April 1, 2004

HR news

Spring work/life book coming soon

This month, faculty and staff will receive the Spring Work/Life Educational Series booklet containing free workshop offerings and brief descriptions of benefits that help to support a healthy work/life balance at Northwestern.

Some workshop topic areas include health and wellness, child care, parenting, career development and benefits.

In addition, the Benefits Division has designed a comprehensive financial planning curriculum with subject tracks in financial goal setting, investing, insurance protection and retirement.

Whether an individual is just beginning to plan his or her financial future or is an experienced investor, the series provides financial topics to enrich whatever financial planning life stage the employee is experiencing.

Upcoming offerings include:

• Understanding Your Prescription Drug Benefits, a workshop providing a detailed explanation of Northwestern’s prescription drug benefits administered by Walgreens Health Initiatives.

Sessions will be offered April 6 in Chicago and April 13 in Evanston.

• The Retirement Series, which addresses both the financial and social-emotional aspects of retirement for those employees nearing this important milestone. Social Security and Financial Planning kicks off the retirement series with a session April 5 in Evanston and April 8 in Chicago.

Retirement: Preparing for Your Life’s Next Chapter will be offered April 28 in Evanston and April 29 in Chicago.

• Understanding Investments with TIAA-CREF and Fidelity, which covers basic investment terminology and strategies for help to help faculty and staff meet their financial goals.

One-on-one financial consultations are available

Faculty and staff can learn more about financial planning and their investments in a

45-minute one-on-one consultation.

Representatives from TIAA-CREF and Fidelity Investments are available each month to answer specific questions about investment tools and setting financial goals.

Individual interested in scheduling an appointment should contact either:

• the TIAA-CREF - Appointment Desk at (312) 345-5651 or register online at www.tiaa-cref.org/moc; or

• Fidelity Investments at (800) 642-7131.