Pre-retirement Planning Events

Considering Retirement? 

The Retirement Center partners with the Retirement Administration Services Center and Fidelity to provide a comprehensive overview of the nuts and bolts of retirement for campus staff, faculty and LBNL employees.  including information on the UC pension, retiree health care and retirement savings accounts. RASC also offers monthly webinars, in addition to the 2 events offered in collaboration with the Retirement Center. 

Additionally, the Retirement Center offers workshops on the non-financial aspects of retirement through panel presentations with retirees who share their story about transitioning to retirement and how it may look entirely different or very similiar. Topics include maintaining relationships, continuing work, and staying connected and involved with the university.

Later-career Inspiration for Thriving (LIFT) Initiative
Group of later-career adults 50+

This new initiative supports later-career staff in their exploration of transitioning towards retirement. It consists of seven online workshops followed by small-group conversations starting in late Fall '25 and continuing through Spring '26. 

Curious to learn more? Visit the LIFT Initiative's webpage for more information, including the workshop schedule. 

Upcoming Retirement Planning Events

Creating a Purposeful Next Act: Aligning Our Work with Our Deeper Purpose
(BECAR NE609)

For Active Staff & Faculty --registration through UC Learning Center

The Retirement Center is co-hosting this workshop with People & Culture. It is part of the 2025 Fall NOW Encore Series Workshops.

Presenter: Heidi Rosenfelder (she/her), Founder, Executive Coach & Consultant, Third Acts, LLC

No matter where we are in our careers - just starting out, well-established, or preparing for a transition - reflecting on what gives our work meaning and purpose can be a powerful catalyst for growth. In this interactive workshop, participants will discover what truly drives them, explore how to integrate their deeper purpose into their professional lives, and innovate new ways to create impact.

We all have a professional CV, which lists our professional achievements, but what about our personal CV - the values, relationships, and contributions that will shape our legacy? Through guided reflection and experiential activities, participants will craft a personal CV that reveals the impact they want to have in their next chapter. We will go beyond self-reflection by developing practical strategies for introducing ourselves in ways that feel authentic and bring our whole selves to our professional relationships.

But we won’t stop at reflection. After shaping our personal CV, we’ll explore how to strengthen the connection between our professional and personal narratives, ensuring our daily work aligns with our deeper purpose. This alignment fosters stronger relationships, helps us achieve meaningful results, and empowers us to create the future with clarity and intention.

By seeing our lives as a story in progress, we open the door to innovative thinking, out-of-the-box solutions, and greater fulfillment in our careers. In a time of constant change, understanding and owning our personal narrative isn’t just a tool for growth—it’s a strategy for impact.

Materials needed: two sheets of white paper, a few of your favorite markers (ideally a variety of colors – could be colored pencils, crayons, or felt markers - whatever you have easily available).

Learning Outcomes

By attending this session you will:

1. Clarify the impact you want to have. 

2. Discover what truly drives you.

3. Explore how you might align your work with your deeper purpose.

This NOW Encore Series workshop will be recorded. Registrants will be sent a Zoom link and a bCal invite prior to the virtual workshop date.

Learn About Side Hustles for 50+ Through AARP Virtual Meetings 2024-25

(Taking from AARP's website): https://my.aarpfoundation.org/locator/workforyourself/?filter%5B%5D=free... 


Whether you’re considering a side hustle or thinking of starting your own business, there’s a lot to consider. AARP Foundation Work for Yourself@50+™ was created to help people over 50 living on a limited income get the knowledge, support, and resources they need to earn income through self-employment.

Coffee Chats: "What is Freelancing?"TM 

Are you curious about finding work or earning extra money as a freelancer? Created specifically for adults over 50, this hour-and-a-half interactive workshop will cover how freelancing works, the types of available gigs, how to navigate the online freelancing market, and how to leverage your previous work experience.

For Beginners: Crafting Your Irresistible

Offer Learn how to navigate the gig economy to turn your hobbies into a money-making side-hustle or full-time business in this informative webinar hosted by gig economy expert Angela Heath. The webinar will help you examine your skills, talents, and passions to choose a freelancing niche and begin earning the income you want while enjoying your work. This is a virtual workshop. Once you register, you’ll receive a confirmation email explaining how to join the webinar. To attend, you’ll need either a laptop, tablet, or smartphone that is connected to the internet.

Intro to Gig Work: How to Earn Income

More older Americans are working part-time, freelance, or contract jobs — even during retirement. This workshop will show you where to look for side gigs and contract work and begin earning income as a freelancer. Do you want a more flexible work schedule? Are you looking for a little extra income as you head into retirement? Do you need a less physically demanding job? Being your own boss may be the right next step — we’re here to help you find trusted income opportunities and avoid scams. This is a virtual workshop. Once you register, you’ll receive a confirmation email explaining how to join the webinar. To attend, you’ll need either a laptop, tablet, or smartphone that is connected to the internet.

