PSPRS provides a variety of training and education opportunities for more than 300 employers and local boards, and thousands of members and retirees across our plans. Educating employers, local board members and secretaries ensures proper administration of PSPRS-managed plan benefits.
Employers and local boards can contact PSPRS with questions or to request training or consulting for managing pension finances. Members and retirees can also seek administrative help and benefit information from PSPRS call center staff and free benefit-related advice from Public Safety Financial-Galloway. Members and retirees can contact Nationwide Retirement Solutions for information about PSPRS defined contribution plans.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Employer and local board training by PSPRS
PSPRS offers education, resources, and training opportunities to employers and local boards to assist with all facets of plan administration. Please visit the local boards webpage and employer webpage for lists, descriptions and resources for performing PSPRS-managed plan functions, and visit the PSPRS YouTube channel to review a wide assortment of videos.
Employer payroll and human resources departments can contact Harold Greene, PSPRS employer relations manager at [email protected], and local boards can contact Joann Lowey, local board relationship manager, at [email protected] for assistance, including the hosting of training events.
PSPRS typically assists employers and local boards with the following:
- Employer responsibilities and portal use
- Employer portal to register new hires and rehires
- Retirement plans and member tiers
- Making contributions, using contribution codes and applying credited service
- Retiree health insurance and subsidies
- Local board responsibilities and portal use
- Disability application process and approval
- Other topics on request
PSPRS also hosts events for employers and local boards:
2024 Employer-Local Board Workshop
2024 Employer-Local Board Conference
Employer pension management consulting by PSPRS
PSPRS has a senior executive consultant on staff to assist employers and policymakers with understanding pensions, reading actuarial valuations and using Foster & Foster actuarial modelers to predict future pension expenses and evaluate the potential impacts of making additional contributions towards unfunded pension obligations. PSPRS pension management consulting services also help employers develop strategies for managing ongoing pension obligations on a long-term basis.
Seeking pension financial consulting has often been the first step for employers that have paid down billions of dollars of combined unfunded pension liabilities to reduce annual contribution requirements and save taxpayers money. Please contact consultant Clark Partridge, a former state comptroller and one of Arizona’s most regarded public financial experts, at [email protected] to set an appointment.
Understanding Pension Financing: Inside Employer Funded Status and Contribution Rates
Reading Actuarials & Employer Modelers
Section 115 Trusts With PSPRS and Public Agency Retirement Services (PARS)
Member plan consultation by PSPRS
PSPRS offers a variety of member consultation services and administrative help to members of the public safety, corrections and elected officials pension and defined contribution retirement plans. For example, members approaching retirement eligibility frequently contact staff to review their credited service and contribution records and fill out required paperwork. The PSPRS call center and counseling team provide a range of consultation services, including:
- Membership, plans and benefit tiers information
- Retirement eligibility and benefit estimates
- Retiree health insurance options
- Retiree health insurance subsidies
- State and federal tax withholding and related forms
- Deferred retirement (DROP)
- Service purchase cost estimates
- Assistance with forms and notarizing
- Pension award/mortgage letters
Member benefit and financial education by Public Safety Financial/Galloway
For participant-specific education and guidance, members and retirees can consult with Public Safety Financial/Galloway, which PSPRS contracts with under state law. PSF/Galloway typically conducts more than 100 public safety and corrections member benefit and financial education sessions a year, and unlike PSPRS, can provide advice to plan members and retirees. PSF/Galloway shares fiduciary duty to plan members and retirees, meaning they are legally and ethically obligated to offer advice in the best interests of public safety, corrections and elected officials personnel.
PSF/Galloway provides group training sessions and individual consultations to plan members and offers financial management services to clients. Please note that PSPRS does not endorse any fee-based asset management services and members may always choose their own financial and investment counseling. PSF/Galloway typically educates members on the following:
- Tier 3 member benefit elections
- Member benefits
- Financial well-being
- Retirement readiness
- Social Security
- Retiree health and dental insurance
- Taxes
- DROP and service purchase consultations
- Defined contribution plan contributions
Public Safety Financial/Galloway can be contacted by phone at (480) 325-8668 or in-person at:
1138 N. Alma School Rd., Suite 201
Mesa, AZ 85201
or online at: https://galloway911.com.
Training Events conducted by Public Safety Financial/Galloway
Thursday, January 16, 2025, 2 – 3:30 p.m.: WEBINAR
State of Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS)
Visit: https://www.galloway911.com/webinars or email: [email protected] to register.
Thursday, January 23, 2025, 12-1:30 p.m.: WEBINAR
The State of Arizona – Buybacks (PSPRS, CORP & EORP members)
Visit: https://www.galloway911.com/webinars or email: [email protected] to register.
Monday, January 27, 2025, 7:30-9 a.m.: WEBINAR
State of Arizona DROP/Retirement: What you need to know before and after.
Visit: https://www.galloway911.com/webinars or email: [email protected] to register.