2017 SUMMER

A magazine from WEA Member Benefits

your moneyYour credit score can have a big financial impact

your securityProtect your children from identity theft

your kioskMember spotlight, student art contest winners, and more

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™your$With $2.4 billion in member assets, the Guaranteed Investment is kind of a big deal

Protecting a Legacy

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© 2017 WEA Member Benefit Trust.All rights reserved.

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3 YOUR ACCOUNT- Enjoy low fees even if you’ve retired

or changed jobs.- Time to boost your savings.- Nominate a financial mentor.- Update your beneficiaries.

4 YOUR RETIREMENT- Assessing the Guaranteed

Investment: It’s kind of a big deal.

6 YOUR MONEY- Your credit score matters more than

you think.

8 YOUR SECURITY- Stealing a child’s identity is a crime

not often discovered until years later. Know what to look for.

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CONTENTS SUMMER 2017{your$™

10 YOUR KIOSK- More student masterpieces at our

Madison office!- Long-term care insurance: An

affordable protection.- Don’t jump to conclusions about the

risks around backyard trampolines.- Member spotlight: A partnership of

trust makes the job easier.

president’s letterDave Kijek, President/CEO, WEA Member Benefits™{

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The times they are a-changin’The world looks

very different today from when this organization was created 45 years ago. New technologies, evolving financial regulations, and fluctuating national and international economic and

political conditions have affected what we do and how we do it. Change has been required.

However, there’s one thing that hasn’t changed at Member Benefits—our why. We believe in education and in the value

of our Wisconsin public schools. And we believe the hardworking employees of our public schools deserve to be financially secure. That’s why we exist.

Part of our obligation to you is to do our due diligence regarding your investments in these ever-changing times to make sure we are offering programs that meet our standards and the needs of participants. It is also our responsibility to protect the legacy of these programs for future generations. Starting on page 4, you’ll learn about changes in the stable value fund arena that will impact the Guaranteed Investment as well as the evaluation process currently underway to ensure the best possible outcome.

Also in this issue, learn why it’s important to build up your credit score, and why your child’s identity may be at risk and tips to protect it. Lastly, member Joanna Rizzotto shares why she thinks Member Benefits is an organization public school employees can trust. (Hint: It has to do with our why.)

Many organizations focus only on what they do. We keep our why front and center so we can continue to meet your financial needs and serve you to the best of our abilities. You are what’s important to us.

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{ your accountIRA and 403(b) newsRetired or changed jobs? Keep enjoying our low feesIf you have a 403(b) or an IRA account with us, you can keep it here regardless of your employment status and continue to take advantage of our low fees and great customer service. Reminder: WEAC members receive additional savings with a lower annual fee cap on IRA accounts.

Don’t miss a chance to boost your savingsAre you maximizing your 403(b) contributions? Summer is a good time to update your Salary Reduction Agreement (SRA) so you’ll be ready to go for the school year. To update your SRA, please contact your school district business office for their most recent SRA, download our SRA at weabenefits.com/retirementforms, or if your district allows, update your SRA online through yourmoney at weabenefits.com/yourmoney.

Nominate a financial mentor before summer ends!Do you know someone who takes the time to give financial encouragement, advice, and guidance to his or her colleagues? Give that person some well-deserved recognition. It only takes a minute to nominate someone by visiting weabenefits.com/mentor. The 2017 deadline is September 1, so don’t wait!

Are your beneficiaries up to date?As you experience changes in your life such as marriage, divorce, or death, don’t forget to review your beneficiary designations. The beneficiary designations associated with your retirement account(s) take precedence over your will.

To view your current beneficiary designations through Member Benefits, log into weabenefits.com/yourmoney. Beneficiary change forms can also be downloaded from weabenefits.com/retirementforms.

Correction from Spring 2017 magazineWe constantly strive for accuracy, but once in a while we get it wrong. From the article in the Spring 2017 magazine, Breaking into your second act, page 9, Scene V should have read, “Penalty free withdrawals may be taken from your 403(b) if you retire during, or after, the year you turn age 55.” Thank you to our alert reader who notified us of this error.

