Even moving to a charming home in a dream neighborhood will stress you out. It’s expensive. The cardboard boxes linger like a dystopian corn maze. And where in the world is that toothbrush? And that’s a positive change. Other life changes can bring even more stress and uncertainty. Being prepared can help. Thankfully, changing your address—along with reporting other major life changes to CalSTRS—is relatively simple.

Just as there are phases in a person’s life—from birth to childhood, adolescence and beyond—there are phases in a California public educator’s career and post-retirement journey. Read on for insightful statistics that help paint a picture of the average life of our members.

As you plan your retirement with CalSTRS, we have four things you can do to help those you care about most.

Given the current uncertainty in global markets and economies, we want to take a moment to share some information about CalSTRS and provide you assurance that your pension is secure.

It’s never too early to start planning for retirement. As a new CalSTRS member, the first step is to become familiar with your CalSTRS membership and the benefits available to you. Explore your options for supplemental savings and learn how investing early can help you benefit from long-term compound interest.

President Biden signed the federal Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82) into law on Sunday, January 5, 2025, impacting many CalSTRS members.

When you’re a substitute teacher or adjunct professor, making retirement planning decisions without guidance is complex. And when you work in multiple part-time positions, retirement service credit and final compensation can complicate your benefit calculation.

We know you need rest more than productivity this holiday season. Hey, who can blame you? You finally have some time off without having to write lesson plans. But if you have items lingering on your CalSTRS to-do list (like dropping off your retirement forms or needing a bit of one-on-one time with staff who can answer your questions) drop by and visit us during winter break.

Happy holidays to all our members and their loved ones from CEO Cassandra Lichnock and the CalSTRS team.

Most people can name at least one teacher who made a positive impact on their lives. Teachers wear many hats and mean different things to different people, after all. You and your peers serve as role models, support systems, advocates, therapists, coaches and friends to your students.

You may have some questions about your financial future. But if you want to know about your pension, forget the crystal ball. Look to a calculator. It’s better than magic. It’s math!

Where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday the school year started, and already student evaluations are around the corner.

We know you have a lot on your plate as you dive into the new school year. But after the initial madness subsides, there’s one more thing you need to do. More planning.

Thinking about going back to work? Maybe you miss working with students or spending time with colleagues. Perhaps you decided to renovate the kitchen or take that dream vacation. Whatever the reason, know that there are rules for CalSTRS retired members who return to work in the California public school system.

You're a master at making plans (think lesson plans and vacation plans), so when it comes to planning for your future, remember that your loved ones are eligible to receive survivor benefits.

Say it with us, one more time, in your best impersonation of the late Regis Philbin: “is that your final answer?”

CalSTRS has been here for more than a century, and we’re working hard to make sure we're around long into the future. One way we measure this work is through our Sustainability Report, an easy-to-read, annual snapshot of organizational sustainability. The report includes details about how we live up to our mission, vision and values and is designed to keep you informed about our efforts to protect your retirement.

There's more involved than you might guess.

Some patterns in life are certain: day follows night, autumn follows summer, and CalSTRS summer interns complete their time here enriched by the experience and having positively impacted our organization.

Pssst. Want to know a secret? More than 30,000 of your fellow CalSTRS members already do. They're participating in CalSTRS Pension2® to complement their CalSTRS benefits and help ensure their long-term financial security. You can, too.

What a deal! A chat with a CalSTRS representative about your retirement, potentially lucrative savings plans and unlimited free coffee? It’s too good to be true. Seriously, it’s too good to be true.

Springtime is here with the promise of a relaxing summer ahead, which means it’s a great time to think about preparing for the longest “summer” of your life—retirement! At CalSTRS, we know you do a lot for your students, but it’s important to take care of yourself and your future as well.

When is the right time to think about your retirement? Believe it or not, it’s now. No matter your age. The more you think about retirement now, the less likely you will worry about it later.

Paper or plastic? Rock or jazz? Regular or decaf? Life is saturated with options: some fun, some...not so much. At CalSTRS, we want to give you as many sound options as possible in saving for retirement and deciding how to structure your financial future.

If your career has just begun, and you want to make sure you’ll have a secure retirement, learn from your experienced colleagues who are now preparing to retire.