Pre-Retirement Webinar Series

Advance planning for retirement can help to ensure a positive retirement experience. Human Resources hosted presentations during the spring 2025 semester on topics of interest to those employees starting to think about retiring.

These presentations provided information and resources to help answer some of the questions surrounding planning for retirement, such as:

  • What are my health care options when I retire?
  • What does Medicare cover and when should I enroll?
  • When should I start taking Social Security?
  • How can I make the most of my retirement savings?
  • When should I start taking my retirement income? What are my withdrawal options?
  • What kinds of social and emotional adjustments are involved in retiring?

The following webinars were offered on selected days in Spring 2025 beginning Monday, March 24th through Monday, March 31st.

  • Professor Larry Kotlikoff:Using the MaxiFi Financial Planning Tool to Plan Your Retirement
  • Fidelity Investments: The Basics of Social Security and Turn Your Savings into Retirement Income.
  • Majella Dermody: Medicare and Medicare Supplements
  • Faculty Staff Assistance Office: Psychological Readiness for Retirement – Are You Prepared?
  • Willis Towers Watson: Using My FiTage Tool

      Using My FiTage Tool

      Boston University faculty and staff who are regular employees and work at least 50% of a full-time schedule have access to the Boston University Total Rewards Portal  This online statement provides you with personalized information on your total compensation and benefits so you may learn more about your Total Rewards package from the University all in one place.

      In addition, your Total Rewards statement includes access to the retirement readiness tool called myFiTage.  This tool utilizes your personal data, financial and lifestyle goals, and savings behavior to determine the age at which your resources are expected to cover your expenses in retirement, called your Financial Independence Target Age, or in short, your FiT Age! Join us to learn more about the Total Rewards Portal and how to use the myFiTage tool to determine your own personal FiT Age!

      This session took place on Monday, March 24th and was recorded. It can be viewed here using passcode +RX.8#BT

      Using the MaxiFi Financial Planning Tool to Plan Your Retirement

      MaxiFi is a full, lifetime financial planning tool that determines how much to spend and save each year as well as how much life insurance to hold each year to ensure your family has the most stable possible living standard without putting you into debt. MaxiFi Standard also robo-optimizes your plan. It suggests Social Security benefit collection, retirement account benefit withdrawal, and retirement account annuitization strategies to maximize your lifetime spending.

      Developed by Laurence Kotlikoff, Professor of Economics at Boston University, MaxiFi software is available free to BU employees. Professor Kotlikoff will demonstrate the software and how it can help you with planning your retirement.

      This session took place on Monday, March 31st and was recorded. It can be viewed here using passcode az8&NJY&

      The Basics of Social Security and Turn Your Savings into Retirement Income. 

      Join Diana Rittenberg from Fidelity Investments to learn more about turning your retirement savings into your retirement income. During this session we will also review the basics of social security.

      Diana Rittenberg is a licensed financial professional with Fidelity Investments. She has years of experience helping people plan for their financial futures. Diana can also help with many of your everyday financial needs –from investing in your workplace retirement plan, to identifying ways to save for life’s other major expenses like buying a home or college tuition and much more.

      The session that occurred on March 26th was not recorded. To view the presentation slides, click here.

      Psychological Readiness for Retirement:  Are You Prepared?

      Beyond finances, what are the important issues to think about in deciding when to retire?  What kinds of social and emotional adjustments are involved in retiring?  What has research shown are the most significant determinants of satisfaction in retirement?  What steps can I take now to prepare for a successful transition to this next stage of life?  Join an interactive discussion about these and other questions with the Director of BU’s Faculty & Staff Assistance Office, Karen Brouhard, LICSW.

      This session took place on Thursday, March 27th and was recorded. It can be viewed here using passcode A!zJvR*5

      You may also refer to the session handout for additional information.

      Planning for Medicare

      If you’re getting close to Medicare eligibility, this webinar is for you. Missing your Medicare enrollment deadlines could cost you money. This webinar is designed to help you understand your Medicare options and when you must enroll in Medicare.

      The session that occurred on March 28th was not recorded. To view the presentation slides, click here.

      If you have questions, please contact the HR Service Center at hr@bu.edu or call 617-353-2380.