Content in this magazine is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal, financial, or tax advice. Certain recommendations or guidelines may not be appropri-ate for everyone. Consult your personal advisor or attorney for advice specific to your unique circumstances before taking action.

The Trustee Custodian for the WEAC IRA accounts is Newport Trust Company. The 403(b) retirement program is offered by the WEA TSA Trust. TSA program registered representatives are licensed through WEA Investment Services, Inc., member FINRA.

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Remember, you can share the benefits with your family

The financial security of your family members is important to us. That’s why we recently simplified and expanded our eligibility guidelines, giving more of your family members greater access to our programs. Your spouse/domestic partner, children and their spouses, parents and parents-in-law, and in some cases, your grandchildren, may participate in most of our programs.

Family members can contact us directly for an insurance quote on their auto or home, information about opening an IRA, or our financial planning services.

Interested in non-retirement investment accounts?

Do you have a need for an investment account where you can place a windfall of cash, an inheritance, proceeds from the sale of a property, required minimum distributions, or extra income you won’t need within the next few years or longer? We are considering expanding our program lineup to include non-retirement investment accounts, such as individual and jointly held retail accounts. However, before moving forward, we need to gauge the level of need of our members. If you have interest, fill out a short form at weabenefits.com/retailaccount and we’ll be in touch. We appreciate your feedback.

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Send an e-mail to memberbenefits@weabenefits.com. Type “your$” into the subject line.

Do you have a story to tell, a question, or an article suggestion?

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{ your retirement

In 1978, the WEA TSA Trust rolled out a Guaranteed Investment account to Wisconsin public school employees

as its first 403(b) investment opportunity. Today, approximately 46,000 participants have nearly $2.4 billion worth of assets in the account currently held and managed by Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company (PRIAC).

It’s kind of a big deal. Just as Member Benefits monitors our

mutual fund investments to make sure they continue to meet our standards, we also monitor the Guaranteed Investment and evaluate PRIAC in their role as manager of the account to ensure the best interests of our participants are being served.

Experts on boardHelping with the due diligence process

are Mike Driscoll and Jim King. Both have a vast amount of knowledge in the financial industry as well as personal work experience with the Guaranteed Investment.

Mike, now a consultant, has worked with retirement plans for over 30 years. “In 1987, I worked at CIGNA and was involved when the assets in the Guaranteed Investment were moved to CIGNA from UNUM.”

As Mike indicates, the guaranteed account has not always been with PRIAC. PRIAC actually inherited the account after they purchased the CIGNA retirement business in 2004. Member Benefits has been with PRIAC ever since.

Jim spent 17 years in portfolio management with Merrill Lynch, including stable value (SV) funds (which is essentially

what the Guaranteed Investment account is.) He then spent 15 years with PRIAC specializing in SV funds before starting his own SV consulting company. “At PRIAC, I was partly responsible for the relationship with Member Benefits and managed the Guaranteed Investment for over five years, so I know the fund very well. It’s one of the best stable value funds in the country,” he says.

Doing our due diligenceMember Benefits is currently evaluating

the Guaranteed Investment. The process began last fall under the direction of Susan Winchester, Vice President of Retirement and Investment Services at Member Benefits. A Request for Proposal (RFP) was drafted and sent to over 30 companies to see what options were available. In the end, seven companies expressed interest and five gave a formal response. Those five responses are currently under consideration.

The RFP will help us determine if the program as offered today is still competitive in the marketplace. “We’ll be looking at firms that can provide a similar program and evaluating their interest rates, fees for service, and the types of portfolios they invest in,” says Susan. “We’ll also do our normal due diligence, including financial strength ratings. In the end, we’ll want to answer this core question: What is in the best interest of our members?”

One of a kindOne thing is clear: The Guaranteed

Investment is one of a kind. Its uniqueness started at its inception with the philosophy on which the program was built.

