your insuranceDriving home the best deal on a new car

your retirementWhat moving districts means to your 403(b)

your kiosk2013 Mentor Award winners Winter prep your home, car, toys

}

your$™A magazine from WEA Trust Member Benefits

2013 FALL

The Reluctant Mentor

president’s letterDave Kijek, President/CEO, WEA Trust Member Benefits™{

2 weabenefits.com

© 2013 WEA Member Benefit Trust.All rights reserved.

You are the story behind our best stories.

Follow us.

3 YOUR ACCOUNT- 2014 Guaranteed rate coming soon.

- Plan ahead for year-end 403(b) and IRA distributions.

- Avoid excess contribution penalties.

- No hassle payment options.

4 YOUR MONEY- Rusty Wulff pays it forward.

6 YOUR INSURANCE- Strategies for buying a new car.

8 YOUR RETIREMENT- What a move to a new district

means to your 403(b).

4

your$CONTENTS FALL 2013

{

10 YOUR KIOSK- 2013 Financial Mentor Award

winners.

- Flood insurance soon to be offered.

- Tips for preparing your home, car, and toys for winter.

™

6

It’s hard to believe that Member Benefits is celebrating 40 years of serving Wisconsin public school employees. In addition, this is our fifth anniversary edition of your$. Time flies.

Over the years, we have had the opportunity to meet so many of you. The magazine has allowed us to engage with you, our participants, in a different way and share the experiences

of many educators through our member stories.

Many, like Rusty Wulff, have been reluctant to be the focus of an article. We’ve found that most educators don’t fully recognize the value of what they do for others. They help others, not for personal gain, but because it’s part of who they are. So, we understand why it is often an uncomfortable notion to be put in the limelight, to make a big deal out of something that comes naturally.

We thank all of you who have stepped out of your comfort zone and have allowed us to tell your story, to

acknowledge the special things you do everyday.

There are eight others, in addition to Rusty, who have been nominated by their peers for the 2013 Financial Mentor Award. They are recognized on page 10.

As you begin another school year, we encourage you to take time for yourself, improve your financial well-being, and pay it forward when you can. And, remember, you are not in this alone.

8

weabenefits.com

{ your accountIRA and 403(b) News2014 Prudential Guaranteed Investment announcementThe Prudential Guaranteed Investment credited rate of return for 2014 will be announced on October 25 at weabenefits.com. The Prudential fact sheet and a Q&A regarding the current Prudential Guaranteed Investment contract will also be available on October 25 at weabenefits.com/pru.

We can help you plan ahead for year-end distribution Lump-sum withdrawalsAre you planning to take a lump-sum withdrawal from your WEA TSA Trust or WEAC IRA account before the end of 2013? If so, mark your calendars so that your written request form is received (not postmarked) by us on or before December 13, 2013. This will ensure your request is processed by year end. If we receive your form after December 13, it will be processed the second week of January 2014. Unfortunately, we cannot accept requests via fax.

403(b) and IRA exchanges/transfers/rolloversExchanges, transfers, and rollovers require a longer processing time. Your completed paperwork (including approved third-party administrator transaction authorization if applicable) will process by the end of December if we receive it by December 6, 2013. This includes requests for IRA recharacterizations and conversions. Please call us if you have any questions. We are happy to help you through the process.

Postdated checksWe are not able to accept checks written and received this tax year (2013) for next tax year (2014). Postdated checks will be returned.

Help us go green! Give us your e-mails.In 2014, we want to be greener by expanding our ability to communicate with participants electronically. Not only is this good for the environment, it will also increase efficiencies and help us keep costs down. We’re planning to give participants e-communication options by mid-year. Give us a call or log into your WEAccess account and go to the personal profile tab, select address information, click on edit, enter your e-mail, and submit.

Avoid penalties! Watch your contribution limits…it’s year end! Contribution limits for 403(b) accounts are $17,500 for 2013; however, employees age 50 and older can contribute an additional $5,500 for a total of $23,000 per year. It’s up to the participant (not the employer) to pay attention to limits.

