When you retire through DRS, we recommend that you start the process 3-12 months before you plan to retire. However, life happens, and sometimes people need to start retirement sooner than planned. Whatever the reason, we're here to help you start your new chapter. Find out what you need to do.

Retirement planning looks different for everyone. And as a Retirement Specialist, Jon shares what he’s learned from talking to people at different stages of their careers. As a result, this means that preparing for retirement means saving as early, but also keeping your mind sharp. And while retirement maybe be a few decades away for Jon, he hopes to inspire others with his curiosity and passion for learning.

Did you know you can change your health insurance plan during fall open enrollment? It’s a chance to review your coverage and see if your current plan is still right for you. Laura from the Health Care Authority joins us to explain what you need to know. Open enrollment is Oct. 26 – Nov. 23, 2026.

Menopause is a natural stage of life that affects many people thinking about retirement. Washington is one of the first states to formally address it in the workplace through an executive order from the governor. We sit down with educator and advocate Shannon to talk about what this means for state employees, why accurate information matters and how workplaces can better support employees experiencing menopause. Executive Order 26-01 Addressing menopause-related workplace accommodations.

Getting married after retirement may give you a one-time opportunity to add your new spouse as your survivor for your pension benefit. But there are specific rules and deadlines you’ll need to know about. We sit down with Kumano to chat about who may be eligible, when you can make the change and how adding a survivor can affect your monthly benefit.

Planning a trip outside Washington? If you’re retired and have PEBB retiree insurance, there are a few things you’ll want to know before your trip. We chat with Laura from the Washington State Health Care Authority about how your coverage works when you’re traveling and what you can do to prepare. Find out how to make sure you’re covered while you’re away.

Medicare doesn't cover every health care expense, but the PEBB retiree insurance can help fill some of the gaps. Additional benefits can include chiropractic care, massage therapy, physical therapy, vision, hearing and naturopathic care. Tune in to find out how to make the most of your coverage.

More information: https://www.hca.wa.gov/employee-retiree-benefits

There are a lot of ways to save for retirement, including pretax and Roth contributions, IRAs, and Washington’s Deferred Compensation Program (DCP), also known as a 457 plan. In this episode, we break down the differences, explain tax and withdrawal rules, required minimum distributions, contribution and income limits, and rollovers. We also share practical strategies, like automating your contributions and how to build flexibility into your retirement plan.