 public agencies and schools
• Strategies and expertise we use to provide exceptional health care

This session is appropriate for agencies that currently contract with CalPERS for health benefits and those considering joining.

Do you know the differences between compensation that's reportable to CalPERS, versus CalSTRS? Join us to learn the nuances. We'll cover:

• Differences in how pay rates and special compensation are reported
• Differences in types of special compensation reporting
• Requirements for pay schedules

Do you have the information you need to help your school employees determine which membership election is best for them — CalPERS or CalSTRS? Join us to discuss various scenarios that can arise in the enrollment process. We'll help you make sure you're enrolling substitute teachers correctly and following education codes.

Get your employees off to a good start with their benefits by enrolling them correctly in the first place. We'll go over important enrollment distinctions and help you avoid common mistakes. Join us for a deep dive into:

• Contracting with independent contractors
• Common law employment
• Membership reporting for safety

Are you up to date on how an employee qualifies for CalPERS membership? We’ll cover all the basics including how to determine if an employee is a current CalPERS member and what that means. We’ll also discuss the consequences of late membership and arrears.

Do you process payroll and membership for your agency? Could you use technical support for your work in myCalPERS? Join us to learn about all the ways we can help you today and throughout the year. We’ll review the types of inquiries we’re equipped to handle and will also discuss a variety of myCalPERS functions including:

• Cognos reports for both payroll and membership teams
• Fixing file errors in XML and CSV formats

Are you up to date on what's considered a “late enrollment” and how arrears impact your agency and employees? We'll cover the difference between employer-paid and member-paid arrears, review the detailed steps along the way, and discuss how to avoid arrears in the myCalPERS system.

The actuarial valuation process that determines your funded status and your contribution requirements is very complex. Do you understand the key components? Join our actuaries to learn what's most important for plan sponsors to know and how to work with your valuation reports.

Join us for an engaging discussion with Dan Bienvenue, interim chief investment officer, as he sheds light on how we are executing our investment strategies, emphasizing the significance of maintaining a steadfast commitment to drive long-term sustainability.

Are you aware of your options to manage both Other Post-Employment Benefits and pension costs, and how section 115 trusts can help? Join us to learn how these trust funds can help your agency save money, reduce unfunded liabilities, stabilize your budget, and mitigate contribution volatility — all while demonstrating more prudent financial management.

Join our actuarial team to discuss your options including Additional Discretionary Payments, Fresh Starts of unfunded liability schedules, and voluntary contributions to the California Employers’ Pension Prefunding Trust. They'll demonstrate how contribution payments can be affected under various scenarios using our CalPERS developed tools. You'll walk away with a better understanding of how you can continually project and manage future contributions on your own.

As an employer weighing retirement plan options to recruit and retain top talent, you want to provide valuable benefits that your employees will appreciate. Learn about the advantages of adding the CalPERS 457 Plan to your offerings. It's a deferred compensation plan that gives public agency and school employees a low-cost, convenient way to save for retirement through payroll deductions.

Want to know more about managing or amending your CalPERS retirement benefits contract? Join us to learn about the key decision points to better understand if and when to make a change.

Get an in-depth look at the more complex matters associated with administering CalPERS health benefits to your employees. Topics include requirements for parent-child relationships and disabled dependents, coordinating Medicare coverage with CalPERS, and how your agency can benefit from timely reconciliation of your monthly health premium statement. We’ll also cover:

• Direct pay vs. COBRA
• Mandatory events
• Rules surrounding timely enrollments

Join our health leaders for an interactive conversation on health care and the CalPERS health benefits program. You'll learn about trends driving costs, strategies to expand access, and the steps we're taking to improve the quality of our plans and the health of our members. Bring your questions to engage in the discussion so you can return home with valuable information.

Seeking to enhance your efficiency with myCalPERS? Get up to speed about enhancements and functionality that help streamline processes and ensure accurate reporting in your CalPERS business role. Together we’ll explore new and commonly-accessed Cognos reports as well as myCalPERS educational resources to keep you on top of your game.

