“One of the best ways to increase participation is to help employees understand the basics of retirement planning and personal finance through face-to-face education,” says Lisa Margeson, head of CitiStreet’s Communications and Education Group.  “Through our onsite seminars, individuals learn valuable information in a comfortable environment, and they are more encouraged and able to take action toward their goals.  And employees who are less worried about their retirement and finances tend to be more productive,” Margeson adds.

Onsite Delivery

Combining the strengths of our parent companies, CitiStreet now offers an expanded onsite curriculum covering a wider range of financial planning topics at beginning, intermediate and advanced levels.  The workshops encourage a long-term learning experience, as participants can take increasingly in-depth courses. 

“Sponsors especially appreciate that the workshops address each subject at different levels,” says CitiStreet Onsite Education Manager Brian Conyers.  “For example,” Conyers explains, “there are levels within the retirement planning curriculum.  Novices can enroll in the basic workshop to find out about the benefits of starting a retirement savings plan.  A current participant can enroll in the intermediate workshop to investigate new plan options and features.  And a long-term participant can enroll in the advanced workshop to learn how to manage retirement plan distributions.  We offer something for everyone.” 

Here are some examples of workshops in each category:

Retirement Planning:
- The benefits of a retirement savings plan (basic)
- Examining new plan options and features (intermediate)
- Managing retirement plan distributions (advanced)

Investments:
- Investing 101 (basic)
- Reviewing your asset allocation (intermediate)
- Current trends in the stock market (advanced)

Personal finance:
- Income tax planning (basic)
- Saving for college (intermediate)
- Estate planning (advanced)

CitiStreet also offers special plan sponsor workshops, including:

- A general HR/management rollout session that provides a preview of plan enhancements, transition timeline and the communications/education program

- Train-the-trainer sessions, which teach your HR/benefits staff to conduct an effective employee workshop covering plan features, investment options, retirement planning, etc.

Designed to build on plan sponsors’ existing communications and education activities, many of the workshops focus on specific challenges, such as increasing participation or improving asset allocation.  The lively, interactive sessions teach key concepts by combining on-screen elements with handouts and personal exercises.  After each workshop, attendee feedback is solicited to assess the program’s effectiveness, determine additional education needs and further enhance the program.

Experienced Facilitators

Certified financial planners, many of whom hold NASD Series 6, 7 and 63 licenses, as well as various teaching certifications, conduct CitiStreet’s onsite workshops.  They are experienced in communicating all plan types to a diverse range of employee populations.

Convenient, Accessible and Effective

The CitiStreet onsite curriculum provides flexible scheduling to accommodate 24-hour work shifts and encourages spouses and partners to participate.  Meetings are always welcoming and sometimes informal, like our brown bag lunch sessions.  “Getting the right information to the participants is half the battle.  By bringing our educational workshops onsite, we make it very convenient for employees to attend.  Once employees attend an informational workshop, they are often motivated to begin the financial planning process,” observes Conyers. 

“Our onsite workshops are a very effective way for sponsors to achieve their plan communication and education goals while giving employees the information and tools they need to help prepare for their financial futures,” adds Margeson.