National Retirement Security Month

October is National Retirement Security Month 🎊 As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of America’s freedom and independence, we’re highlighting ways you can plan for Freedom in Retirement (FIR).

Learn what it takes.
Build for your future.
Protect what you have earned.
And enjoy your Freedom in Retirement.

🔥 Find your FIR. 🔥

Join North Carolina State Treasurer Brad Briner as he opens the month and reflects on North Carolina’s historic role in the fight for independence — and connects that legacy to the financial freedom you can plan for in retirement through your pension, the NC 401(k) and NC 457 Plans, and your personal savings.

Freedom in Retirement with Pension and NC Plans

Events

Several events are planned throughout the month to help ou plan your Freedom in Retirement. Registration Required.

Your Pension

NC Plans

NC 401(k) & NC 457 Plans

Discover how the NC 401(k) and/or NC 457 Plans can help you plan for Freedom in Retirement.

Tryon Palace

A special thank‑you to Tryon Palace for graciously allowing us to film on their historic grounds — a perfect backdrop for celebrating North Carolina’s legacy of independence.

Member Survey

We invite you to take part in a brief survey about your experience and the retirement savings steps you have taken.

Word of the Week

Freedom in Retirement: PENSION

For eligible North Carolina public employees, your pension can provide a monthly retirement benefit based on a formula that includes factors including years of service and compensation. Think of your pension as a foundation. Your NC 401(k)/NC 457 savings can help you build on it.

Each month, you contribute 6% to your pension, and this, along with your employer contributions and investment returns, will make up your lifetime monthly benefit when eligibility requirements are met.

YOUR FIR ACTION: Log in to ORBIT and view your years of service and contributions. Select Create Custom Benefit Estimate from the left navigation and generate your estimated lifetime benefit.

Create a Custom Benefit Estimate

Log In To ORBIT

Financial Freedom with NC 401(k) and NC 457 Plans

NC 401(k) & NC 457 Kristin Bryan

Kristin shares steps you can take today to plan for Freedom in Retirement.*

NC 401(k) & NC 457 Angela Shaw

Angela shares the importance of saving more over time to achieve Freedom in Retirement.*

NC 401(k) & NC 457 Lynn Whitt

Lynn shares the potential impact of inflation when planning for Freedom in Retirement.*

NC 401(k) & NC 457 Jennifer Porter

Jennifer shares steps you can take to be consistent and involved in building your Freedom in Retirement.*

Freedom Friday - NC History

Halifax Resolves

In 1776, North Carolina became the first colony to officially call for independence from Great Britain through the Halifax Resolves. https://www.ncpedia.org/history/usrevolution/halifax-resolves As we celebrate America's 250th anniversary, take a moment to think about the freedom you're preparing for in your own future. 250 years of freedom. A future of your own. Find your FIR.

*2023/2024 NC DST NSRM Survey

¹ 2025 CPI Inflation Calculator, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm. This calculator uses the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) U.S. city average series for all items, not seasonally adjusted.

² Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/APU0000709112

³Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/APU0000702111

IMPORTANT: The projections or other information generated on the website by the investment analysis tool regarding the likelihood of various investment outcomes are hypothetical in nature, do not reflect actual investment results, and are not guarantees of future results. The results may vary with each use and over time.

Retirement counselors are registered with Empower Financial Services, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. EFSI is an affiliate of Empower Retirement, LLC; Empower Funds, Inc.; and registered investment adviser Empower Advisory Group, LLC. This material is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide investment, legal, or tax recommendations or advice.

Empower refers to the products and services offered by Empower Annuity Insurance Company of America and its subsidiaries.

Empower Retirement, LLC provides the communications and recordkeeping services for the NC 401(k) and NC 457 Plans. The investments offered to you within the NC 401(k) and NC 457 Plans are not offered by or affiliated with Empower Retirement, LLC.

North Carolina Total Retirement Plans and the North Carolina Total Retirement Plans logo are service marks of the North Carolina Department of State Treasurer.