Wherever you are in your career as a higher ed instructor or professional staff member, it is in your interest to be informed about your retirement benefit and about planning for the transition out of state employment. The HR office at your institution may be of some assistance with this. You also might engage the services of a financial planner who understands the needs of higher ed employees of the Commonwealth.
For MCCC members who are contributing to the State Pension System, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts State Board of Retirement maintains a helpful web site. Here, you will find a current retirement application, forms for service buybacks, a pension calculator and more. In addition MTA employs several part-time retirement consultants who are available to advise members about and to help members through the retirement process.
One of these consultants, MTA-retired member Ed McCourt, works exclusively with MTA’s Higher Ed members. Between September and June, Ed conducts twice monthly sessions to meet individually with up to ten-higher ed members during 40 minutes appointments. Due to Covid-19, currently, these sessions are conducted virtually. To learn more about making an appointment at an upcoming session, email Ed at emccourt@massteacher.org.
Ed is also available to work with chapter presidents to present video conferenced, larger group sessions that provide an overview of the retirement process.