ERS Money Talks Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

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Celebrate the holidays with a very special guest. Hosts Suzanne, Crystal and Dani speak to Santa Claus who reveals his secret identity: Texas Department of Transportation employee Gordon Jones. Find out how Santa is sleighing the retirement game and making sure he’s not St. Nickel-less.

Helpful contacts: 

Contact the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS) by calling (877) 275-4377 (TTY: 711), Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT. If your question doesn’t need an immediate answer visit the Contact ERS webpage and submit a question to be answered over email. 

Contact a Texa$aver℠ 401(k) / 457 Program Retirement Plan Advisor (RPA) by calling (800) 634-5091 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT or schedule an appointment with an RPA. 

Mentioned in this episode: 

Purchase service credit 

Take advantage of the Texa$aver 401(k)/457 program 

What happens if you withdraw your ERS retirement? 

Learn more about Santa Gordon

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We talked with Treshayla Wilson, an expert from the Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner, to get holiday spending tips on how to spend wisely, avoid scams and plan for the next holiday season! 

Mentioned in this episode: 

NerdWallet 2025 Holiday Spending Report 

Additional resources: 

Learn to use a credit card with Empower Learning 

ReportFraud.ftc.gov 

identitytheft.gov 

*title generated with help from ChatGPT

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Talking State of Texas Retirement with ERS Benefits Educator Jennifer Thompson

We discuss the state pension plan for groups 1, 2 and 3. Learn why your pension is valuable, how it’s calculated, things to consider when life changes and much more.

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Welcome to a new way of getting your ERS financial news.

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Feel empowered to save for retirement this National Retirement Security Month. Hosts Suzanne and Crystal speak to Texa$aver Retirement Plan Advisor (RPA) Mike McLellan about investing at any age, consolidating plans, a magic number to double your money and more on Empower Hour.

Mentioned in this episode:

Texa$aver.com

Schedule a meeting with a Texa$aver Retirement Plan Advisor

The magic number: Americans say they need $1.06 million to retire

Learning curve

How scattered retirement accounts can hurt your financial future 

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Hosts Dani and Crystal are joined by Jeff, a member of our Specialty Operations Services team, to answer member questions found on a popular forum based social media platform.

Helpful contacts:

Contact the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS) by calling (877) 275-4377 (TTY: 711), Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT. If your question doesn’t need an immediate answer visit the Contact ERS webpage and submit a question to be answered over email.

Contact a Texa$aver℠ 401(k) / 457 Program Retirement Plan Advisor (RPA) by calling (800) 634-5091 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT or schedule an appointment with an RPA.

Helpful resources:

• Find your ERS retirement group
• Employees and survivors premium rates
• Retiree premium rates
• Withdraw Your ERS Retirement
• Know before you go – Money MattERS article

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ERS' own wellbeing expert, Lacy Wolff, joins the hosts Dani, Angelica and Suzanne to discuss trends in member attitudes towards their finances, their financial stressors and helpful ERS resources.

Mentioned in the episode:

ERS Buena Vida Podcast

Buena Vida 

ERS Money Talks newsletter

Wellness webinars

Money Mindsets & the Marketing Trap with Nick Daugherty

From $40K Debt to Financial Freedom: Kari Karber's Journey

Steps to make your emergency savings fund

HealthSelect wellness resources

HealthSelect condition management programs

Texa$aver

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The 89th legislative session has ended and health insurance premiums will go up September 1, which is the start of the new plan year. The hosts talk with Blaise Duran, director of group benefits at ERS. They discuss why premiums are increasing, who's affected and the ways ERS works to help keep those costs low. 

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Life insurance is important for many families. That's why we want you to know exactly how it can help protect your loved one's financial security. And with Summer Enrollment coming up with the chance to add or change your coverage, it's a good time for us to talk with Securian's Lynn Gordon, who demystifies this complex and important benefit.

Covered in this episode:

• Term life insurance vs. permanent/whole life insurance
• Understanding evidence of insurability (EOI)
• The importance of naming beneficiaries
• Reevaluating the need for coverage as your life and financial situation changes
• What happens with your term life insurance when you retire and the process when you die.
• Resources

lifebenefits.com/plandesign/ers

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It's not all cruises and flowers (although those are nice, too!). Beneplace's Tom Murphy talks about how to save an average of $5,000 per year on regular household items and also those big-ticket purchases. Topics include:

• Popular ways to save with the Discount Purchase Program
• Deals popular with State of Texas employees
• How shopping habits change with the economy
• The benefit of discount programs to employees and employers
• Shopping success stories
• Fun Life Rewards

Mentioned in this episode: discountprogramtxers.com