With $2.4 billion in member assets, the Guaranteed Investment is kind of a big deal

Protecting a Legacy

When the account was moved to CIGNA, Mike recalls, “There was a strong belief that the money in the Guaranteed Investment Account was to be protected. The creation of the WEA TSA Trust 403(b) program wasn’t meant for people to chase equity market returns. This was for safe keeping. And that’s why only the Guaranteed Investment was offered in the beginning, and members were not offered an equity fund option early on.”

The founders of our 403(b) program felt the best way for members to get to retirement and have enough saved to support themselves was by putting their money in a safe place, earning a reasonable rate of return, and having a guarantee against loss. “Those three things were important then and they remain a priority for Member Benefits today,” says Susan.

A long legacy“There are many competitors in the

marketplace that have been trying to figure out how Member Benefits has been able to be so successful with this program and offer the guarantee and low fees. It’s because this legacy product has worked really, really well for members over time and it has been impossible for anyone to duplicate,” says Jim.

What makes it so difficult to copy? In part, the success of this program was the timing of when it came together. In 1978, the economy looked very different. Interest and inflation rates were on the rise—both were north of 12%—and, according to Mike, the timing couldn’t have been better to establish a SV fund. “The high interest rates and inflation rates at that time turned

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out to be a real plus, creating a big tailwind of higher returns supporting the program while the interest rate markets steadily declined over the following 30 years. This is one of the main reasons why other organizations can’t replicate it.”

Mike goes on to explain that the tailwind was created by CIGNA/PRIAC making loans and buying bonds—5-, 10-, 20-year loans or bonds—at 10% or more. “These long-term investments continued to pay back at the high rate over however many years, even as interest rates in general fell. This allowed the credited rates in the Guaranteed Investment Account to remain higher for a longer period of time, and members were rewarded with higher than current market returns.”

However, while the rate was slow to come down and meet the market, rates are also slow to rise when the market goes up. “Stable value funds lag the market, regardless of which direction the market is going,” he adds.

The Guarantee is the keyA SV fund is comprised of two parts:

1) a portfolio, and 2) a guarantee. The guarantee is on the participant’s principal and net credited interest. In other words, investors will never receive less than what they have contributed plus the accumulated interest credited on those contributions, even though the price of the underlying securities (the bonds and funds in the investment) may go down.

The value of SV funds proved out during the 2008 financial crisis when the stock market tanked. Portfolios that held SV fund investments fared better because of the guarantee. “A stable value fund serves as an anchor,” says Jim. “In a volatile market, it maintains its value and is a buffer for the entire portfolio. Because the Guaranteed Investment has been around since 1978, it’s one of the most seasoned funds in the country.”

The rising cost of a guaranteeTo ensure the safety of participant assets,

PRIAC is required to hold reserves equal to the assets in the Guaranteed Investment. Jim explains that while the guarantee of SV funds worked as intended in the 2008 crisis, the fact that bond prices decreased significantly put SV managers at a greater risk for loss because the guarantee became

much more expensive. “In fact, the price of guarantees in the marketplace almost tripled,” he says.

The increased cost of the guarantee presents a special challenge for PRIAC and the Guaranteed Investment.

Mike adds that since the crisis, actuaries and regulators have taken more of a microscopic look at the risks of SV from the guarantor side. The Financial Stability Oversight Council created by the Feds under Dodd-Frank developed the Systemically Important Financial Institution (SIFI) designation to label companies whose collapse would pose a serious risk to the economy. This is the “too big to fail” list.

In 2013, PRIAC was one of four non-bank companies put on the SIFI list. SIFIs abide by “enhanced” rules that are tougher than the ones that apply to their smaller, less-complex peers. Higher capital requirements effectively limit how much SIFIs can borrow, and can crimp profitability. Defenders of the SIFI process say those stricter regulations are justified because SIFIs pose an outsized risk to the stability of the broader economy.

“For PRIAC, this status is costly and forcing change. The Guaranteed Investment will likely not be immune to these changes,” says Jim.

Diversifying could helpAccording to Jim, the sheer size of the

fund increases the risk for PRIAC, as well as for members.

Why? With PRIAC, there is a single provider of the guarantee. Essentially, we have all our $2.4 billion SV fund eggs in one basket. It’s been this way for 39 years.

