Educational Sessions

Learn how to help PEPRA employees begin planning for retirement. Gain an understanding of the core components of future retirement income, including CalPERS pension and supplemental savings options. Leave with practical insights to help you and your employees make more informed decisions and strengthen retirement readiness across your workforce.

This session is suitable for all attendees.

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, CalPERS offers 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
• Defined benefit plan and funding sources
• Educational opportunities and online resources
• myCalPERS for members and employers
• Supplemental Income 457 Plan

This session is suitable for all attendees.

Want to understand Social Security and Medicare coverage? Learn about the common tax compliance errors and connect with resources.

This session is suitable for all attendees.

Master Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) compliance, including understanding work hours, premium pay, and reporting rules.

This session is suitable for all attendees.

You play a critical role in reporting and documenting membership, payroll, and service credit for retirement. Review your business-related responsibilities and learn about resources to optimize processes.

Session topics include:

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

This session is suitable for all attendees.

Don’t leave the Educational Forum with questions. Join this final-day panel session to get answers. Any operational topic is welcome, especially complex issues that require collaboration across different parts of CalPERS. Leaders and experts from all program areas—including benefits, contracts, payroll, membership, service credit purchases, actuarial costs, health care, and disability retirement—make up the panel.

This session is suitable for all attendees.

Discover the key responsibilities, required documentation, and best practices to confidently and efficiently support employees through disability retirement. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies for managing each step of the process.

This session is suitable for all attendees.

If an employee passes away before reaching retirement we must take crucial steps to ensure their benefits are handled efficiently and with compassion. Learn the importance of maintaining current Beneficiary Designation and Special Power of Attorney forms with CalPERS, and how these documents can simplify the survivor benefit process.

Session topics include:

• Accessing emergency retirement counseling
• Maximizing available death benefit provisions
• Properly reporting the death of an employee

This session is suitable for all attendees.

Want to understand State Social Security Administrator at CalPERS? Explore coverage and eligibility, benefit calculation, Medicare, and connect with resources.

This session is suitable for all attendees.

Curious about the most critical state and federal policy issues impacting CalPERS and our stakeholders? Join us for a review of the 2026 state and federal legislative year, and the work we have ahead to engage policymakers in 2027.

This session is suitable for all attendees.

Participating in the CalPERS Health Program under PEMHCA is like planning a trip — from deciding where to go, to knowing what to do once you arrive. Our subject-matter experts serve as your guides, providing a clear roadmap of the landscape, resolutions, agency participation guidelines, and billing reconciliation best practices. Whether you are new to CalPERS Health or looking for tips and best practices, this session is designed to help all organizations participate with confidence and clarity.

This session is suitable for all attendees.

As an employer, you’re also a CalPERS member. The more you know CalPERS retirement benefits and how they fit into your personal financial future, the more you become a trusted source for your employees.

Session topics include:

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

This session is suitable for all attendees.

This session offers a comprehensive overview of the optional benefits available to contracting agencies, and includes a detailed explanation of the contract amendment process. Gain valuable insights and practical guidance to successfully navigate contract amendments. Take advantage of the extensive resources and expert support provided by CalPERS to strengthen your effectiveness as a retirement contract administrator.

This session is suitable for all attendees.

Learn how to accurately complete the employer certification, understand key employer responsibilities, identify exclusions, navigate post-certification steps and appeals, and implement best practices to avoid future corrections in the certification process.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in compliance and reporting roles, finance and fiscal roles, human resources, membership, or payroll.

Designed specifically for local safety employers, this interactive workshop provides practical guidance for managing disability and industrial disability retirement cases. Learn to navigate the determination process, review real-world scenarios, and get insights tailored to the local safety program. Participants should also attend “Navigating Employer Responsibilities in the Disability Retirement Process” for a comprehensive understanding.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in compliance and reporting roles, finance and fiscal roles, health benefit roles, human resources, leadership, management, membership, or payroll.

Our experts discuss compliance relating to publicly available pay schedules, group or class, special assignment pay, and written labor policy conditions of payment. A Q&A session follows.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in compliance and reporting roles.

Join our experts as they delve into key compliance topics, including vacation and sick leave cash-outs and banks, full-time equivalent pay rates, publicly available pay schedules, memorandums of understanding, and longevity pay. The session will conclude with a Q&A segment to address audience questions.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in compliance and reporting roles.

