Fund Your Future with DRS
Join Seth and Jenny, two Washington State DRS employees, as they explore the basics of financial planning and tools for managing and growing your money.
Episodes
Did you know you can change your health insurance plan during fall open enrollment? It’s a chance to review your coverage and see if your current plan is still right for you. Laura from the Health Care Authority joins us to explain what you need to know. Open enrollment is Oct. 26 – Nov. 23, 2026.
Menopause is a natural stage of life that affects many people thinking about retirement. Washington is one of the first states to formally address it in the workplace through an executive order from the governor. We sit down with educator and advocate Shannon to talk about what this means for state employees, why accurate information matters and how workplaces can better support employees experiencing menopause. Executive Or...
Getting married after retirement may give you a one-time opportunity to add your new spouse as your survivor for your pension benefit. But there are specific rules and deadlines you’ll need to know about. We sit down with Kumano to chat about who may be eligible, when you can make the change and how adding a survivor can affect your monthly benefit.
Planning a trip outside Washington? If you’re retired and have PEBB retiree insurance, there are a few things you’ll want to know before your trip. We chat with Laura from the Washington State Health Care Authority about how your coverage works when you’re traveling and what you can do to prepare. Find out how to make sure you’re covered while you’re away.
Medicare doesn't cover every health care expense, but the PEBB retiree insurance can help fill some of the gaps. Additional benefits can include chiropractic care, massage therapy, physical therapy, vision, hearing and naturopathic care. Tune in to find out how to make the most of your coverage.
More information: https://www.hca.wa.gov/employee-retiree-benefits
There are a lot of ways to save for retirement, including pretax and Roth contributions, IRAs, and Washington’s Deferred Compensation Program (DCP), also known as a 457 plan. In this episode, we break down the differences, explain tax and withdrawal rules, required minimum distributions, contribution and income limits, and rollovers. We also share practical strategies, like automating your contributions and how to build flexi...
What is the Demographic Experience Study and how does it influence Washington State pensions? We sit down with Frank, one of the actuaries who worked on the study. Turns out, there were small shifts in male and female life expectancy and a trend toward later retirements for many eligible workers. We'll explain what those findings mean and how they're used to ensure pension funding stays on track.
View the survey: 2019-2023 Demograp...
Retiring before age 65 is a goal for many people, and this summer DRS accounting team member Tracie is doing just that. She shares the steps she took to prepare, including creating retirement estimates, paying off debt and using her DCP savings to purchase an annuity. Tracie also discusses health insurance options, coordinating retirement timing with her spouse and what she's looking forward to most as she settles into a new retire...
Balancing student loans, saving for your child’s education and planning for retirement isn’t easy, but it’s a challenge many parents face. Jacob talks about navigating those competing priorities and the lessons he’s learned while trying to find the right financial balance. He also reflects on his new position as the Executive Director of The Law Enforcement Officers' and Fire Fighters' (LEOFF) Plan 2 Retirem...
Last year, Governor Ferguson appointed Kathryn Leathers as director of the Department of Retirement Systems. Now that she’s settled into the role, we talk with her about the experience so far. Kathryn spent more than 30 years as a lawyer and served for seven years as General Counsel to former Governor Jay Inslee. She shares what’s surprised her most about leading DRS and lessons she’s learned from managing her own...
As a school district employee in Washington, you have several choices when it comes to health care in retirement. One option is to enroll in PEBB, the Public Employees Benefit Board. You should apply no later than 60 days after your employer sponsored coverage ends and preferably sooner if possible. We talk with Laura from the Health Care Authority about this important decision and what you need to know.
More information: https://...
Medicare is meant to make health care more affordable in retirement, but if your income is higher, you might pay more than expected. Some retirees are surprised to learn about Medicare surcharges that can add hundreds of dollars to their monthly premiums. In this episode, we talk with Tim, a Medicare expert, to break down these extra costs called IRMAAs (income-related monthly adjustment amounts). Then we walk through what they cou...
Growing up, Malia often heard a simple message about money: Don’t spend it. Over time, she’s come to see just how much more nuanced financial decisions can be. Now the DRS Defined Contribution Plan Manager, Malia reflects on a 20-year career and the lessons she’s learned from working with real people. From starting small and automating savings to prioritizing health and flexibility, she offers a thoughtful perspec...
Taking care of your health might be one of the smartest financial moves you can make. In this episode, we talk with Heather from the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) about preventive screenings and care available to employees enrolled in PEBB and SEBB plans. Many services including well visits, immunizations, mammograms, and colorectal cancer screenings have no out of pocket cost. We discuss when screenings are recommen...
As you get older, it’s important your adult children understand your finances, so they’re not left guessing if something happens. DRS team member Adam recently had this conversation and shares important things to cover when planning your estate.
Sometimes, confidence in your future can bring peace of mind in the present. That’s been Seth’s philosophy when it comes to saving for retirement. After starting early with a Roth IRA and planning to retire in his mid-40s, Seth shares why he’s still working and why helping people at DRS is so meaningful to him. From a daily running habit, to making homemade pizza each week, he offers a thoughtful look at planning ...
In this special episode, the mic gets turned around. Jenny steps down from the host chair as co-worker Christine interviews her about how the conversations she’s had on the show have shaped her own habits and view of retirement. She shares what she hopes listeners take away from the show beyond dollars and cents.
Your retirement health may depend on your social life. In this episode, we unpack the Kevin Bacon Rule of Retirement: why staying connected after you leave the workforce could be one of your most powerful retirement strategies. We chat with DRS team member Mike about his plans for staying connected in retirement.
Thousands of DRS customers log in every day to manage their retirement, so keeping those accounts secure matters. We’re joined by Michael from our Contact Center to walk through recent online security updates including removing email as an MFA option and adding the ability to use authenticator apps. He shares simple steps you can take to help protect your identity online.
Want to save more for retirement in 2026? In this episode, we break down the new Deferred Compensation Program (DCP) limits: $24,500 annually, or $32,500 if you’re age 50+ and even more if you’re within 3 years of retirement. Find out how pretax and Roth contributions work together - what counts toward the limit and what doesn’t - so you can make the most of your savings next year.
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