However, every fund evaluation poses this question: Is this prudent? In 2012, we examined PRIAC’s products, fees, services, financial strength, financial position, and client management among other things,

and compared them to those of other major stable value providers. Mike was a member of the evaluation team, and says the answer to that question in 2012 was yes. “We concluded the relationship with PRIAC was still in the best interest of members. They were still strong and stable and the program continued to be better than anything else available, even with contract changes imposed by PRIAC at the time.”

The evaluation in progress will again have to answer these questions: Is PRIAC the best partner today? Should we continue with a single creditor program, or do we need to start to look at diversifying—spreading the account and the risk to one or more additional firms? If doing so would strengthen the guarantee, that would definitely be a plus.

Vetting potential partners“We use ratings issued by Standard &

Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch,” explains Mike. “Moody’s rates PRIAC as A1, the fifth highest of 10 investment grade ratings. That’s a good rating, but there are ratings above that, like Aa and Aaa. Some of the interested companies who responded to the RFP are Aaa, which indicates that they are in a slightly stronger financial position today than PRIAC.” Financial strength is a must, but there are other critical considerations as mentioned earlier.

Regardless of who we decide to partner with, at the end of the day, it’s important that members know we have done everything we can to choose a strong financial institution(s) to honor the guarantee.

Predicting the future After nearly 30 years of declining

interest rates, we are in an economic environment in which rates are expected to rise. “In fact,” Jim says, “this last week (June 14, 2017), the Federal Reserve announced a quarter-point interest rate hike.” Interest rate changes are among the most significant factors affecting bond return. When interest rates rise—bond prices generally fall. And that puts the SV fund managers at higher risk to sustain losses.

“In regard to the Guaranteed rate,” Mike suggests, “members will likely see

“It’s one of the most seasoned funds in the country.” Jim King

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{ your money

to lenders, it’s important to banks, utility companies, insurance companies, government agencies, landlords, and even prospective employers in their decision to hire you for a job. It can even impact whether you get approved for a cell phone plan.

The higher your score, the less interest you’re likely to pay. Improving your score can help you qualify for the best loan rates and terms and has a significant financial impact. For example, using the FICO loan savings calculator in June 2017, a person with a 30-year, $200,000 fixed interest mortgage and a 620 credit score would pay $195,226 in interest over the life of the loan. But someone with a 760 score would pay a total interest of $127,668. That low credit score would cost the first person $67,558 more—enough to start a business, put a kid through college, or retire a year earlier.

It could affect where you live. If you’re in the market for an apartment, your score can impact the odds of getting approved, the size of your security deposit, and how much you pay in fees.

It can affect insurance rates. Insurance companies use insurance scoring to determine your eligibility for coverage and what your premiums will be. It takes into account many aspects of your credit

report, among other things, to predict the likelihood of future insurance losses. While you’re not automatically disqualified if you have a low score, it can negatively impact your rates.

It can affect student loans. Federal Stafford and Perkins loans are available without regard to your credit history. And as long as you don’t have an adverse credit history, you may qualify for the PLUS loan (visit studentaid.gov, “Direct PLUS Loans and Adverse Credit,” for more information).

However, private student loans are affected by your credit score. Most education lenders break their interest rates and fees into five tiers, with each tier 1% or 2% higher than the previous tier, so borrowers with the worst scores may have interest rates 5% to 6% higher than those with excellent credit. This translates into monthly payments that are 20% to 40% higher and two-thirds to 100% more interest paid over the lifetime of the loan (source: finaid.org).

If you find yourself with poor credit, you can help yourself by:• Making payments on the loan while in

school, which may help you get better rates.

• Appealing if you’re denied a loan. Sometimes they will make an exception

Most of us don’t spend much time thinking about our credit score. But a low score can negatively impact your finances and have a big effect on the choices you may be able to make in your day-to-day life. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to improve your score.

Your credit score: It matter$

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What is a credit score? A credit score, or FICO score, is a

three-digit number used by lenders and companies (usually a range of 300-850) to assess how likely you are to pay down your debts in a timely way. Different industries use different scoring models, but generally, the FICO score depends on the following factors:

Score Component WeightPayment History 35%Amounts Owed 30%Length of Credit History 15%New Credit 10%Types of Credit Used 10%

The recency, frequency, and severity of your credit activity also have an impact.

