Work/Life Educational Series

What is the Work/Life Educational Series?

New Offerings?

On-Line Registration Resource

Work/Life Educational Series Booklet ( PDF)

The Work/Life Educational Series provides faculty and staff free workshops to help support a healthy work/life balance. Topics offered include:

• health and wellness,
• child care,
• parenting,
• marriage,
• elder care,
• career,
• benefits, and
• financial planning.

The Benefits Division sponsors a comprehensive financial planning curriculum. Whether you're just beginning to plan your financial future or you are an experienced investor, the series provides financial topics to enrich whatever financial planning life stage you are experiencing. Subject tracks include:

• financial goal setting,
• insurance protection,
• investments,
• taxes,
• tuition savings, and
• retirement.

Booklet sponsors include the benefits division, work/life, child & family resources, and athletics and recreation. This booklet replaces the benefit division's semi-annual mailing of its financial planning course offerings.

What's New This Spring?

INV 1-T - Developing an Investment Strategy with TIAA-CREF

4/18 – Chicago Campus
Wieboldt, Room 105
Noon to 1:30 p.m.

Have you been automatically enrolled in the NU Basic Retirement Plan and now want to take control of your asset allocation? This presentation offers a brief overview of diversification, risk tolerance, inflation, TIAA-CREF asset classes and funds - including the nine new mutual funds. Additionally, it reviews the TIAA-CREF Asset Allocation questionnaire and explains how TIAA-CREF representatives can help determine an investor’s tolerance for risk using this questionnaire.

RET 3 – Medicare and NU Health Insurance

4/19 – Evanston Campus 4/24 – Chicago Campus
Norris Center, Ohio State Room Wieboldt, Room 105
Noon to 1:30 p.m. Noon to 1:30p.m.

A Blue Cross-Blue Shield representative will discuss Northwestern’s retiree health insurance plan. A Medicare representative will explain Medicare Parts A and B, Medicare “Assignment,” Medicare “Crossover,” and Medicare “Carve-out” plans and discuss which plan coverage is considered “primary.” Medicare enrollment procedures and deadlines will be reviewed as well.

RET 4 – Steps to Take When Retiring from Northwestern

4/20 – Evanston Campus 4/28 – Chicago Campus
Norris Center, Ohio State Room Wieboldt, Room 105
Noon to 1:30 p.m. Noon to 1:30p.m.

Are you considering retiring from Northwestern University? If so, this workshop will cover the basic steps and minimum qualifications for retiring. Topics include: Continuation of benefits with NU, Wildcard privileges and special enrollment into Medicare Part B.

On-Line Registration Resource

An easy way to register for Fall 2005 workshops. An automated email reminder is sent three days before each workshop. This resource, the Northwestern University Training Workshop Registration System, is offered to faculty and staff by Northwestern University Information Technology.

To use this on-line registration system, go to Online Registration

1. Select Search/Register for Workshops
2. Scroll to Search Criteria, select HR Benefits or Work/Life under Program
3. A list of workshops will appear
4. Click on the desired workshop
5. An Enter Network ID panel will appear
6. Enter your NU NetID and password
7. Review and registration information and if accurate, click on the register button

Human Resources On-line Calendars

The Human Resources On-line calendars are a useful way to learn about the Work/Life Educational Series. These workshops are accessible from the
Human Resources Home Page, under HR Calendar - "more HR events"
Benefits Division Home Page, under Benefits Calendar
Child Care, Family Resources and Work Life Home Page, under Child Care Workshops

Plan-It Purple

Plan-It Purple is a useful on-line tool for viewing Northwestern University sponsored events such as lectures, workshops and seminars. Each of the Financial Planning Workshops are listed with a brief description of the Workshop.

Go to Plan-It Purple

1. Select desired month
2. Select Lectures and Workshops
3. Select Workshops
4. Select specific workshop of interest to you