Interest is compounded daily to produce the current annual yield prior to the deduction of program administrative fees. Contributions and earnings are held in the general account of Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company (PRIAC). Principal and net credited interest are fully guaranteed by PRIAC. Such guarantees are based solely upon the financial strength and claims-paying ability of PRIAC. For more information go to weabenefits.com/pru. Keep in mind that mutual fund investments are not guaranteed and may gain or lose value. Past performance is no guarantee for future results. Future performance may be lower or higher than past performance. Before investing in any mutual fund, call WEA Trust Member Benefits at 1-800-279-4030 to request a prospectus. We advise you to read it carefully and consider the fund’s investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other information about the investment company.

The Trustee for the WEAC IRA program is First Business Trust & Investments. The 403(b) retirement program is offered by the WEA TSA Trust. TSA program registered representatives are licensed through WEA Investment Services, Inc., member FINRA. Content in this magazine is for informational purposes only and not intended to be legal or tax advice. Consult your tax advisor or attorney before taking any action.

2 Easy payment options

No hassle! No charge!

SmartPlan, our popular automatic monthly payment option, is a convenient and budget friendly way to make IRA contributions or pay for auto or home insurance premiums. And, there is no additional cost.

It’s easy. Premium payments and/or IRA contributions are automatically drawn from either your checking or savings account. No need to write and mail a check.

Even better. If your district participates in our Trust Advantage™ program, you can payroll deduct your payments and contributions. Payroll deduction is available in over 160 districts.

Both options make for smaller, easier-to-manage payments and they are free.

Call 1-800-279-4010 for details.

IRA403(b)

2014 PRUDENTIALGUARANTEEDINVESTMENT

What will the new rate be?

Fin

d out October 25?At weabenefits.com

3

We will be closed:

Thanksgiving—Nov. 28–29, 2013

Christmas—Dec. 24–26, 2013

New Year’s Day–Jan. 1, 2014

4 weabenefits.com

W hen you walk into a mall, what’s the first thing you see?” Rusty asked. I’m thinking McDonald’s, but I

know that’s not the answer he is looking for. He helps me out. “A map of the mall with an arrow on it that says ‘You are here.’ The map tells you exactly where you are and makes it easy to get to where you want to go. Without the map, I could be wandering around the mall for hours trying to find what I’m looking for.”

I was thankful that we were talking on the phone and Rusty couldn’t see the puzzled look on my face. Where was he going with this? My silence prompted Rusty to fill in the blanks for me.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have a map when we start out to help us navigate finances. I’m a slooooow learner. It took me a long time to get to some point of understanding. I went from Point A to Point B by way of Point C.”

Rusty’s ideaLast year, Rusty started a personal

finance group for his colleagues in the Fontana School District. He had been contemplating moving on the idea for a while. The final push he needed came from

reading the Dan Otter interview in the July 2012 your$. (See page 9.) “It tugged on me and gave me the courage to move forward.

“Perhaps the hardest thing was to raise my hand and say that if anyone wants help with this, I am willing to do it. It was kind of like asking a pretty girl out on a date. There is the fear of rejection. I knew there was a chance I would put out the call and no one would answer.”

Poll resultsRusty had nothing to worry about. The

level of interest was high—more than 70% of the staff indicated an interest in what he was proposing. More than 30% showed up for the meetings.

“I don’t presume to be an expert on any of this stuff, but I sensed that some people were having hard times, and I suppose the confluence of my increased level of interest in this stuff, Act 10 coming down, and the low morale…it made me feel like maybe I could help others get from Point A to Point B a little faster than I did.”

Getting startedAt the first meeting, Rusty handed out

a survey to the group to gauge the level of knowledge and comfort with common financial topics and concepts. “I based it

on things that I find myself repeatedly having to deal with while navigating financial waters.”

The survey asked them to identify things they hope to discuss in the group as well as personal goals. It was brief and anonymous. Rusty found there was a lack of confidence overall with financial concepts. And their responses to “What do you hope to investigate with the group?” ranged from “Not even sure what questions to ask” to “How should I be investing at this point in my life” to “When can I retire?”

“It would’ve been a mistake to go ahead without this information. The results of the survey set the stage,” said Rusty.

Initially, Rusty said he sensed a fear of judgement from the group, even embarrassment of what they didn’t know or what they had or hadn’t done financially, but they quickly got comfortable.

The fact that teachers seemed to feel most safe learning this information during class—versus on their own—was telling in itself. “There’s safety in numbers.”

