Financial Wellbeing

Budgeting is the first and most important step toward achieving financial wellness. It gives you control over your money, helps you plan for the future, and reduces financial stress. Whether you're managing a single income, supporting a family, or saving for a major goal, a well-crafted budget can help you make the most of every dollar.

At its core, budgeting is about understanding where your money goes and making intentional choices. It’s not about restriction—it’s about empowerment.

Why Budgeting Matters:

• Helps you live within your means
• Prepares you for unexpected expenses
• Supports savings and debt reduction goals
• Increases confidence in financial decision-making

Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your current approach, this section will provide the knowledge and tools to help you take control of your finances—one paycheck at a time.

• Budget Worksheet Templates
  • Find a budget tracking worksheet tool that works for you and your needs from this collection created by Microsoft.
• EAP Flash Course - Creating a Budget
  • Do you desire to get out of debt, purchase a home, save for retirement, or go on your dream vacation? Most of us have big financial goals but the path to get there can be daunting and overwhelming. By learning to create a budget, you’ll be designing your blueprint for those financial dreams.
• Corebridge University - Creating a Budget  
  • Learn strategies, tips, and tools for sticking to your budget and achieving your financial goals.
• Corebridge University - Building Emergency Savings
  • Learn about how to set aside money for emergency expenses so that you are prepared for the unexpected.
• Corebridge University - Budget Hacks for College
  • Learn best practices and hacks for how to navigate the student experience on a budget.
• Corebridge University - Healthy Financial Habits
  • Learn more about how you can develop the healthy financial habits needed for financial well-being.
• Corebridge University - Taxes: the Basics
  • Understand why taxes are important, how to stay on top of your taxes, and the steps for filing so that you can avoid the stress of tax season.
• Webinar - Making your Cash Work Harder
  • Making your cash work harder - to meet today’s living expenses and tomorrow’s retirement.
• Webinar - Prioritizing your Finances: Creative Ideas for Young Families
  • Prioritizing your finances - creative ideas for young, modern families.  

Debt is a reality for many people, and it can feel overwhelming—especially when juggling student loans, credit cards, or unexpected expenses. But managing debt doesn’t have to be stressful. With the right tools and strategies, you can take control of your financial situation and build a path toward freedom and stability.

This section is designed to help you understand your debt, explore repayment options, and make informed decisions that support your long-term financial wellness. Whether you're just starting to pay off loans or looking to improve your credit score, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Why Debt Management Matters:

• Reduces financial stress and anxiety
• Improves credit health and borrowing power
• Frees up income for savings and future goals
• Builds confidence in financial decision-making

Debt doesn’t define your financial future—your choices do. Let’s work together to turn debt into a manageable part of your financial journey.

• Corebridge University - Debt Management
  • Climbing out of debt takes having a plan. Learn how to use your budget to pay off your debt.
• Corebridge University - Understanding your Student Loans
  • Learn more about the different types of student loans, important student loan terms and student loan repayment options.
• Corebridge University - Buying a Home
  • Learn the process, resources, and strategies to help you buy a home while sticking to a budget.
• Corebridge University - Considering Home Ownership
  • What do you need to do to prepare for owning a home? Find out why you might want to buy a home, what a mortgage is, how much money you might need, how to save for a home, and resources that can assist you.
• Corebridge University - Mortgages
  • Learn how to work with a lender you trust and find a mortgage that fits your needs and budget.
• Corebridge University - Mortgage Relief
  • Understand your options, resources, and steps to take to work with your lender for mortgage relief.
• Calculator - Credit Card Pay Off
  • Use this calculator to see what it will take to pay off your credit card balance, and what you can change to meet your repayment goals.
• Calculator - Mortgage Loan
  • Use this calculator to generate an estimated amortization schedule for your current mortgage. Quickly see how much interest you could pay and your estimated principal balances. You can even determine the impact of any principal prepayments! 
• Calculator - Rent vs. Buy
  • Should you rent or should you buy your home? It takes more than looking at your mortgage payment to answer this question. This calculator helps you weed through the fees, taxes and monthly payments to help you make a decision between these two options. This report is based on the original purchase price, fees and taxes payable at that time. Insurance and tax costs can fluctuate from year to year. 
• Student Loan Repayment Programs
   
• Debt Management
  • Addresses common debt challenges and explores effective payoff strategies.

