Retirement Planning

Preparing for retirement doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a process that should start well in advance of your anticipated retirement date. 

Whether you’re nearing the end of your career or just getting started, it’s never too early to start thinking about retirement planning.

To jump-start the retirement planning process and help you understand your SamCERA retirement benefits, read the Guide to Your SamCERA Benefits.

Some other things you should consider:

• Take advantage of SamCERA’s member education program: there are seminars and workshops to help you get ready for retirement. 
• Contact SamCERA for a one-on-one counseling session. Our staff can be reached through the Contact page.
• Get a retirement estimate through MySamCERA. It’s fast, easy, and secure!
• Take a look at the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) and Tax Information pages on this website for additional financial information about your benefit.
• General Members who are County or Court employees should also take a look at Social Security’s benefit estimator: socialsecurity.gov/estimator
• Employees of Safety, Probation and the Mosquito and Vector Control District who do not contribute to Social Security should be aware of federal laws and provisions that may impact their Social Security benefit. More information is available on SamCERA’s Windfall Elimination page and on Social Security’s official website.

And don’t stop here. Plan ahead carefully so you can make your financial decisions on your own terms. You may also want to contact a financial planning professional to help you prepare for retirement.