It’s a cultural thingRusty brought up the article from the

last your$ issue, “Gauging Retirement Readiness.” It got him thinking about the pervasive issue that educators seem to have with taking control of their finances. “What

{ your money

The RelucTanT MenToR“

By Sonja Penner

A lifelong teacher, Rusty Wulff has been helping his colleagues with financial matters for years, yet he was convinced he did not have anything of value to share. He was wrong. Here’s what he told me.

weabenefits.com 5

the teacher from River Falls described—the frustration, the uncertainty, the fear— reflects the sentiment of our staff too.”

“I think it’s a cultural thing that those of us in education just do not think about money in the same way others do. It’s like a frequency we aren’t tuned in to. In fact, profit is not a word teachers use. If we do,

it is usually preceded by two other words ‘not for.’

“There’s this notion that because we are doing this good thing, serving our community, helping children, that we will be taken care of somehow. Teachers are so busy helping other people, they just don’t think about helping themselves. We are almost averse to it at times. But, we need to start thinking differently,” he said.

The counter argumentOne thing that has helped Rusty get

past this mentality is the idea that by taking care of yourself you are helping others. “I don’t ever want my kids to have to take care of me financially. My parents and my wife’s parents have not put us in that position. Betsy and I are thankful for that.”

It’s a powerful argument when you consider that the number of people caring for an aging parent has soared in the past 15 years. A 2013 Pew Research Center survey reported that 21% of Americans in their 40s and 50s provided some financial support to aging parents.

The year in reviewI had the chance to meet the group last

month. It is an enthusiastic bunch—made up of seasoned educators, save for one 20-something teacher. Their assessment of the group’s first year was positive.

Kim:“There’s a comfort level in the group. We can participate in the discussion, ask questions, and not feel stupid.”

Susan: “Joining the group helped me make time for this important piece of my life.”

Noreen: “When my husband passed away, I was suddenly in charge. This has helped me figure it all out.”

Mark: “I have a better understanding of what I have, where I am at, and what I need to do.”

Kelly: “There’s a sense of community. We’re in this together. We learn it together.”

Lynne: “The convenience of having this at our workplace made it work for me.”

Rusty adds, “I don’t know how to measure what we have accomplished as a group. But, if I’ve prompted thoughts, if I’ve softened the lingo for them…then I consider it worthwhile. I know Sarah, our young art teacher, started a Roth. That’s a big deal.”

Sarah is 26 years old and just finished her second year in the classroom. Her colleagues see the opportunity she has open to her. She’s learning it much earlier in her career than they did and they are cheering her on.

“I feel very supported—like these guys are all my parents. They care so much for me. I have to do this now. I can’t let them down,” she laughs.

“They are all very excited for her.” Rusty says. “When we ran the compound interest calculator based on her age during one of our meetings, they just went crazy. They were like, ‘Sarah, this could be you.’”

The calculator Rusty is referring to visually shows the dramatic effect compound interest can have on investments. Results are based on monthly savings, interest rate, and starting age. It’s a very cool tool. Try it yourself at weabenefits.com.

InspirationsThroughout my interview with Rusty,

he mentioned time and again that he didn’t get to this point of understanding on his own. “My journey was a long, circuitous one. I had a lot of help along the way.” And now he’s paying it forward. “I feel I owe it to those who inspired me to help others.” His short list of supporters include:

Rusty and his wife Betsy live in Elkhorn 10 miles down the road from the Fontana School District. They started teaching in 1982—Rusty a band teacher and Betsy a kindergarten and 2nd grade teacher.

Like many educators, Rusty is not comfortable in the limelight. He was reluctant to accept the Mentor award, and he resisted doing this interview. It took coaxing from his brother and wife. They reminded him that this isn’t really about him. It’s about the people that can be helped and those who might be spurred to action.

When he e-mailed Marty Richards from Member Benefits to tell him he had done the interview, Rusty said, “Hell hath frozen over.”

Proposing the personal finance group in his district was a bit of a gamble. Taking the risk was worth it. Rusty told me it was one of the most fulfilling things of the 2012-13 school year. “My hope is that the group will want to re-up for another tour this year. Maybe some of the new staff will join us.”

Rusty encourages people from other districts to try this “in-house group approach.” “I know we’re not the only ones this could work for, and I suspect there are others who could pull this off. Perhaps this article will be the stimulus they need, like the Dan Otter article was for me.

