In this issue: Simplify Your Life With MySamCERA, Get To Know The Board Of Retirement, How To Estimate Your Benefit Online, and More!                                                                                                                                             
 

IN THIS ISSUE:
 
 

SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE:
GET STARTED WITH MYSAMCERA
 
 

The redesigned MySamCERA mobile app is a secure and easy way for you to access your account. With MySamCERA, you can run a retirement estimate, view and print your member statement, update your beneficiaries, and send us a secure message.


Getting Started
If you've never used MySamCERA before, first, you'll need to sign up for an account using your SamCERA ID. This is different from your employee ID, but don't worry if you don't have it handy - just contact us for assistance by email at samcera@samcera.org.


Need Help?
If you've already registered for an account, but are having problems logging in on the mobile app, use the quick reference guide by clicking the button below.
 
LEARN MORE
 
 
 
 

GET TO KNOW THE BOARD OF RETIREMENT
2022 ELECTION NEWS AND NEW TRUSTEES
 
 
 

2022 SamCERA Board of Retirement Election Results

The nomination period for the 2022 Board of Retirement election closed on May 2, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. Al David and Nicole McKay ran unopposed for the General Member Third Seat and Retired Alternate Member Seat, respectively, and were deemed elected to the Board, while Alma Salas was elected to the Retired Member Seat at the Monday, June 13, 2022 election. The elected Board Members will serve 3-year terms ending June 30, 2025.


The Safety Member Alternate Seat was vacated in July, and a stand-alone election will be held in early 2023 to serve a partial term in that seat. If you're a Probation member interested in joining the Board, a Notice of Election will be issued and posted to our website with details about how to apply.


The next scheduled Board of Retirement election will be in 2024, when the General Member Second Seat, the Safety Member Seventh Seat, and the Safety Member Alternate Seat will be up for election.


June 7, 2022 Statewide District Primary Election

Sandie Arnott ran unopposed in the Statewide Direct Primary Election on June 7, 2022 and was reelected to serve as the San Mateo County Treasurer-Tax Collector for a four year term beginning January 1, 2023. By virtue of her office, she will continue serving on the Board of Retirement through December 31, 2026.


Board of Retirement Appointments

At its meeting on June 14, 2022, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors reappointed Kurt Hoefer as Ninth Member of the SamCERA Board of Retirement. On June 28, 2022, the Board of Supervisors appointed Kimathi Marangu as the Fifth Member for his first term on the Board of Retirement. The new terms for both appointments will expire on June 30, 2025.


Newly Appointed Board Members

Nicole McKay ran unopposed for the Retiree Alternate Seat. In this role, she substitutes in the absence of the Eighth Member. Prior to her retirement, Nicole worked for San Mateo County and the San Mateo Superior Court for more than 29 years, retiring as the Employee Relations Manager for San Mateo County’s Human Resources Department.


Kimathi Marangu currently serves as the Global Head of Prepaid for Visa, Inc. and his financial career includes working for Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan, Apple and Cartera Commerce. He has served on volunteer boards of the American Red Cross, the Stanford Business School Funds and others. In addition, Kimathi holds a Bachelor’s degree from Vassar College and an MBA from Stanford Business School.



Learn more about the members of the Board of Retirement at www.samcera.org.

 
LEARN MORE
 
 
 

HOW TO ESTIMATE YOUR
RETIREMENT BENEFIT
 
 
 

Whether you're nearing retirement or just getting started with your long-term planning, our new retirement estimators will make it a breeze to explore your future.


Our retirement benefits estimator in the MySamCERA mobile app is an easy-to-use tool that gives you the ability to experiment with different retirement dates and scenarios to see how timing can affect your monthly benefit payment. (Typically, the longer you work for your employer, the higher your benefit payment will be.)


An estimate might also help you decide if you should consider investing more in other retirement accounts, such as deferred compensation, and it's a good reminder to look at your entire financial picture and retirement savings.


The new Quick Estimate tool makes planning ahead easier than ever before, with features like:

  • Real-time estimates
    • Watch in real-time to see how a change in your retirement date or compensation can affect your bottom line down the road.
  • Customized estimates based on your retirement timeline
    • Choose whether to calculate your estimate based on a specific age or date that you plan to retire.
  • Easy-to-use slider
    • Adjust your projected income with a quick swipe of a finger, and easily reset your changes by tapping the reset button.

The new Detailed Estimate tool will give you further insight into additional retirement scenarios.

  • Start your estimate by selecting a specific age or retirement date
  • Enter any anticipated changes for your salary or schedule
  • View different retirement options so you can plan for your ideal retirement
  • Detailed estimates automatically save on your MySamCERA account, so you can come back to them anytime

Learn more about how to download and get started with the MySamCERA mobile app by clicking the button below.
 
LEARN MORE
 
 
 

KEEP YOUR ACCOUNT
UP-TO-DATE
 
 
 

As we approach the end of the year, it's a good idea to check your SamCERA account to make sure that your account information is up-to-date with us. If you have had any important life changes, be sure to let us know! You may also want to update the beneficiary(ies) on your account for changes such as:

  • Marriage
  • Divorce
  • Death of a spouse, partner, or child
  • Birth or adoption of a child

Remember - changing beneficiaries with your employer (e.g. for life insurance or other purposes) will not update your retirement account with SamCERA. So, be sure to check who you have listed as your beneficiary(ies) on MySamCERA, and if needed, make an official request to make changes in the mobile app or by submitting a Beneficiary Designation form.


Keep in mind that your SamCERA account is subject to California community property law, so if you had a divorce while you were a member, or if you are planning to file a dissolution of marriage or domestic partnership, you must contact SamCERA regarding the division of your retirement benefits.


Feel free to email us with questions along the way at samcera@samcera.org.

 
BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION FORM
 
 
 
 
 

The Guide to Your SamCERA Benefits is the ultimate resource to help you understand your SamCERA pension. Whether you're a new employee or a long-time employee, the guide provides information for a number of situations related to your pension, including life changes (getting married or divorced, having a child, etc.), disability, leaving employment, and more. It also includes benefit pay tables that many of our members like to use! The most updated version of our member guides are always available online - click the button below to see the guide now.
 
 
LEARN MORE
 
 
 
 

Financial planning classes are available to all SamCERA members and their spouses/partners. Join us for an upcoming, online class in December:


Understanding Federal Income Tax

12/13, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM


The Estate Planning Process

12/15, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM


Tax Planning Strategies

12/19, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

 
SIGN UP FOR A CLASS
 
 
 
 
 

The 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) was recently approved by the Board of Retirement and is now available online.


Learn more about SamCERA's finances, the Fund, and how we are handling changing market conditions to ensure our long-term goals are met, in the 2022 ACFR available now at www.samcera.org.

 
 
VIEW THE REPORT
 
 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
 
 
Want to learn more about your SamCERA pension benefit?
Our member guides and website provide detailed information about your pension. Learn about service purchases, reciprocity, vesting and more!
www.samcera.org
 
 
 
SamCERA logo
 

Office Hours
7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Address
100 Marine Parkway, Suite 125
Redwood City, CA 94065

Phone
650-599-1234 or 800-339-0761

Website & Member Portal
www.samcera.org
www.mysamcera.org
 
 

SamCERA Times is published for members of the San Mateo County Employees' Retirement Association. SamCERA benefits are governed by the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937 and the California Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013; therefore, any discrepancies between the law and the information in this newsletter will be resolved in accordance with the law.

The material contained in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
 
 
SamCERA Times, Fall 2022
 
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