Monthly Preparing for Retirement Webinars

Date and time: Ongoing
Location: Zoom
Description:

Representatives from the Retirement Administration Service Center (RASC) at UCOP offer webinars on a monthly basis.  For UCRP members who are planning to retire within the next five years and for vested inactive members of UCRP. Live webinars cover topics such as understanding UCRP pension benefits, retirement savings and retiree health coverage; and step by step process for UCRP members who are planning to retire within the next 4-12 months
Registration:

For links to register for a live webinar or watch a recorded video, see the Retirement Administration Service Center's (RASC) website

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Retirement Planning Programs Regularly Offered in the Fall and Spring

Pathway to Retirement Event (with the Retirement Administration Service Center)

Offered in the spring and fall via Zoom 

Description: The Retirement Center partners with the Retirement Administration Center (RASC) to host the "Pathway to Retirement" Events to guide employees in planning for financial security in retirement. Featured speakers include a retirement counselor from the UC Retirement Administration Service Center who will explain your UC retirement benefits and eligibility rules for retiree health, describe the steps you need to take when you’re ready to retire and answer your questions. Open to all UCB, LBNL, and UCOP staff and faculty; Spouses and partners are encouraged to attend. There is no hard-and-fast rule on when an employee should take this seminar, most participants are 1-5 years from their retirement date.

Experienced speakers from RASC and Fidelity present important topics to help you retire with confidence:

  • Envisioning your Retirement Income planning for the long term
  • UC Pension and Retirement Savings Program benefits
  • Social Security benefits and claiming strategies
  • Health coverage for retirees
  • Navigating the UC retirement process
  • Important resources and next steps 

Thriving in Retirement Emeriti Panel (Faculty)

Offered in the fall

Description: Facilitated by Professors Emeritus/a Phil Cowan, Carolyn Cowan, and Sheldon Zedeck, all members of the Department of Psychology, this session is designed for faculty who are contemplating all of the opportunities that retirement may offer. As part of the first panel, two emeriti will share their experiences with transitioning from active to retired faculty. As part of the second panel, one retired faculty, joined by their partner, will talk about how they experienced the transition as a family. Faculty family members/partners are strongly encourage to attend. Recently retired faculty are welcome to join.

Topics include: How to continue your academic interests, your relationships with your non‐retiring colleagues, and what will this transition be like for your family.

This workshop is held in partnership with the Emeriti Association (UCBEA), the Retirement Center (UCBRC), and the Office of the Associate Vice Provost for the Faculty.

Questions? Email Sigrid Mueller at emeritiacademy@berkeley.edu.

Life in Retirement: How to Prepare for the Emotional and Social Transition (LBNL) 

Offered in the fall via Zoom

Description: In partnership with the Lawrence Berkeley Lab ERG's. This unique event brings together a group of retirees from LBNL to share their experiences on navigating the emotional and social transition of retirement, and to help you identify steps you can take now to make the transition a smooth one. Panelists include LBNL retired staff.

Recording:

Life in Retirement LBNL Panel
This unique event brings together a group of retirees to share their experiences on navigating the emotional and social transition of retirement, and to help you identify steps you can take now to make the transition a smooth one.

Later Career and Retirement Workshop for Chairs and Deans 

Offered in the fall via Zoom


Interactive discussion for Chairs and Deans about the later career and retirement phases of the Berkeley academic career beyond pathway agreements. Topics will include how and when to legally and supportively discuss retirement considerations; guidance for faculty transitions to retirement using Pathways to Retirement agreements; how to best support the concerns and needs of later career faculty who wish to remain active; tools and resources to support faculty on both sides of the transition; and ways to effectively engage faculty emeriti in your unit.

Life in Retirement: How to Prepare for the Emotional and Social Transition (Campus Staff)

Offered in the spring via Zoom

Description: In partnership with the Coalition for Ethnic Staff Organizations (CESO). This unique event brings together a group of retirees to share their experiences on navigating the emotional and social transition of retirement, and to help you identify steps you can take now to make the transition a smooth one. Panelists include UCB retired staff. 

Recordings: 
Life in Retirement
Panelists: Pat Hayashi David McCauley Edith Ng Alma Jane Valencia Gross Facilitator: Tracy Pascua Dea

Retirement is Best Understood as a Transition
This webinar is a partnership of UC Berkeley Retirement Center and Beacon Bridge Wealth Partners. The webinar explores the critical transition into retirement, emphasizing the importance of building a robust social network. While financial planning is undeniably essential, it's equally important to consider how you'll spend your time and who you'll share it with in retirement. We'll discuss strategies for creating a fulfilling post-retirement lifestyle, ensuring you're not only financially secure but also socially connected and engaged. Cary Sweeney, MS, is the Director of the UC Berkeley Retirement Center, serving 20,000 retirees and their families from University of California. The UCB Retirement Center aims to create opportunities for discovery and purpose in retirement. Cary has been working in the field of Gerontology and Adult Education for 20+ years and has a masters in Gerontology from Virginia Community University.