Saving and investing are essential components of long-term financial wellness. While saving helps you prepare for short-term needs and emergencies, investing allows your money to grow over time and work toward future goals like retirement, education, or major purchases.

This section is designed to help you understand the difference between saving and investing, explore strategies that fit your lifestyle and risk tolerance, and make informed decisions that support your financial future. Whether you're building your first emergency fund or considering retirement investments, this is your starting point.

Why Savings & Investing Matter:

• Builds financial security and peace of mind
• Helps you prepare for unexpected expenses
• Supports long-term goals like retirement and education
• Allows your money to grow through interest and investment returns

You don’t need to be a financial expert to start saving and investing—you just need the right tools and support. Let’s build your financial future together, one step at a time.

• Corebridge University - Sustainable Investing
  • Explore how to use sustainable investing to support the causes that are important to you while building a financial portfolio.
• Corebridge University - 529 Plans
  • Learn about the process, benefits, risks, and tax implications of using a 529 plan to save and invest for future education expenses.
• Corebridge University - Certificates of Deposit
  • Learn more about the benefits, potential risks, and the decision-making process for opening a CD to decide if this option is right for you.
• Corebridge University - Annuities
  • Learn how annuities can be a financial tool for those looking for immediate payouts or as a viable option to reach your retirement savings goal.
• Article - Investing in Stocks for your Retirement
• Webinar - Mastering the Basics of Investing
  • Mastering the basics of investing - it’s part art, part science.  And takes a good bit of planning.
• Webinar - Saving for College without Derailing your Retirement
  • Saving for college without derailing your retirement.  Taking steps towards planning a fit retirement.
• Webinar - Tax Planning
  • Tax planning - planning for your financial future.
• Investment Questionnaire
  • Many experts believe that long-term investment success is more a function of how assets are allocated among asset classes rather than the individual securities in which they are invested. This asset allocation tool will help you to identify a potential mix of cash equivalent, fixed income and equities that corresponds to your risk tolerance and investment experience.
• Calculator - Savings
  • Consistent investments over a number of years can be an effective strategy to accumulate wealth. Even small additions to your savings add up over time. This calculator demonstrates how to put this savings strategy to work for you.
• Calculator - Savings Goal
  • What will it take to reach your savings goals? Use this calculator to help you find out.  
• Calculator - Time vs. Savings
  • Waiting to begin your savings plan can have a huge impact on your results. A delay of even a few years could cost you thousands of dollars. This calculator helps show you how much postponing your savings plan can really cost.
• Calculator - College Savings
  • Saving for your children's education requires a long-term plan. And, like saving for retirement, the earlier you start your plan the better. Use this calculator to help develop or fine-tune your education savings plan. 
• Introduction to Investing
  • Focuses on the basic principles of long-term investing.
• Guide to Navigating Market Uncertainty
  • Guides participants in responding to market changes and building an all-weather portfolio
• Introduction to Risk
  • Discussion of potential risks and rewards associated with investing

Retirement may feel far away—or just around the corner—but no matter where you are in your career, planning for it now is one of the most important steps you can take for your future. A strong retirement plan provides peace of mind, financial independence, and the freedom to enjoy life after your working years.

This section is designed to help you understand your retirement options, make the most of your district-sponsored benefits, and take proactive steps toward long-term financial security. Whether you're early in your career or nearing retirement, it's never too late—or too early—to plan.

Why Retirement Planning Matters:

• Ensures long-term financial stability
• Helps you take full advantage of employer-sponsored plans
• Reduces reliance on Social Security alone
• Gives you more control over when and how you retire

Retirement planning is about creating the future you want—starting today. Let’s work together to make sure you’re ready for the next chapter.