The key to successful health benefits administration starts here. You’ll learn about the foundation of health business rules to help you conduct CalPERS health benefits business and better understand your responsibilities associated with the Public Employees' Medical and Hospital Care Act. Session topics include:

• Eligibility and enrollment requirements
• Health benefits into retirement
• Health plan options
• Preferred communication methods
• Resources to conduct CalPERS health business

Curious about how CalPERS sets health plan premiums? Join our health team for an interactive discussion on CalPERS’ methodical premium development process and the various factors that impact the annual health plan premiums. In this session, you’ll:

• Explore the key factors that influence annual health plan premiums
• Gain a comprehensive understanding of CalPERS' premium development process
• Learn about the methodologies employed in premium setting

As the largest purchaser of public employee health benefits in California, we value and protect the health of our members. For over 50 years, the CalPERS Health Program has ensured California local public agency and school employees receive high-quality health benefits. Join us to learn how we put that experience to work for you. We’ll discuss:

• Unique protections that benefit local employers and members
• How we meet the needs of our 1,200 public agencies and schools
• Strategies and expertise we use to provide exceptional health care

This session is appropriate for agencies that currently contract with CalPERS for health benefits and those considering joining.

Get an in-depth look at the more complex matters associated with administering CalPERS health benefits to your employees. Topics include requirements for parent-child relationships and disabled dependents, coordinating Medicare coverage with CalPERS, and how your agency can benefit from timely reconciliation of your monthly health premium statement. We’ll also cover:

• Direct pay vs. COBRA
• Mandatory events
• Rules surrounding timely enrollments

Learn how to provide social security coverage for your employees by establishing new Section 218 agreements and executing modifications. We’ll walk you through common withholding errors and discuss how to maintain compliance. This will be an interactive session: Facilitators will provide a variety of scenarios for you to work through in groups to help strengthen your understanding.

Join our health leaders for an interactive conversation on health care and the CalPERS health benefits program. You'll learn about trends driving costs, strategies to expand access, and the steps we're taking to improve the quality of our plans and the health of our members. Bring your questions to engage in the discussion so you can return home with valuable information.

Get your employees off to a good start with their benefits by enrolling them correctly in the first place. We'll go over important enrollment distinctions and help you avoid common mistakes. Join us for a deep dive into:

• Contracting with independent contractors
• Common law employment
• Membership reporting for safety

Applying for disability retirement is a time of high stress — employees are counting on you to get this right. Be sure you know the requirements and responsibilities for both the employer and employee. Session topics include:

• Competent medical opinion
• Differences between workers' compensation and retirement benefits
• Disciplinary actions vs. disability retirement
• Employer-originated applications
• Filing appeals
• Importance of completing retirement documents
• When to apply

Do you want to better understand the critical role you play in the retirement process and ensure your retirees receive correct payments on time? Join us as we share valuable information to fully prepare you to address key retirement issues, including:

• IRC 415 limit and the Replacement Benefit Plan (RBP)
• Navigating the retirement application
• Post-retirement adjustments and COLA (Cost of Living Adjustments)
• Reporting unused sick leave
• Understanding the relationship between payroll and retirement calculations

Want to avoid everyday pitfalls that can affect your employees' retirement benefits? Learn the do's and don'ts of accurately reporting pensionable compensation and contributions under Public Employees' Retirement Law (PERL). We’ll shed light on compliant reportable compensation and commonly misreported noncompliant items that can have a significant impact on a member's retirement. You’ll leave this session ready to navigate your reporting with confidence.

Seeking to enhance your efficiency with myCalPERS? Get up to speed about enhancements and functionality that help streamline processes and ensure accurate reporting in your CalPERS business role. Together we’ll explore new and commonly-accessed Cognos reports as well as myCalPERS educational resources to keep you on top of your game.