Join our experts to better understand calculating a service retirement benefit.

Session topics include:

• Service retirement application timeline and requirements
• Calculating benefits that include mixed formulas and caps
• Additional contracted benefits that impact a calculation
• Reporting errors and/or delays that lead to benefit adjustments
• Internal Revenue Code 415(b) & the Replacement Benefit Plan

This session may be especially valuable for those working in compliance and reporting roles, human resources, leadership, management, membership, or payroll.

Review PEPRA/classic enrollment, classic validation process, contributory/non-contributory appointments, contractually excluded positions and membership, permanent separations and impacts, and other complex membership scenarios.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in compliance and reporting roles, human resources, leadership, management, membership, or payroll.

Understand the processes involved in CalPERS reviews of independent contractors, third party employment, and safety classifications at CalPERS. Get guidance on what your agency should do if CalPERS determines someone is incorrectly enrolled at your organization.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in compliance and reporting roles, leadership, management, membership, or payroll.

An overview of key concepts to help participants better understand their actuarial reports. Learn how to read, navigate, and extract meaningful information from reports with confidence. Break down common actuarial terms and assumptions into clear, practical language. Bring your June 30, 2025, actuarial valuation report to reference during this session. By the end of the session, participants will have a stronger foundation for engaging in funding and policy discussions.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in finance and fiscal roles, leadership, or management.

Explore the latest developments in pension plan funding and emerging trends affecting public retirement systems. Learn about recent changes in assumptions and market conditions that influence funding outcomes. Get introduced to practical tools and approaches used to evaluate plan health and funding progress. The session is designed to help participants better understand where their plan stands and support informed, forward-looking decisions.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in finance and fiscal roles, leadership, or management.

Connect directly with CalPERS health leaders in an engaging session on the state of the CalPERS Health Program. Discover the latest health care trends, strategic initiatives, and innovations shaping the future of care for our members. Learn how new health plan and pharmacy contracts are delivering improved quality and lowering costs, and gain insights into upcoming opportunities. Bring your questions and leave with knowledge to help your organization get the most from CalPERS health benefits.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in finance and fiscal roles, health benefit roles, human resources, leadership, or management.

Learn how to accurately complete the employer certification, understand key employer responsibilities, identify exclusions, navigate post-certification steps and appeals, and implement best practices to avoid future corrections in the certification process.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in compliance and reporting roles, finance and fiscal roles, human resources, membership, or payroll.

The CalPERS 457 Plan is a deferred compensation plan providing public agencies and school employees a low-cost, convenient way to save for retirement through payroll deduction. The 457 Plan offers diversified investment options and state-of-the-art services, all at low cost to participants and at no cost to employers.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in finance and fiscal roles, human resources, leadership, management, or payroll.

Designed specifically for local safety employers, this interactive workshop provides practical guidance for managing disability and industrial disability retirement cases. Learn to navigate the determination process, review real-world scenarios, and get insights tailored to the local safety program. Participants should also attend “Navigating Employer Responsibilities in the Disability Retirement Process” for a comprehensive understanding.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in compliance and reporting roles, finance and fiscal roles, health benefit roles, human resources, leadership, management, membership, or payroll.

Looking for strategies used to optimize the prudent management of Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) costs? Join our experts to learn about best practices and review case studies that have successfully saved money, improved financial reporting outcomes, and protected credit ratings for employers like you over the last 19 years.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in finance and fiscal roles, leadership, or management.

Designed specifically for health benefit officers, discover how CalPERS health benefits evolve throughout an employee’s career—from their first day on the job to their mid-career milestones. Gain a clear understanding of the advanced complexities of the Public Employees’ Medical and Hospital Care Act (PEMHCA), providing straightforward guidance on your responsibilities as an employer. Learn how to confidently manage health coverage transitions and tackle real-world scenarios with practical solutions.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in health benefit roles, human resources, leadership, or management.

Designed specifically for health benefit officers, continue your learning focusing on pivotal late career and retirement stages. Discover how to expertly guide employees through separation and into retirement, unraveling advanced CalPERS health benefits business rules and system requirements. Gain clarity on reporting obligations and discover how we coordinate Medicare with CalPERS health plans for a smooth transition. Join us to strengthen your knowledge, streamline your processes, and ensure your workforce enjoys a seamless shift into retirement.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in health benefit roles, human resources, leadership, or management.