“In case anyone hears our tree fall and wants to know where to begin when starting a personal finance group at their school, I’m willing to share what I’ve learned.”

You can contact Rusty at rwulff2002@yahoo.com.

“Teachers are so busy helping other people, they just don’t think about helping themselves. We are almost averse to it

at times. But, we need to start thinking differently.”

• His eldest brother who gave him a “benevolent kick in the pants” from time to time.

• Bob Moeller (WEAC’s former financial planner) whose seminars he attended through the years “to hear the same information over and over...it finally sunk in. He also motivated me to evaluate our monthly budget in detail

continued on page 9

{ Member Profile Rusty Wulff

5

{ your insurance

New car shopping. How does this statement make you feel? Some people think it’s fun to hunt for the car they want and

haggle the deal. Others find it stressful and dread the entire process. Whichever way you lean, there’s a lot of information to consider.

A new car is a big investment. Give yourself the advantage by taking the time to approach car buying strategically.

Here are eight tips to help you get on the road with your best deal.

Do your research You want the best quality car you can

afford, as well as a vehicle that meets your lifestyle needs. Do a little online research on vehicles of interest and take notes on:• Crash test and accident data.• Safety complaints and recalls.• Reliability. • Fuel economy.• Maintenance costs and insurance rates.

The resource list at the end of this article is a good place to start.

Find out the trade-in value of your current car

Dealers will sometimes give you a discount on a new car but then give you less on your trade-in. Check your current car’s book value with Kelley Blue Book or the National Automobile Dealers Association ahead of time to give yourself more bargaining leverage.

Get preapproved for a loan before you buy

Get a feel for interest rates in your area through sites like BankRate.com or LendingTree.com. Then contact local banks and credit unions—like the WEA Credit Union—to compare rates. Focus on the annual percentage rate (APR). Just a small difference in percentage points can add hundreds of dollars to the lifetime of the loan.

The dealership may provide financing, but it may not be the best deal. See how their rates compare to other financing options before you purchase. Getting preapproved for a loan may give you room to negotiate, and you can still take the dealer loan if it’s a better rate.

Quick tips to drive home your best deal

More information

1-800-279-4010

Schedule a personal phone

consultation to evaluate insurance

weabenefits.com/consults

Get an insurance quote

weabenefits.com/quickquote

6 weabenefits.com

In the market for a new car?

weabenefits.com

You may also want to check your credit report at annualcreditreport.com before you apply for a loan to be sure you’re not being penalized due to inaccuracy in your report. Credit scores are used in part to determine your eligibility for a loan and the rate you’ll get.

Know the price and future costs

Know the price of the model you’re interested in before you head to the dealer. Look for the invoice price and then subtract any dealer rebates to get the dealer’s cost. Try to pay as little above that figure as possible. Invoice price can be found on car pricing Web sites.

It’s equally important to know the costs associated with owning the vehicle. Some models are simply more expensive to drive, maintain, and insure. Do the research ahead of time so you know what to expect.

Learn when to buyAccording to J.D. Power, the best times

to shop for and get a deal on a car include:• End of summer when companies are

switching production to next year’s models.

• End of December when dealers are trying to boost revenue numbers.

• End of each month, when salespeople are trying to move vehicles off the lot.

• End of the day, when everyone is ready to go home—if you have your financing preapproved and you know the car you want.

choose MeMber benefits and enjoy these features:

• When the weather is bad and most people are at home. To save even more money, consider an

older or a less popular model, and watch for rebates and low-interest financing offers.

Get competing quotes Once you’ve decided on a vehicle,

contact other dealers in your area with the exact model, trim level, and options you want. Ask for their lowest out-the-door price. If you want to try and whittle the price down further, re-contact some of the dealers and ask whether they can beat a competitor’s price. If you do settle on a price, be sure to get a detailed pricing breakdown from the dealer in writing; you’ll need this to close the deal.

Make an inspection Once you buy, look your car over

carefully before driving it off the lot. Be sure you have all the options you paid for and check the body for scratches and dents.

Insure your new ride Make sure to have appropriate

protection for your new vehicle. How much insurance and what kind of coverage you need will depend on your situation. Member Benefits can help you find the right balance between cost and protection. We can even bind the insurance the same day if needed.