Why does it matter? Essentially, lenders want to be paid

back, so the better your credit history, the more attractive you are as a loan customer.

Many companies pay attention to your score. Your score can be the deciding factor in whether you’ll be approved for a mortgage, car loan, credit card, or other loan. It could prevent you from getting the credit you need or may force you to rely on payday loans or other very high-interest, high-fee loans.

Your credit history is not only important

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lowcredit

score

keep in mind it may not be the exact score used by anyone evaluating your credit application. This is because card issuers get FICO scores from different credit bureaus, and each bureau collects and formulates data differently.

Other ways to get your score, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, include:• Talking to a nonprofit credit counselor.• Using a credit score service. Some are

funded through ads and may not charge a fee while others may require you to sign up for a “free” trial. Be sure you know what you’re signing up for and the actual cost.

• Buying your actual credit score at myfico.com. (You’re not obligated to buy other services that may be offered like credit protection, identity theft monitoring, etc.)

How can you improve your score?

Every inquiry for a loan has the potential to reduce your credit score, so it’s best to keep the number of inquiries small and within a short time period—credit reporting agencies typically allow a certain window of time to treat multiple inquiries as one.

According to myFICO, other things you can do to improve your score include:• Paying all your bills on time. If you’ve

missed payments, get current and stay current—the longer you pay on time, the more your FICO scores should increase.

• Keep your balances as low as possible. It can help to create a budget with a payment plan to decrease and manage your debt. Use our worksheet at weabenefits.com/budget.

• Re-establish your credit history if you’ve had problems by opening new accounts responsibly and paying them on time.If you’re feeling stuck, consider hiring

a credit counselor, who can work with both you and your lenders to find fair resolutions. Many lenders are open to this because they receive at least some of their money back in a timely fashion.

Remember, as your credit information changes, your score changes...so the efforts you make to pay off debt or correct your credit report now can make a big financial difference to you later on.

if you have an unusual circumstance or your credit report was inaccurate.Paying your student loans back in full

and on time will boost your credit score, so make sure to budget for it after you graduate. If your lender reports late student loan payments to the credit bureaus, it stays on your credit report for seven years. Being consistent with your payments each month will show lenders they can trust you to handle money responsibly.

Keep in mind that defaulting on loans may make you ineligible for future financial aid or student loan forgiveness and may cost you your right to defer payments. Deferring loans, while not ideal, won’t hurt your credit score (but you will still be charged interest on the loan).

How to monitor your creditCheck your credit reports regularly.

A credit report is a record of your credit history and includes information on your identity, existing credit, public record (court judgements, tax liens, etc.), and inquiries about you from companies or other people. It does not include your FICO score. You can get free credit reports once a year from TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax by visiting annualcreditreport.com. Get them all at once or request one report every four months—it won’t affect your FICO score to check.

The FICO Score Open Access program, launched in 2013, has made getting your three-digit FICO score easier. A growing number of financial institutions offer free FICO scores. Check with your current credit card statement and your bank but

weabenefits.com

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You may be vigilant about keeping your own identity and that of your adult partner or spouse safe. But have you thought about how to protect your child’s identity?

According to Experian, up to 500,000 children are affected by identity theft each year. Sadly, the majority of offenders are family members or close family friends. And because of the hidden nature of child identity theft, the crime is often not discovered until years after the fact when the child has grown and tries to open their first credit card or applies for a car or student loan.

This particular kind of identity theft can be enticing because children provide a blank slate from which a person can apply for credit and take out loans. According to Identity Theft Research Center, credit issuers do not often verify the age of the applicant, so the age listed becomes “official” with the first credit application. For example, if the first application indicates that the applicant is 24 years old, credit agencies will believe that until a dispute is filed and proven.

Possible warning signsIf any of these happen to you, it’s worth following up on right away.• You or your child are turned down for

government benefits.• You receive an IRS notice saying the

child didn’t pay taxes or that their Social Security number was used on another return.

