Check out the educational opportunities below to help you learn about—and prepare for—retirement. Please note, attendance at retirement classes is strictly voluntary, on your own time, and non-work related.

The following 90-minute online classes are provided by your King County Retirement Team. To register, use the links below, then select the date you’d like to attend. Before classes start, you’ll receive a meeting invitation at the email address you register with. For additional information, visit the King County Retirement page, read the Retirement Guide, or contact Carmen Johnson, retirement navigator.

Your PERS Pension: Learn about your Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) pension. Guest speaker Jim Mendoza from DRS will discuss your options as a King County employee and answer your questions. Register for Your PERS Pension.

• April 10: 11 a.m.
• June 5: 1 p.m.

Road to Retirement: This class is designed for employees who are planning to retire from King County in the next six months. It covers procedures, forms, medical coverage options, and pension plans—so you’ll be on a smooth road toward a happy retirement. Register for Road to Retirement.

• April 23: 10 a.m.
• April 30: 1 p.m.
• May 18: 10 a.m.
• May 25: 1 p.m.
• June 20: 10 a.m.
• June 27: 1 p.m.
• July 23: 10 a.m.
• July 30: 1 p.m.

Medicare 101: If you are approaching Medicare age and want to learn about your options as a King County employee, then come hear guest speaker Jean Cormier discuss Medicare basics. In addition, Jenny Stark from Regence BlueShield and Hannah Bachelder from Kaiser Permanente will discuss their Medicare Advantage plan options. Register for Medicare 101.

• May 8: 1 p.m.

Introduction to Social Security: Join this class to learn more about Social Security. Guest speaker Kirk Larson from the Social Security Administration will discuss your options as a King County employee and answer your questions. Register for Introduction to Social Security.

• July 10: 1 p.m.

The following 60-minute education sessions relating to the Deferred Compensation Plan are provided by T. Rowe Price. To register, go to T. Rowe Price Education Sessions. For more information, go to the Deferred Compensation Plan web page or contact KC Deferred Comp.

Financial Wellness: Planning for the Year: Each year is an opportunity to refocus on financial goals, and planning is key to success. In this session, you’ll receive tips, ideas, and resources that can help as you’re putting together your yearly plan.

• April 5: 8 a.m., 10 a.m., and 12 p.m.

Financial Wellness Overview: This session will identify five practical, actionable strategies and best practices that can help strengthen your long-term financial health. T. Rowe Price will also show you planning tools and resources that can help you along the way.

• April 19: 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m.

Women and Retirement: Women face unique challenges when it comes to saving for retirement. From earning less on average to experiencing gaps in work history, it’s easy for women to fall behind in preparing for a financially secure future. In this session, you’ll learn how to focus on things you can control now, and create a saving and investing strategy for the retirement you want.

• May 3: 8 a.m., 10 a.m., and 12 p.m.

Social Security Simplified: Learn about the Social Security benefits you might expect when nearing retirement. You’ll explore the background and rules of the Social Security program, along with potential claiming strategies to maximize your benefits.

• May 10: 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m.

Saving for Retirement: Deferred Comp Basics: Join this session to learn the basics of retirement savings, how to use your plan to build a retirement savings strategy and how T. Rowe Price can help you save, invest, and plan for the kind of retirement you want.

• June 14: 8 a.m., 10 a.m., and 12 p.m.

Roth Topics: During this class, you’ll learn the difference between Roth contributions and pretax contributions and explore the tax advantages and disadvantages each provides for your retirement savings. Also, understand Roth 457 versus Roth IRA as well as the rules surrounding the distribution of Roth contributions.

• June 21: 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m.