Be aware: Some dealers will offer to set up your insurance. However, if they don’t follow through, you could end up without coverage.

Call us at 1-800-279-4010 for a no-obligation insurance evaluation

and comparison quote.Source: Consumer Reports

RESOURCESInsurance Institute for Highway Safety: iihs.org

SaferCar.gov

ConsumerReports.org

FuelEconomy.gov

Edmunds.com

{

Weac Member discount

young teacher discount

new car Guarantee

claims service Guarantee

automatic payment options at no cost

Loyalty Program Benefits

direct repair Program

7

Certain policy exclusions and limitations may apply. The terms and conditions of your coverage are exclusively controlled by your written policy. Please refer to your policy for details. Underwritten by WEA Property & Casualty Insurance Company.

8

{ your retirement

• Increase contributions. Did you get a pay increase? Have you paid off your mortgage or other significant debt? Consider redirecting those dollars to your retirement account.

• Consider adding after-tax (Roth) contributions to your 403(b) retirement savings mix if your new district allows. We can help you evaluate whether Roth contributions make sense for you.

4. Make a decision about your old account. Keep in mind you may have the option to transfer the money from your old plan to your new one, and the process is pretty easy. One of our enrollment specialists can explain your options and help if you decide whether or not to transfer the money. Give us a call.

There’s a lot to think about when moving to a new district: new building, new classroom, new students, new coworkers, new 403(b)?

That’s right. Your 403(b) is an employer sponsored plan, so when you leave a district, your contributions to that account stop. To continue funding your retirement savings, you need to make arrangements to set up a new retirement account with your new district.

WEA Trust Member Benefits is an approved vendor at 98% of the school districts in Wisconsin, so chances are you can continue your retirement savings with our nationally recognized program. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Call us. We’ll help you set up your new account in about 10 minutes.

2. Fill out an SRA. You’ll also need to fill out a Salary Reduction Agreement (SRA) and submit it to your new district’s benefits manager or payroll coordinator authorizing them to withhold and forward money from your paycheck to your 403(b). We can provide you with the SRA or you can get it from the district business office.

3. Update your account. While you’re setting up your new account, take the opportunity to:

• Review your asset allocation. This is the perfect time to make sure your investments are appropriate for your risk tolerance and retirement goals.

• Review your beneficiaries. If you’ve experienced any life events (marriage, divorce, birth of a child, death of a family member, etc.) it’s time to update your beneficiaries.

Starting the new School year at a new diStrict Don’t forget your 403(b).

Moving to a new district requires you to open a new 403(b) account in order to contribute to your retirement savings. Your 403(b) account with a previous district is still yours and will remain in that district’s plan until you either move it or need it for retirement.

The 403(b) retirement program is offered by the WEA TSA Trust. TSA program registered representatives are licensed through WEA Investment Services, Inc., member FINRA.

weabenefits.com 9

continued from page 5

{

Rusty’s Top PicksRusty recommends these resources for anyone who wants to beef up their knowledge about personal financial matters or start a personal finance group. The Retirement Gamble, a PBS Frontline documentary, which aired April 23, 2013, is a must-watch. It takes a critical look at inherent conflicts between the financial services industry and investors and frames complex issues in an easy-to-understand manner. In particular, it breaks down how fees can destroy investment returns.

“It focused on 401k, but most of it translates to 403(b). It included an interview with Jack Bogle, the founder of The Vanguard Group. He is so common sensical, succinct, and powerful in his statements. He said, ‘Costs are a crucial part of the equation. It doesn’t take a genius to know that the bigger the profit of the management company, the smaller the profit the investors get.’”

Wise Guy, an article about Dan Otter, which ran in the Summer 2012 issue of your$. Otter is a teacher, author, and 403(b) expert and advocate for quality, low-cost 403(b) options for public school employees.

“I can’t express the degree to which Dan Otter has influenced me. When I read the interview, I felt really good about what we have available to us here in Wisconsin. He drives it home so well and he comes with credibility. He is on the outside looking in and has no vested interest in what we do here in Wisconsin. I literally ran the article off and handed it out to the group. His book Teach and Retire Rich and podcasts are worth checking out as well.”

The Enrollment Booklet for the 403(b) and IRA programs offered by Member Benefits. This booklet provides a step-by-step educational approach to retirement saving and investing.