• You start getting collection calls or bills for products/services you never received.

• You receive preapproved credit cards in your child’s name.

• You try to open a financial account for your child and find there’s one open already, or they are denied an account because of poor credit history.

• A credit report exists in their name.Bear in mind it’s still possible your child’s

information will be misused even without any of these signs. Don’t necessarily blame yourself if your child becomes a victim.

If it happens• Fill out a copy of the Uniform Minor’s

Status Declaration, available at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and submit to companies that require it.

• Check with the three reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Request reports and place a fraud alert on the credit files.

• Contact every business where your child’s information was misused. Ask each business to close the fraudulent account and flag it to show it resulted from identity theft.

• File a formal complaint with FTC.• Consider filing a police report, which

could help prove the identity theft to creditors.

Prevention tips• Keep all paper and electronic files with

your child’s personal information in a safe location.

• Don’t share your child’s Social Security number unless you know and trust the other party. Ask why it’s necessary and

how it’s protected. See if you can use the last four digits instead.

• Shred documents that contain personal information before throwing them away.

• Do not carry your child’s Social Security number in your wallet.

• Teach children not to give out personal information over the phone. Do not give out any of your child’s information on the Internet unless you’re sure you’re dealing with a legitimate company.

• Pay attention to events that may put your child’s information at risk; for example, losing a wallet or sensitive paperwork, a family or friend trying to evade a bad credit rating, a break-in at home, or a business alerts you to a security breach.

• If your child is enrolled in school, verify records are secure and who has access. Ask about the school’s directory information policy and pay attention to forms that come home and what they ask for. Know your rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records.

The FTC also recommends you check to see if your child has a credit report when they turn 16. This gives you time to make corrections before they go off on their own.

Your kidsThe hidden victims of identity theft:

Repairing identity theft

ftc.govInformation and assistance

idtheftcenter.org More on FERPA ed.gov

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Continued from page 5

Meet our consultantsMike Driscoll, Managing Director of Sheridan Road

Mike began his institutional retirement plan career in 1980. He spent nearly 17 years with CIGNA Retirement & Investment Services prior to the sale of CIGNA’s retirement business to Prudential Financial in 2004. He was also involved with transitioning Guaranteed Investment assets from UNUM to CIGNA from 1987–1988.

Mike has earned and maintains the Accredited Investment Fiduciary designation. He is a past President of the Board of Directors of the Greater Milwaukee Employee Benefits Council.

He also has a personal connection to and interest in Wisconsin public schools. “My wife Janet was a teacher. She taught in the Cedarburg School District.”

Jim King, Founder and CEO of King Stable Value

Jim serves as general account i n v e s t m e n t portfolio specialist and spent 15 years with Prudential Financial. For more than five of those years, he managed the Guaranteed Investment for the WEA TSA Trust and WEA Member Benefit Trust. “I know the guaranteed fund very well,” he says. “It’s one of the best stable value funds in the country.”

Jim is also a past Chairman of the Board for the Stable Value Investment Association.

interest rates in the program fall a little further before stabilizing regardless of what changes come from the evaluation. We will also see the impact from the increased cost of a guarantee.

“Further, members currently have the ability to move money freely in and out of the program, but it would not be unreasonable to expect some parameters set around how much can be moved out of an account in a given year.”

Mike explains that the withdrawal parameter may be necessary to protect the account for long-term investment. A large-scale withdrawal from an SV fund could impose a significant adverse impact on all of the remaining investors and potentially result in losses for the SV fund manager.

Most other SV funds do not allow the plans or the participants to immediately receive the book value of the investment, which is contributions plus interest earnings, if the fair market value of the investment is less.

“It’s our responsibility to protect the members and their investment, as well as ensure the viability of this program for

long-term investors in the future,” says Susan.

Looking forwardThe Guaranteed Investment may look

different after the evaluation is complete and decisions have been made, but both Mike and Jim agree that it will still fulfill the original purpose and be in the best interest of members. That purpose includes:1. Safety (low risk).2. Earning a reasonable rate.3. Having a Guarantee.

