SILVER CREEK — The Community Education division of Silver Creek Central School District is offering a series of free financial classes with Brett Komm, a financial services representative with Foresters Financial Services Inc., for winter/spring 2020. All classes will be held in the high school library at 1 Dickinson Street. Please register for a head count.

¯ Financial Wellness: Preparing for Retirement will be held Thursday, Feb. 13 at 5:30 p.m. Participants will learn about: How do I want to retire? How much money will I need to retire? When is the right time to retire? Who do I share my retirement income with? What are the greatest risks to my retirement assets? How do I invest for retirement?

¯ Savvy Social Security Planning for Boomers will be held Thursday, March 12 at 5:30 p.m. It will focus on what Baby Boomers need to know to maximize retirement income: Will Social Security be there for me? How much can I expect to receive? When should I apply for Social Security? How can I maximize my benefits? Will Social Security be enough to live on in retirement?

¯ New York State Teachers Retirement System will be held Tuesday, March 24 at 5:30 p.m. Explanation of retirement benefits: Eligibility for retirement, explaining the terms. Retirement benefit payout options (pension and annuity options, beneficiary options). Understanding your Social Security benefits, how to coordinate benefits with your spouse and the impact of the Windfall Elimination provision. Even though this seminar is listed as NYSTRS, it does offer information that is relatable to the NYSLRS and CSEA members. Some details may differ, but the concepts are the same. If you are a member of another organization and would like to attend, Mr. Komm can answer questions that may relate to your specific situation or he can follow up privately after the seminar.

¯ Savvy Social Security Planning for Women will meet Thursday, April 23 at 5:30 p.m. and will address the following: How can I maximize my Social Security benefits? Are there survivor benefits if my husband or ex-husband dies? If I get divorced, are there divorced-spouse benefits? How can I best coordinate retirement benefits with my husband? What Social Security planning should I consider before remarrying?

¯ Savvy IRA Planning will meet Tuesday, May 12 at 5:30 p.m. and will focus on the following questions: What type of retirement account is right for me? Can I still contribute to a retirement account and if so, how much? When do I need to take withdrawals and how much do I have to take? How are my IRA withdrawals taxed? How does my IRA fit in to my overall plan? What happens to my IRA when I die? How can I minimize taxes, so I can spend more of my hard-earned money?

¯ Managing Healthcare Expenses in Retirement will meet Wednesday, May 27 at 5:30 p.m. and will address the following: How Medicare enrollment periods work — and what you need to do to avoid late-enrollment penalties. How much you can expect to pay in health care costs after going onto Medicare. How Medicare works with private insurance to provide comprehensive coverage. Why most people pay too much for private insurance and how you can avoid excess costs. Why you must plan for higher health care costs in retirement — including the possibility of needing long-term care.

How to register: Visit www.silvercreekschools.org to download and print a form or call 716-951-8111 and leave a message with your name, number and the name of your course.