“It’s so much more than an enrollment booklet. It’s a basic guide to investing. If anyone wanted to start something up in their school with colleagues, this is a wonderful point of departure. Do the survey and then hand out this enrollment packet. There are lots of connecting points between the survey and the booklet.”

Sources of Retirement Income pie chart developed by

M e m b e r Benefits. This

illustrates what most Wisconsin public school e m p l o y e e s who have 25–30

years of service can expect

from the three main sources of income in retirement: Wisconsin Retirement System (the state pension), Social Security, and personal savings.

“I believe people think WRS, as good as it is, is going to be more lucrative for them than it may end up being. The pie chart gives you a feel for what to expect.”

Warren Buffet, widely considered the most successful investor of the 20th century. He is known for his straight-forward talk about investing strategies, Wall Street, and wealth.

“He has been my go-to guy. I remember when the market dived in 2008. He looked into the camera with that kind, wise face and said ‘When everyone else is scared, I’m buying. Everything is on sale, folks.’ So, we did that as a family. We invested more. It was really scary to do, (laughs) because we just watched everything we had drop 40%.”

Retirement and Investment ServicesP.O. Box 7893, Madison, WI 53707-7893

Toll-free nationwide 1-800-279-4030

For individual account access and information: Toll-free 1-800-279-2490

Personal Insurance ServicesP.O. Box 7893, Madison, WI 53707-7893

Toll-free nationwide 1-800-279-4010

Web weabenefits.comE-mail memberbenefits@weabenefits.com

TM

Your 403(b) TSA Enrollment BookletWEA TSA Trust Program

TM

The 403(b) retirement program is offered by the WEA TSA Trust. TSA program registered representatives are licensed through

WEA Investment Services, Inc., member FINRA.

and gave me the idea to create a one-page list of all our accounts, insurance, etc. that’s kept at the front of our file cabinet to make it easy for our kids if something unexpected happens.”

• The colleague who announced she had paid off all her credit cards and empowered Rusty and Betsy to do it too.

• Michelle Slawny (Member Benefits) for “giving us a thorough financial physical and confidence at this stage of the game.” Rusty had much more to say about

the important individuals who helped him connect the dots. To read more about his personal journey, go to weabenefits.com/yourstory.

Trust in us didn’t come easy“I’ve come to really believe in the WEA

TSA Trust and the investments. My wife, too. Unfortunately, it is a much overlooked resource,” he says.

Rusty didn’t always feel this way. “I distrusted myself, and I was skeptical that anyone interested in my money had a personal motive. I would instinctively give them the stink eye.

“I remember when I first met Marty Richards from Member Benefits. I was beginning to understand this stuff, and I said to him, ‘It doesn’t look like you have many investment choices here. I know there are over 6,000 mutual funds available.’ Marty just looked at me, very patiently took a breath and said, ‘Well, they’re chosen pretty carefully.’”

One of the benefits of having your 403(b) and/or IRA accounts with Member Benefits is we pare down the selection of options (more than 7,000 in all) for you and make it easier to build your portfolio. We select mutual funds through a screening process that considers relevant asset class, manager tenure, volatility, fees, and performance compared to fund peers. Then, we monitor those funds, making changes as needed.

“I was so naive,” he laughs. “I thought they were all created equally. I didn’t know anything about fees or loads. I didn’t realize Member Benefits had sifted through this stuff for me, and I definitely didn’t see WEA as a resource at that time. I have concluded that it’s a pretty good deal.”

Personal Savings

(TSA, Roth IRA, etc.)22%-46%

Wisconsin Retirement

System*40%-50%

Social Security

14%-28%

403(b) wiseguy

SUMMER 2012

your insuranceStep up your insurance literacy

your securityReady your home for vacation

your kioskTeens + IRA = $uper $avvy

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weabenefi ts.com

SUMMER 2012

your$ ™

A magazine from WEA Trust Member Benefi ts

403(b) advocate Dan Otter knows a good plan

when he sees one. “You guys are good.”

Plus:

WE WON!

{ your kiosk

2013 FInancIal MenToR aWaRDS

Congratulations to the winners of the 2013 Financial Mentor Award! The award is given annually to Wisconsin public school employees who take the time to mentor their colleagues on the benefits of good financial planning and saving for retirement.