Susan reflects, “This program has good bones. The fact that it was carefully designed for the benefit of our public school employees is precisely why it has succeeded. We’ve never lost sight of why it was created.”

Some things to expect as we move forward include:1. The crediting rate may go lower before

stabilizing.2. Flexibility for moving money may

change.3. We are working to maintain the unique

characteristics of the program that set it apart from other SV funds, including offering a higher level of protection in different economic environments.

4. We are considering providers that maintain transparency regarding fees and strong financial ratings.At the end of the day, we want to work

with a company or companies that have similar core values to our own and can contribute to the financial security of Wisconsin public school employees. We are working hard to do just that.

Interest is compounded daily to produce the current annual yield prior to the deduction of pro-gram administrative fees. Contributions and earnings are held in the general account of Pru-dential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company (PRIAC). Principal and net credited interest are fully guaranteed by PRIAC. Such guarantees are based solely upon the financial strength and claims-paying ability of PRIAC. For more information go to weabenefits.com/pru.

The Prudential Guaranteed Investment account is a long-term savings vehicle that assumes the role of a fixed income or bond investment in your asset allocation mix. Learn more at weabenefits.com/pru.

“This program has good bones.”

Susan Winchester

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Ages 65 and 65 $ 213/month for two policies

Ages 55 and 55 $ 116/month for two policies

Ages 45 and 45 $ 88/month for two policies

More masterpieces from Wisconsin students Second annual Student Art Contest lets students strut their creative stuff!

Our staff really looked forward to viewing the new student art submissions for our second annual contest. The bar was set pretty high by last year’s entries, but we were not disappointed.

Sixty-one exceptional pieces were submitted in a variety of different mediums and from a wide range of ages. The caliber and creativity of these students really attest to their talents as well as to the Wisconsin public school teachers who guide them.

Thank you to all who submitted their work! Students whose art was chosen each received a $50 Amazon gift card for allowing us to display their art, as did their art teacher.

Stop by our Madison office and admire their imaginative and inspiring works in the second floor lobby later this summer!

Austin Wilson, 6th grade; Sebastian Moulis Roe, 8th grade, Berlin Area School District. Art teacher: Jean Yonke.

Erika Mullen, 10th grade; Amanda Gimenez, 12th grade, Berlin Area School District. Art teacher: Angela Breunig.

Michaella Cudnohosky, 12th grade, Berlin Area School District. Art teacher: Lori Rademann.

Leah Boyd, 2nd grade, School District of Black River Falls. Art teacher: Jen Dahl.

Beau Spindler, 2nd grade, Fall Creek School District. Art teacher: Tasha Newton.

Griffen Kjendlie, 1st grade, Janesville School District. Art teacher: Amanda Zdrale.

Hannah Urness, 11th grade, Mondovi School District. Art teacher: Norene Schreiner.

Madeline Ouimet, 11th grade, River Valley School District. Art teacher: Kasey Maxwell.

Elana Lohr-Kougl, 5th grade, Slinger School District. Art teacher: Patrice Wetak.

Olivia Cannestra, 10th grade, Hamilton School District. Art teacher: Ellen Acuff.

Katie Vannatter, 12th grade, Tomahawk School District. Art teacher: Sara Piller.

Leena Meyers, 11th grade, Whitnall School District. Art teacher: Amelia Hernandez.

(Top photo) “Fox”Hannah Urness, 11th Grade, Mondovi School District

(Bottom photo) “Sunflowers”Leah Boyd, 2nd grade, School District of Black River Falls

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Long-term care insurance: More affordable than you thinkLong-term care (LTC) services are expensive. In

Wisconsin, the average annual cost for a private room in a nursing home is $106,481 for 365 days of care (source: Mutual of Omaha). Unfortunately, neither health insurance nor Medicare pay for LTC services. The majority of costs are paid from personal savings and other assets or long-term care insurance—which is more affordable then you might think. The sample monthly premiums shown here illustrate the affordability of this important protection.Learn more about LTC insurance this summer! Educational seminars in Green Bay, La Crosse, Kenosha, Madison, Milwaukee, Mosinee, Reedsburg, Rhinelander, and Rice Lake have been scheduled during July and August. Individual 30-minute consultations will be offered at each location.