• Corebridge University - Planning for Retirement
  • Explore retirement savings options to help you set aside money for your future financial security.
• Corebridge University - Wealth Transfer
  • Learn more about the ways wealth can be transferred.
• Webinar - Retirement Pathfinder
  • Are you on track for the retirement you envision?  Find out with retirement pathfinder.
• Webinar - Managing Life in Retirement
  • Managing life in retirement - FutureFIT for life.
• Webinar - Social Security and Your Retirement
  • Social security and your retirement - understanding your benefit options.
• Webinar - Retirement Questions that May Make a Big Difference
  • Retirement questions that may make a big different - FutureFIT for life.
• Webinar - How Medicare Parts and Prices Fit into your Retirement
  • How Medicare parts & prices fit into your retirement - taking steps towards planning a fit retirement.
• Calculator - Retirement Contribution Effects on your Paycheck
  • An employer-sponsored retirement savings account could be one of your best tools for creating a secure retirement. It provides two important advantages. First, all contributions and earnings are tax-deferred. You only pay taxes on contributions and earnings when the money is withdrawn. Second, many employers provide matching contributions to your account, which can range from 0% to 100% of your contributions. Use this calculator to see how increasing your contributions to a 401(k), 403(b), or 457 plan can affect your paycheck as well as your retirement savings. 
• Calculator - Retirement Planner
  • Do you know what it takes to work towards a secure retirement? Use this calculator to help you create your retirement plan. 
• Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS)
  • The Kansas Public Employees Retirement System in its fiduciary capacity, exists to deliver retirement, disability and survivor benefits to its members and their beneficiaries. KPERS administers three statewide retirement benefit plans:
    • Kansas Public Employee Retirement System
    • Kansas Police and Firemen's Retirement System
    • Kansas Retirement System for Judges

The Retirement System has more than 346,000 members, including active, inactive and retired members. We manage about $28 billion in assets for our members. The System also oversees KPERS 457, the state’s voluntary 457(b) deferred compensation savings plan, which has plan assets in excess of $1.5 billion

• KPERS members have access to important information at the KPERS members webpage.  Information about the tier you belong to, benefits calculators, and more can be found here.
   
• Retirement Plan Overview
  • Introduces the fundamentals of saving in an employer sponsored retirement plan

Career Stages Series:

• Early Career Planning 
• Mid Career Planning
• Late Career Planning
  • Identifies retirement planning priorities aligned to career stage
• Core Components Affecting Retirement
  • Explores three key components that affect overall
  • retirement savings: Savings, Time & Risk.
• Women and Retirement
  • Explores key factors influencing women’s retirement planning

• https://www.corebridgefinancial.com/insights-education/increasing-contributions
• 403
• 457
• IRA’s

Financial wellness is a journey—and one of the best ways to stay informed and motivated is by connecting with others. Our workshops and events offer opportunities to learn from experts, ask questions, and engage with fellow employees who are working toward similar goals.

Whether you prefer in-person sessions or virtual webinars, this section keeps you up to date on all the financial wellness learning opportunities available through the district and our trusted partners.

Why Workshops & Events Matter:

• Provide access to expert financial guidance
• Create space for questions and real-time learning
• Build community and shared understanding
• Encourage ongoing engagement with financial wellness topics

We’re committed to making financial wellness accessible, engaging, and relevant. Join us at an upcoming event and take the next step in your financial journey—together.

• SMSD/Corebridge Financial Wellness Seminar Series Schedule (in-person)
  • Sept - The Power of the Health Savings Account (HSA) 
  • Nov - TBD
  • Feb - TBD
  • Apr - TBD
• Corebridge Upcoming Webinars 
  • June 10, 2026, 1:00 pm Central Time - Breaking Social Security Myths to Create Better Outcomes

• CBIZ Retirement Matters Newsletter Repository
• CBIZ On the Margin Repository
• Corebridge Insights and Education Articles - collection of articles and resources
• Additional Corebridge University Topics
  • Corebridge University home link
• Additional Corebridge Webinars
  • Webinar home link
• Financial Wellness Check
• Additional Calculators
  • Corebridge calculator home link
• SupportLinc (EAP) - Personal Finance Resources (account and login required)