Connect directly with CalPERS health leaders in an engaging session on the state of the CalPERS Health Program. Discover the latest health care trends, strategic initiatives, and innovations shaping the future of care for our members. Learn how new health plan and pharmacy contracts are delivering improved quality and lowering costs, and gain insights into upcoming opportunities. Bring your questions and leave with knowledge to help your organization get the most from CalPERS health benefits.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in finance and fiscal roles, health benefit roles, human resources, leadership, or management.

Are you familiar with the helpful reports available to you on demand? Do you know where to access all the health resources CalPERS has to offer? Learn about these and get other tips on successfully managing health enrollment file submissions and online health enrollments.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in health benefit roles.

The key to successful health benefits administration starts here. Learn about the foundation of health business rules to help conduct CalPERS health benefits business and better understand 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

This session may be especially valuable for those working health benefit roles.

Designed specifically for local safety employers, this interactive workshop provides practical guidance for managing disability and industrial disability retirement cases. Learn to navigate the determination process, review real-world scenarios, and get insights tailored to the local safety program. Participants should also attend “Navigating Employer Responsibilities in the Disability Retirement Process” for a comprehensive understanding.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in compliance and reporting roles, finance and fiscal roles, health benefit roles, human resources, leadership, management, membership, or payroll.

Designed specifically for health benefit officers, discover how CalPERS health benefits evolve throughout an employee’s career—from their first day on the job to their mid-career milestones. Gain a clear understanding of the advanced complexities of the Public Employees’ Medical and Hospital Care Act (PEMHCA), providing straightforward guidance on your responsibilities as an employer. Learn how to confidently manage health coverage transitions and tackle real-world scenarios with practical solutions.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in health benefit roles, human resources, leadership, or management.

Designed specifically for health benefit officers, continue your learning focusing on pivotal late career and retirement stages. Discover how to expertly guide employees through separation and into retirement, unraveling advanced CalPERS health benefits business rules and system requirements. Gain clarity on reporting obligations and discover how we coordinate Medicare with CalPERS health plans for a smooth transition. Join us to strengthen your knowledge, streamline your processes, and ensure your workforce enjoys a seamless shift into retirement.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in health benefit roles, human resources, leadership, or management.

Connect directly with CalPERS health leaders in an engaging session on the state of the CalPERS Health Program. Discover the latest health care trends, strategic initiatives, and innovations shaping the future of care for our members. Learn how new health plan and pharmacy contracts are delivering improved quality and lowering costs, and gain insights into upcoming opportunities. Bring your questions and leave with knowledge to help your organization get the most from CalPERS health benefits.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in finance and fiscal roles, health benefit roles, human resources, leadership, or management.

Learn how to accurately complete the employer certification, understand key employer responsibilities, identify exclusions, navigate post-certification steps and appeals, and implement best practices to avoid future corrections in the certification process.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in compliance and reporting roles, finance and fiscal roles, human resources, membership, or payroll.

The CalPERS 457 Plan is a deferred compensation plan providing public agencies and school employees a low-cost, convenient way to save for retirement through payroll deduction. The 457 Plan offers diversified investment options and state-of-the-art services, all at low cost to participants and at no cost to employers.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in finance and fiscal roles, human resources, leadership, management, or payroll.

Designed specifically for local safety employers, this interactive workshop provides practical guidance for managing disability and industrial disability retirement cases. Learn to navigate the determination process, review real-world scenarios, and get insights tailored to the local safety program. Participants should also attend “Navigating Employer Responsibilities in the Disability Retirement Process” for a comprehensive understanding.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in compliance and reporting roles, finance and fiscal roles, health benefit roles, human resources, leadership, management, membership, or payroll.

Join our experts to better understand calculating a service retirement benefit.

Session topics include:

• Service retirement application timeline and requirements
• Calculating benefits that include mixed formulas and caps
• Additional contracted benefits that impact a calculation
• Reporting errors and/or delays that lead to benefit adjustments
• Internal Revenue Code 415(b) & the Replacement Benefit Plan

This session may be especially valuable for those working in compliance and reporting roles, human resources, leadership, management, membership, or payroll.