The key to successful health benefits administration starts here. You’ll learn about the foundation of health business rules to help you conduct CalPERS health benefits business and better understand your responsibilities associated with the Public Employees' Medical and Hospital Care Act. Session topics include:

• Eligibility and enrollment requirements
• Health benefits into retirement
• Health plan options
• Preferred communication methods
• Resources to conduct CalPERS health business

Are you up to date on how an employee qualifies for CalPERS membership? We’ll cover all the basics including how to determine if an employee is a current CalPERS member and what that means. We’ll also discuss the consequences of late membership and arrears.

Do you know what steps to take when an employee passes away? Learn about the benefits paid and why it's important for employees to have Beneficiary Designation and Special Power of Attorney forms on file with CalPERS. You'll also receive essential information on:

• Emergency retirement counseling
• Enhancing your death benefit provisions
• How to report the death of a member
• Pre-retirement death benefits

Want to ensure your employees’ retirement benefits are calculated correctly? You play a critical role in reporting and documenting membership, payroll, and service credit for retirement. We’ll help you get it right by reviewing your business-related responsibilities and providing resources to optimize your processes. Session topics include:

• Membership eligibility
• Payroll deadlines, fees, and waivers
• Reporting special compensation
• Retirement benefits and contract information
• Working after retirement

Did you know that CalPERS retirement benefits can affect Social Security — both the amount of monthly pension contributions before retirement and benefit payments after retirement? Join us as we explore the different types of Social Security coverage and how a CalPERS pension influences them. Let's unravel the complexities and pave the way for a healthy retirement for both you and your employees.

Get the essentials of properly reporting school employees into Social Security. We’ll share factors that influence correct reporting, including:

• Your district's specific type of Social Security coverage
• Which positions are eligible for coverage, and which aren’t
• Exemptions for rehired annuitants

Are you confident that your hiring processes are compliant with post-retirement employment laws? We’ll simplify the process of hiring retired annuitants so you can get it right every time. We’ll discuss:

• The definition of Normal Retirement Age and how it impacts post-retirement employment choices
• myCalPERS enhancements for reporting retired annuitants
• Post-retirement employment rules
• Rules for disability retirees who return to work as retired annuitants
• Steps in hiring CalPERS retirees

Curious about how CalPERS sets health plan premiums? Join our health team for an interactive discussion on CalPERS’ methodical premium development process and the various factors that impact the annual health plan premiums. In this session, you’ll:

• Explore the key factors that influence annual health plan premiums
• Gain a comprehensive understanding of CalPERS' premium development process
• Learn about the methodologies employed in premium setting

As an employer, you're also a CalPERS member. The more you know about CalPERS retirement benefits and how they fit into your financial future, the more of a trusted source you'll become for your employees. We'll cover:

• How your retirement benefit is calculated
• Factors to consider when preparing for retirement
• Features available through myCalPERS

As an employer weighing retirement plan options to recruit and retain top talent, you want to provide valuable benefits that your employees will appreciate. Learn about the advantages of adding the CalPERS 457 Plan to your offerings. It's a deferred compensation plan that gives public agency and school employees a low-cost, convenient way to save for retirement through payroll deductions.

As the largest purchaser of public employee health benefits in California, we value and protect the health of our members. For over 50 years, the CalPERS Health Program has ensured California local public agency and school employees receive high-quality health benefits. Join us to learn how we put that experience to work for you. We’ll discuss:

The actuarial valuation process that determines your funded status and your contribution requirements is very complex. Do you understand the key components? Join our actuaries to learn what's most important for plan sponsors to know and how to work with your valuation reports.

Join our health leaders for an interactive conversation on health care and the CalPERS health benefits program. You'll learn about trends driving costs, strategies to expand access, and the steps we're taking to improve the quality of our plans and the health of our members. Bring your questions to engage in the discussion so you can return home with valuable information.

Join us for an engaging discussion with Dan Bienvenue, interim chief investment officer, as he sheds light on how we are executing our investment strategies, emphasizing the significance of maintaining a steadfast commitment to drive long-term sustainability.