We received a number of comments from those who nominated a mentor that illustrate the effort people make to help others. They said their mentors:

• “...continually look out for (employees’) well being whether it is financial or personal.”

• Are “...constantly reading and seeking out information on finances.”

• Are always “...patient in helping others understand financial decisions and generous with their time to others.”

One of the nominators stated that Rusty Wulff, who is the focus of our cover story this issue, took the initiative with his colleagues to “start the (financial) conversation, putting in a lot of time and energy to help his fellow workers become better educated.” Another stated that without her mentor, “...myself and others at our district would not be as financially secure about the future.”

What a difference these well-deserving winners make in other people’s lives! Besides recognizing them here, each winner will receive a personal certificate of recognition.

Ella Brooks Milwaukee Public Schools

Del Deberg Melrose-Mindoro Area Schools

Deb Huppert Prescott School District

Patrick KubenySchool District of Rhinelander

Ron Perry (retired) Melrose-Mindoro Area Schools

Alli Pratt School District of Onalaska

Bobbi Pulver Three Lakes School District

Jeff Riemann Oshkosh Area School District

Rusty Wulff Fontana Elementary School

Do you have a financial mentor in your school? Maybe it’s you. Nominations for 2014 mentors are now being accepted at weabenefits.com/mentor.

10

Member Benefits will soon be offering flood insurance.Watch for details in the next issue of your$.

Coming Soon...

weabenefits.com10

{

{11

WHAT’S YOUR IDEA? Do you have a question, concern, or topic you’d like us to write about?

Have your furnace inspected and cleaned. Don’t forget to change the air filter.

Clean your gutters. Remove leaves and debris and make sure your downspouts are clear.

Disconnect garden hoses and winterize any exposed pipes or spigots.

Rake leaves and dead plants from your yard and areas surrounding your foundation. Don’t forget to clean out basement window wells.

Look for gaps around windows and doors. Install weatherstripping or caulk as necessary.

Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Change batteries or replace units.

Check your tires. Ensure your tires are properly inflated. Replace tires that are worn, or consider installing snow tires.

Change the oil. Use the recommended oil for winter to ensure a smooth-running engine.

Check wipers and wiper fluid.

Cold temperatures reduce a battery’s power. Test and replace if needed.

Keep a bag of cat litter in the trunk to help your tires tread up an icy hill.

Pack an emergency kit and keep it in your car. Make sure your kit includes:

Properly clean your boat or RV inside and out.

Close all windows and blinds, remove anything that retains water, and keep your boat or RV covered.

Disconnect the battery and cables or remove completely.

Change the oil/filter and add a fuel stabilizer to your boat/RV to minimize condensation in the fuel tank.

Block all wheels so your boat or RV can’t roll.

Be sure to lock your boat trailer and any entry doors to your RV.

home vehicles summer toys

• Ice scraper• Shovel• Jumper cables• Wiper fluid• Blanket

• Flashlight • Bottled water • Extra clothes• Snow boots

Wint e r rea di n e ss t i p s Winter weather in Wisconsin will be here before you know it. Make sure your home, your vehicles, and your summer toys are all properly winterized by following these simple tips.

Winter is coming! Call us about insuring your snowmobiles! 1-800-279-4010

Send your ideas to memberbenefits@weabenefits.com. Type “your$” in the subject line.

Or, call us at 1-800-279-4030 and ask for communications.

Personal insurance underwritten by WEA Property & Casualty Insurance Company.

PRESORTED STANDARD

US POSTAGE PAID

MADISON WI PERMIT NO 2750

PO Box 7893, Madison, WI 53707-7893

A record number of new educators were hired in Wisconsin public schools this year. Pay it forward!

Hand off this magazine to a new colleague in your building.

Tell them about our free consultations and financial seminars available.

Personal Insurance • 1-800-279-4010Retirement & Investment • 1-800-279-4030weabenefits.com

Help us help them get on the right financial path.Point out our personal insurance discounts for young teachers and WEAC members.

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early saving in our low-cost

403(b) or IRA program.

Share the benefitsShare these facts about us:• Created by WI educators for WI educators

more than 40 years ago.

• Nationally recognized 403(b) program.

• Family members may participate in most of our programs.

• Outstanding customer service.

• We operate as a trust which reinvests any profits back into programs that benefit participants.

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