Ensure your hiring processes are compliant with post-retirement employment laws. Learn how to simplify the process of hiring retired annuitants so you can get it right every time.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in compliance and reporting roles, human resources, leadership, management, or membership.

Review PEPRA/classic enrollment, classic validation process, contributory/non-contributory appointments, contractually excluded positions and membership, permanent separations and impacts, and other complex membership scenarios.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in compliance and reporting roles, human resources, leadership, management, membership, or payroll.

An overview of key concepts to help participants better understand their actuarial reports. Learn how to read, navigate, and extract meaningful information from reports with confidence. Break down common actuarial terms and assumptions into clear, practical language. Bring your June 30, 2025, actuarial valuation report to reference during this session. By the end of the session, participants will have a stronger foundation for engaging in funding and policy discussions.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in finance and fiscal roles, leadership, or management.

Explore the latest developments in pension plan funding and emerging trends affecting public retirement systems. Learn about recent changes in assumptions and market conditions that influence funding outcomes. Get introduced to practical tools and approaches used to evaluate plan health and funding progress. The session is designed to help participants better understand where their plan stands and support informed, forward-looking decisions.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in finance and fiscal roles, leadership, or management.

Designed specifically for health benefit officers, discover how CalPERS health benefits evolve throughout an employee’s career—from their first day on the job to their mid-career milestones. Gain a clear understanding of the advanced complexities of the Public Employees’ Medical and Hospital Care Act (PEMHCA), providing straightforward guidance on your responsibilities as an employer. Learn how to confidently manage health coverage transitions and tackle real-world scenarios with practical solutions.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in health benefit roles, human resources, leadership, or management.

Designed specifically for health benefit officers, continue your learning focusing on pivotal late career and retirement stages. Discover how to expertly guide employees through separation and into retirement, unraveling advanced CalPERS health benefits business rules and system requirements. Gain clarity on reporting obligations and discover how we coordinate Medicare with CalPERS health plans for a smooth transition. Join us to strengthen your knowledge, streamline your processes, and ensure your workforce enjoys a seamless shift into retirement.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in health benefit roles, human resources, leadership, or management.

Connect directly with CalPERS health leaders in an engaging session on the state of the CalPERS Health Program. Discover the latest health care trends, strategic initiatives, and innovations shaping the future of care for our members. Learn how new health plan and pharmacy contracts are delivering improved quality and lowering costs, and gain insights into upcoming opportunities. Bring your questions and leave with knowledge to help your organization get the most from CalPERS health benefits.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in finance and fiscal roles, health benefit roles, human resources, leadership, or management.

The CalPERS 457 Plan is a deferred compensation plan providing public agencies and school employees a low-cost, convenient way to save for retirement through payroll deduction. The 457 Plan offers diversified investment options and state-of-the-art services, all at low cost to participants and at no cost to employers.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in finance and fiscal roles, human resources, leadership, management, or payroll.

Could your agency use fresh strategies to reduce and stabilize pension costs? Join our experts to learn about tools and options to help. Session topics include:

• Incorporating a pension 115 Trust into your funding policy
• Considerations when reducing unfunded actuarial liability with additional discretionary payments

This session may be especially valuable for those working in finance and fiscal roles, leadership, or management.

Designed specifically for local safety employers, this interactive workshop provides practical guidance for managing disability and industrial disability retirement cases. Learn to navigate the determination process, review real-world scenarios, and get insights tailored to the local safety program. Participants should also attend “Navigating Employer Responsibilities in the Disability Retirement Process” for a comprehensive understanding.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in compliance and reporting roles, finance and fiscal roles, health benefit roles, human resources, leadership, management, membership, or payroll.

Looking for strategies used to optimize the prudent management of Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) costs? Join our experts to learn about best practices and review case studies that have successfully saved money, improved financial reporting outcomes, and protected credit ratings for employers like you over the last 19 years.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in finance and fiscal roles, leadership, or management.

Join our experts to better understand calculating a service retirement benefit.

Session topics include:

• Service retirement application timeline and requirements
• Calculating benefits that include mixed formulas and caps
• Additional contracted benefits that impact a calculation
• Reporting errors and/or delays that lead to benefit adjustments
• Internal Revenue Code 415(b) & the Replacement Benefit Plan

This session may be especially valuable for those working in compliance and reporting roles, human resources, leadership, management, membership, or payroll.