Don’t leave the Educational Forum with any unresolved issues. If you have questions, we have the panel session to answer them all on the final day of the Forum. Any operational topic is fair game, especially complicated issues that involve a collaborative solution across various parts of the organization. We’ll have leaders and experts from all CalPERS program areas on hand to address a wide variety of issues, including benefits, contracts, payroll, membership, service credit purchase, actuarial costs, health care, and disability retirement.

Are you up to date on how an employee qualifies for CalPERS membership? We’ll cover all the basics including how to determine if an employee is a current CalPERS member and what that means. We’ll also discuss the consequences of late membership and arrears.

When’s the last time your agency reviewed its MOU? Join us to learn what our review team can do for your organization. We’ll discuss:

• Assistance with audit preparation
• Full range of services we offer
• How to avoid delays in member retirements
• How to partner with us for success
• When to contact us

Are you aware of your options to manage both Other Post-Employment Benefits and pension costs, and how section 115 trusts can help? Join us to learn how these trust funds can help your agency save money, reduce unfunded liabilities, stabilize your budget, and mitigate contribution volatility — all while demonstrating more prudent financial management.

Curious about the most critical state legislative issues impacting CalPERS and our stakeholders? Join us for a review of the 2023 state legislative year, and the work we have ahead to engage state lawmakers in 2024.

Join our actuarial team to discuss your options including Additional Discretionary Payments, Fresh Starts of unfunded liability schedules, and voluntary contributions to the California Employers’ Pension Prefunding Trust. They'll demonstrate how contribution payments can be affected under various scenarios using our CalPERS developed tools. You'll walk away with a better understanding of how you can continually project and manage future contributions on your own.

Curious about how CalPERS sets health plan premiums? Join our health team for an interactive discussion on CalPERS’ methodical premium development process and the various factors that impact the annual health plan premiums. In this session, you’ll:

• Explore the key factors that influence annual health plan premiums
• Gain a comprehensive understanding of CalPERS' premium development process
• Learn about the methodologies employed in premium setting

As an employer weighing retirement plan options to recruit and retain top talent, you want to provide valuable benefits that your employees will appreciate. Learn about the advantages of adding the CalPERS 457 Plan to your offerings. It's a deferred compensation plan that gives public agency and school employees a low-cost, convenient way to save for retirement through payroll deductions.

Want to know more about managing or amending your CalPERS retirement benefits contract? Join us to learn about the key decision points to better understand if and when to make a change.

As the largest purchaser of public employee health benefits in California, we value and protect the health of our members. For over 50 years, the CalPERS Health Program has ensured California local public agency and school employees receive high-quality health benefits. Join us to learn how we put that experience to work for you. We’ll discuss:

• Unique protections that benefit local employers and members
• How we meet the needs of our 1,200 public agencies and schools
• Strategies and expertise we use to provide exceptional health care

This session is appropriate for agencies that currently contract with CalPERS for health benefits and those considering joining.

Learn how to provide social security coverage for your employees by establishing new Section 218 agreements and executing modifications. We’ll walk you through common withholding errors and discuss how to maintain compliance. This will be an interactive session: Facilitators will provide a variety of scenarios for you to work through in groups to help strengthen your understanding.

Do you know the differences between compensation that's reportable to CalPERS, versus CalSTRS? Join us to learn the nuances. We'll cover:

• Differences in how pay rates and special compensation are reported
• Differences in types of special compensation reporting
• Requirements for pay schedules

Do you have the information you need to help your school employees determine which membership election is best for them — CalPERS or CalSTRS? Join us to discuss various scenarios that can arise in the enrollment process. We'll help you make sure you're enrolling substitute teachers correctly and following education codes.

