Gerry McGahran, front, is head planner for Stacey Braun Associates, the provider of our Benefit Fund's financial counseling benefit. The FA retirement workshop was held on April 5. (photo by Kevin Peterman)

As a presenter, Gerry McGahran is a perennial favorite. He's the guy who can help you stay calm and make smart decisions as you work through all three stages of retirement planning: pre-retirement (accumulation stage), nearing retirement (decision stage) and finally post-retirement (preservation and income stage).

Gerry McGahran is director of financial planning for Stacey Braun Associates. At Stacey Braun since 2001, Gerry is a Certified Financial Planner and an IRS Enrolled Agent. He offered his annual retirement workshop at the Ammerman Campus on Friday, April 5, to a packed room.

There's a lot to consider when planning for retirement, whether you're a newer faculty member and still green or whether you've already given the college decades of dedicated service and you're looking forward to your golden years. Either way, Gerry breaks it down for us with information and advice about each of the following:

• Defining your retirement
• Determining how much will you need
• Understanding

investments

retirement accounts

pensions

Social Security

taxation

insurance

estate planning

• Obtaining financial assistance

Susan Sheldrick, left (at podium), and Sue DiFiore, right, shared critical information about our EMHP healthcare coverage as it relates to retirement with FA members on April 5. (photo by Kevin Peterman)

The most important point Gerry makes each year is that it is NEVER TOO EARLY to start planning for your retirement. The worst thing you can do is wait too long to begin the conversation.

In addition to Gerry's presentation, FA members also heard from Sue DiFiore and Susan Sheldrick from the Suffolk County Employee Medical Health Plan (EMHP). We invite the EMHP reps each year for this workshop because it is critical for our members to understand how their health insurance coverage changes as they move into retirement. We are grateful to Sue DiFiore, Margaret Ann DeMarzo and Susan Sheldrick for sharing their expertise with us.

Finally, members heard from our own Mary Kaffaga of the FA Benefit Fund. You can contact Mary at any time to discuss your Benefit Fund retirement options. And, of course, we encourage you to bookmark and stay tuned to The WORD and to your email for information about next year's FA retirement workshop.