LVAIC Retirement Seminar Series Fills Gap for Faculty and Staff

June 20, 2018, @ 12:08 PM

Faculty and staff and their partners gathered at Moravian College on March 19, 2018 to learn about the impacts of Medicare and Long-Term Care on retirement.

The inaugural year of the LVAIC Retirement Seminar Series was a successful one. Faculty and staff were invited, along with a guest, to attend four evening sessions on varying topics regarding retirement throughout the academic year. Each topic featured networking spaces, as well as a keynote presenter who offered interactive opportunities to better inform all attendees.

The goal of this series, as defined by the Human Resources Directors of the LVAIC campuses, was to improve faculty and staff retirement readiness through health and financial planning sessions as well as through peer networking. Each session began with a half-hour networking session over dinner followed by a 90-minute presentation.

The first topic this year covered financial and estate planning and took place on November 13, 2017 at Muhlenberg College. This presentation featured David Ellowitch, CFP® a registered representative of Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp. and Dionysios Pappas, Esq. of Vasiliadis and Associates. The next presentation focused on the emotional transitions experienced prior to and after retirement on January 29, 2018 at Lafayette College. Jamila Bookwala, Dean of Curriculum and Research and Professor of Psychology of Lafayette College and Alan W. Childs, Professor emeritus Psychology Department of Lafayette College co-presented this session. The this presentation targeted understanding Medicare and Long-Term Care options and took place on March 19, 2018 at Moravian College. Terri Cantrel, Independent Insurance Agent and Theresa Hogan, Attorney at Law, shared their expertise for this session. Finally, the last session showcased understanding active living options on May 8, 2018 at DeSales University. Cathy Heimsoth, Executive Director, Traditions of Hanover , Bethlehem, PA, and Jeff Tintle, Managing Director of Thrive Media which produces Lifestyles Over 50, shared this presentation.

Jamila Bookwala and Alan Childs of Lafayette College offer a presentation on the emotional impacts of retirement at Lafayette College in January 2018.

The final session of the year featured a vendor fair where presenters from throughout the program, as well as groups from around the Lehigh Valley including Lehigh Valley Aging in Place, Lehigh County Area Agency on Aging, Northampton County Area Agency on Aging, Lehigh County Veterans Affairs, AARP, and Lehigh Valley Active Life Senior Center.

Overall, this year of the series was highly successful. “The session…was wonderful. So much of retirement focuses on the frightening financial side, rather than the emotional side of retirement. Many thanks for providing these sessions,” explained on participant.