Applying for disability retirement is a time of high stress — employees are counting on you to get this right. Be sure you know the requirements and responsibilities for both the employer and employee. Session topics include:

• Competent medical opinion
• Differences between workers' compensation and retirement benefits
• Disciplinary actions vs. disability retirement
• Employer-originated applications
• Filing appeals
• Importance of completing retirement documents
• When to apply

Do you want to better understand the critical role you play in the retirement process and ensure your retirees receive correct payments on time? Join us as we share valuable information to fully prepare you to address key retirement issues, including:

• IRC 415 limit and the Replacement Benefit Plan (RBP)
• Navigating the retirement application
• Post-retirement adjustments and COLA (Cost of Living Adjustments)
• Reporting unused sick leave
• Understanding the relationship between payroll and retirement calculations

Want to avoid everyday pitfalls that can affect your employees' retirement benefits? Learn the do's and don'ts of accurately reporting pensionable compensation and contributions under Public Employees' Retirement Law (PERL). We’ll shed light on compliant reportable compensation and commonly misreported noncompliant items that can have a significant impact on a member's retirement. You’ll leave this session ready to navigate your reporting with confidence.

Are you up to date on how an employee qualifies for CalPERS membership? We’ll cover all the basics including how to determine if an employee is a current CalPERS member and what that means. We’ll also discuss the consequences of late membership and arrears.

When’s the last time your agency reviewed its MOU? Join us to learn what our review team can do for your organization. We’ll discuss:

• Assistance with audit preparation
• Full range of services we offer
• How to avoid delays in member retirements
• How to partner with us for success
• When to contact us

Do you process payroll and membership for your agency? Could you use technical support for your work in myCalPERS? Join us to learn about all the ways we can help you today and throughout the year. We’ll review the types of inquiries we’re equipped to handle and will also discuss a variety of myCalPERS functions including:

• Cognos reports for both payroll and membership teams
• Fixing file errors in XML and CSV formats

Do you know what steps to take when an employee passes away? Learn about the benefits paid and why it's important for employees to have Beneficiary Designation and Special Power of Attorney forms on file with CalPERS. You'll also receive essential information on:

• Emergency retirement counseling
• Enhancing your death benefit provisions
• How to report the death of a member
• Pre-retirement death benefits

Are you up to date on what's considered a “late enrollment” and how arrears impact your agency and employees? We'll cover the difference between employer-paid and member-paid arrears, review the detailed steps along the way, and discuss how to avoid arrears in the myCalPERS system.

Want to ensure your employees’ retirement benefits are calculated correctly? You play a critical role in reporting and documenting membership, payroll, and service credit for retirement. We’ll help you get it right by reviewing your business-related responsibilities and providing resources to optimize your processes. Session topics include:

• Membership eligibility
• Payroll deadlines, fees, and waivers
• Reporting special compensation
• Retirement benefits and contract information
• Working after retirement

Did you know that CalPERS retirement benefits can affect Social Security — both the amount of monthly pension contributions before retirement and benefit payments after retirement? Join us as we explore the different types of Social Security coverage and how a CalPERS pension influences them. Let's unravel the complexities and pave the way for a healthy retirement for both you and your employees.

Get the essentials of properly reporting school employees into Social Security. We’ll share factors that influence correct reporting, including:

• Your district's specific type of Social Security coverage
• Which positions are eligible for coverage, and which aren’t
• Exemptions for rehired annuitants

Are you confident that your hiring processes are compliant with post-retirement employment laws? We’ll simplify the process of hiring retired annuitants so you can get it right every time. We’ll discuss:

• The definition of Normal Retirement Age and how it impacts post-retirement employment choices
• myCalPERS enhancements for reporting retired annuitants
• Post-retirement employment rules
• Rules for disability retirees who return to work as retired annuitants
• Steps in hiring CalPERS retirees

As an employer weighing retirement plan options to recruit and retain top talent, you want to provide valuable benefits that your employees will appreciate. Learn about the advantages of adding the CalPERS 457 Plan to your offerings. It's a deferred compensation plan that gives public agency and school employees a low-cost, convenient way to save for retirement through payroll deductions.