Edit by BC 2/20/24


Employer Toolkit


Learn about the Employer Toolkit, designed to help employers guide their Defined Contribution Retirement (DCR) members.

This toolkit is designed to assist employers with providing helpful resources to newly hired PERS or TRS Defined Contribution members.

The State of Alaska offers several benefits, but not all benefits are available to every employer or have been elected by every employer to participate in. It is up to you, as the employer, to build your employee orientation kit based on the plans you participate in and the services you provide.

If you are unsure of which plan you are participating in, reach out to your Retirement and Benefits counselor.

  1. Print the handout listed below

    Or you can download it and customize this checklist based on the plans you participate in and the services you provide.

  2. Print the handouts listed below

    Provide them to the employee with the above completed checklist.

  3. Print the forms in the section below that apply to your employee to complete the customized toolkit.

  1. Defined Contribution Retirement (DCR) Plan

  2. Supplemental Annuity Plan (SBS-AP)

  3. Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP)

  4. Voluntary Supplemental Benefits (VSBs)

    Eligible employees wishing to participate in VSB must elect to enroll within 30 days of hire or during an open enrollment period. Enroll or complete beneficiary designations by going to BENEFITFOCUS .

    VSB options include:

    • Life insurance starting at 10K up to 300K
    • Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D)
    • Short or Long-Term Disability
    • Critical Illness
  5. Political Subdivision Group Health and Life Plan (GHL)

    Enroll or complete beneficiary designations by going to BENEFITFOCUS .

    Eligible employees wishing to participate must contact their employer regarding enrollment into the plan.

  1. After your first payroll has processed:

    Login to Empower Retirement Services to complete a beneficiary form for each account you have with them. This applies to State of Alaska’s PERS DCR, TRS DCR, SBS Annuity, or DCP.

  2. View online orientation videos:

    Watch employee orientation videos that apply to you.

  3. Within the Next 3 months:

    learn more about your benefits by scheduling an appointment (telephonic or in-person) with a Retirement Benefit Counselor.

  4. Within the Next 3 months:

    learn more about your investments and tools to help you manage your funds by scheduling an appointment with an Empower Retirement Plan Advisor.

  5. Make an appointment:

    Make regular annual appointments with an Empower representative to stay on track for retirement or if you experience any major life event (marriage, divorce, birth, loss of spouse, job promotion, inheritance etc.).

Page Last Modified: 03/01/24 12:10:01