Ensure your hiring processes are compliant with post-retirement employment laws. Learn how to simplify the process of hiring retired annuitants so you can get it right every time.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in compliance and reporting roles, human resources, leadership, management, or membership.

Review PEPRA/classic enrollment, classic validation process, contributory/non-contributory appointments, contractually excluded positions and membership, permanent separations and impacts, and other complex membership scenarios.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in compliance and reporting roles, human resources, leadership, management, membership, or payroll.

Understand the processes involved in CalPERS reviews of independent contractors, third party employment, and safety classifications at CalPERS. Get guidance on what your agency should do if CalPERS determines someone is incorrectly enrolled at your organization.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in compliance and reporting roles, leadership, management, membership, or payroll.

Learn how to accurately complete the employer certification, understand key employer responsibilities, identify exclusions, navigate post-certification steps and appeals, and implement best practices to avoid future corrections in the certification process.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in compliance and reporting roles, finance and fiscal roles, human resources, membership, or payroll.

Designed specifically for local safety employers, this interactive workshop provides practical guidance for managing disability and industrial disability retirement cases. Learn to navigate the determination process, review real-world scenarios, and get insights tailored to the local safety program. Participants should also attend “Navigating Employer Responsibilities in the Disability Retirement Process” for a comprehensive understanding.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in compliance and reporting roles, finance and fiscal roles, health benefit roles, human resources, leadership, management, membership, or payroll.

Ensure your hiring processes are compliant with post-retirement employment laws. Learn how to simplify the process of hiring retired annuitants so you can get it right every time.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in compliance and reporting roles, human resources, leadership, management, or membership.

Review PEPRA/classic enrollment, classic validation process, contributory/non-contributory appointments, contractually excluded positions and membership, permanent separations and impacts, and other complex membership scenarios.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in compliance and reporting roles, human resources, leadership, management, membership, or payroll.

Join our experts to better understand calculating a service retirement benefit.

Session topics include:

• Service retirement application timeline and requirements
• Calculating benefits that include mixed formulas and caps
• Additional contracted benefits that impact a calculation
• Reporting errors and/or delays that lead to benefit adjustments
• Internal Revenue Code 415(b) & the Replacement Benefit Plan

This session may be especially valuable for those working in compliance and reporting roles, human resources, leadership, management, membership, or payroll.

Understand the processes involved in CalPERS reviews of independent contractors, third party employment, and safety classifications at CalPERS. Get guidance on what your agency should do if CalPERS determines someone is incorrectly enrolled at your organization.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in compliance and reporting roles, leadership, management, membership, or payroll.

Learn how to accurately complete the employer certification, understand key employer responsibilities, identify exclusions, navigate post-certification steps and appeals, and implement best practices to avoid future corrections in the certification process.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in compliance and reporting roles, finance and fiscal roles, human resources, membership, or payroll.

Designed specifically for local safety employers, this interactive workshop provides practical guidance for managing disability and industrial disability retirement cases. Learn to navigate the determination process, review real-world scenarios, and get insights tailored to the local safety program. Participants should also attend “Navigating Employer Responsibilities in the Disability Retirement Process” for a comprehensive understanding.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in compliance and reporting roles, finance and fiscal roles, health benefit roles, human resources, leadership, management, membership, or payroll.

Join our experts to better understand calculating a service retirement benefit.

Session topics include:

• Service retirement application timeline and requirements
• Calculating benefits that include mixed formulas and caps
• Additional contracted benefits that impact a calculation
• Reporting errors and/or delays that lead to benefit adjustments
• Internal Revenue Code 415(b) & the Replacement Benefit Plan

This session may be especially valuable for those working in compliance and reporting roles, human resources, leadership, management, membership, or payroll.

Review PEPRA/classic enrollment, classic validation process, contributory/non-contributory appointments, contractually excluded positions and membership, permanent separations and impacts, and other complex membership scenarios.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in compliance and reporting roles, human resources, leadership, management, membership, or payroll.

Understand the processes involved in CalPERS reviews of independent contractors, third party employment, and safety classifications at CalPERS. Get guidance on what your agency should do if CalPERS determines someone is incorrectly enrolled at your organization.

This session may be especially valuable for those working in compliance and reporting roles, leadership, management, membership, or payroll.