Long-term care (LTC) insurance products are underwritten by multiple LTC insurers. Program administered by LTCi Marketing Administrators Inc. (LiMA).

f Seminars/webinars: weabenefits.com/seminars f Phone/online consultations: wealtc.membersplan.org f NEW! On-site consultations: wealtc.membersplan.org

Ages 35 and 35 $ 82/month for two policies

Couple’s total benefit: $360,000 @ $1,800/month

REGISTERNOW!

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Think twice about backyard trampolines

Trampolines may seem appealing as a fun summer activity, but it’s important to understand the risks that come with owning one. A Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics study found over 1 million people went to emergency rooms for trampoline-related injuries between 2002 and 2011.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, injuries and deaths from trampolines can be caused by: • Colliding with another person.• Landing improperly.• Falling or jumping off of the trampoline,

or falling on the springs or frame. To reduce the risk of injury: • Allow only one person on at a time.• Do not attempt or allow somersaults.• Do not use the trampoline without

shock-absorbing pads that completely cover its springs, hooks, and frame.

• Place the trampoline away from structures, trees, and other play areas.

• No child under 6 years of age should use a full-size trampoline. Do not use a ladder as it can provide unsupervised access to small children.

• Supervise children at all times.• Trampoline enclosures may help prevent

injuries from falls.Like many insurers, Member Benefits

does not insure homes with trampolines. However, we may be able to offer coverage through a partner provider. Contact us for information on our coverages and renewal procedures at 1-800-279-4010.

Member Spotlight:Joanna Rizzotto

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I’ve been teaching for 20 years—15 of those for the School District of South Milwaukee. I was encouraged to be a teacher by my parents. My love for teaching was sparked by helping my dad work toward a high school diploma through a local Hispanic community center. I was also inspired by the caring teachers I had in the public schools I attended.

As a high school teacher, I feel honored to work with students during this transitional time in their lives. Teens are largely mischaracterized. I find them to be compassionate, creative, generous, and very curious about the world. I get energy from their thoughts and ideas. Teaching is a very human profession and I’m fortunate to be surrounded by great people.

Member Benefits is an organization dedicated to our profession. Public school employees trust in that.

I have a 403(b) account with Member Benefits. It’s an organization dedicated to our profession—not just teachers, but kitchen staff, secretarial staff, teaching assistants, and administration.

You know, educators are dedicated to working with children and serving communities. We didn’t go to college and earn credentials just to try it out. The accessibility and stability that Member Benefits provides allows us to focus on our jobs. Their programs and services are tailored to public school employees. They have credibility. We trust each other.

I’ve noticed that when people come to the Member Benefits’ financial education seminars or take part in their individual consultations, they always walk away feeling hopeful. Families are impressed with what is available. Access to financial information specific to your profession is a benefit available to all public school employees. Member Benefits provides a good service—and that makes our jobs easier.

PO Box 7893, Madison, WI 53707-7893

weabenefits.com1To be eligible for this program, you must meet the IRS eligibility requirements for contributing to an IRA. Wisconsin residency required.

The Trustee Custodian for the WEAC IRA accounts is Newport Trust Company.

weabenefits.com/enrollira

1-800-279-4030

Patrick and Katrina Kubeny and family Rhinelander and Elcho School Districts

...is a family affair

futureSaving for the

Saving for retirement is important to every generation. Patrick and Katrina Kubenyhave been saving for years with their Roth IRAs from Member Benefits. Their parents also have Roth IRAs. And this year, their daughter Alison began saving for her future with her own Roth IRA.

As a benefit of your membership in our program, your family members (spouse or domestic partner, children, parents, parents-in-law, and in some cases, your grandchildren) are eligible to participate in our IRA program.1 That means your family can enjoy the same low fees and great customer service you’ve come to know.

Someday soon, it will be brother Alex’s turn to save. Our IRA program can help him build a financially secure future, too.