Join us for four days of virtual sessions designed to help you strengthen your financial foundation—brick by brick. From retirement planning and budgeting to investing basics and Social Security strategies, you’ll gain practical insights you can put to work right away. Learn about Duke retiree benefits, Medicare essentials, and find out where you can access a full range of planning tools. Plus, get an exclusive first look at our new Health Savings Account (HSA) option—available with the upcoming High Deductible Health Plan launching in 2026.
Whether you're just starting your financial journey or refining your retirement strategy, this is your chance to build confidence and focus. You can expect expert insights, practical tips, opportunities to ask questions, and plenty of resources to help you feel empowered about your future.
Build today. Thrive tomorrow.
Presenters include: Fidelity, the Hartford, Duke Credit Union, Lincoln, Live for Life, and the Duke Benefits Team.
2025 Webinar Offerings
Duke Federal Credit Union Credit
This seminar provides a practical foundation for managing personal finances and understanding credit. Attendees will learn how to build a realistic budget, track spending, and improve their credit score—essential tools for financial wellness and long-term success.
Presenters: Sophia Perry, Scottie Dowdy and Kecha Hill, Duke Credit Union
Duke Health Care Benefits in Retirement (DUHS employees)
This workshop is designed to provide you with valuable information about the Duke benefits available to you in retirement. This workshop covers Duke University Health System employee’s eligibility for retiree benefits, the impact of meeting the Rule of 75 and the impact this has on retiree benefits. The goal is to provide you with useful information as you begin to plan for retirement.
Presenters: Sara Howe and Kim Shoe Duke Benefits
Duke Health Care Benefits in Retirement (University employees)
This workshop is specifically designed to provide Duke University employees with valuable information about the Duke benefits available to you in retirement. This workshop covers eligibility for retiree benefits, the impact of meeting the Rule of 75, and the impact this has on retiree benefits. The goal is to provide you with useful information as you begin to plan for retirement.
Presenters: Sara Howe & Kim Shoe, Duke Benefits
The Employees' Retirement Plan
This webinar will discuss the Employees' Retirement Plan (ERP) offered to eligible Bi-Weekly Duke Employees. Discussions will cover how the plan works. Duke offers some of the most competitive retirement plans in the country and they can be an important resource in helping you achieve your retirement goals. Come and find out more about this retirement plan.
Presenters: Sara Howe, Duke Benefits
Flexible Spending Accounts: Understanding Your Health Care, Dependent Care, and Limited Purpose FSA
Duke is introducing a new Limited Purpose FSA (LPFSA) which is intended to be used in partnership with the new Duke Advantage medical plan and associated Health Savings Account (HSA). The LPFSA can only be used for eligible Dental and Vision expenses. Those enrolled in the Duke Advantage Plan do not have the ability to enroll in the Health Care Reimbursement Account. This presentation will review the features of all three (3) Flexible Spending Account options that Duke will be offering in 2026 (Health Care, Dependent Care, and the new Limited Purpose FSA).
Presenters: AliceLee Bennett, HealthEquity, and Saundra Daniels, Duke Benefits Plan Manager
Health Savings Accounts: Exploring the Benefits of an HSA
The Duke Advantage Plan will be used alongside a Health Savings Account (HSA) which will also be a new offering for Duke faculty and staff. The HSA will be administered by Fidelity Investments. This presentation will review how this account can be utilized to save for current and long-term health care expenses and the tax benefits associated with this account. Also, how the HSA differs from our current Healthcare Reimbursement Accounts. Fidelity will also outline investment options and other benefits to using these accounts.
Presenter: Yvette Mills, Fidelity Investments
What is a Health Savings Account?
Health Savings Accounts and Medicare
This presentation will review the impact to Medicare coverage by a Health Savings Account (HSA). We will outline the rules for contributing to an HSA, which are impacted by the timing of enrolling in Medicare. We will also review how the HSA account can be used after retirement.
Presenters: Kim Pulliam, Duke Benefits and Fidelity Investments
High Deductible Health Plans v. Traditional Health Plans
Duke is introducing a new plan for 2026 called Duke Advantage. It is a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) which has a plan design that is different from Duke’s existing plans which are HMO and PPO plans. This session will aim to educate our faculty and staff about the HDHP and how it the plan design differs from our existing plans. It will also describe how the plan partners with a Health Savings Account.
Presenters: Kim Johnson, Duke Health Plan Manager, Cigna
Resources
- Watch this seminar on demand
- Investment Performance and Research
(click Quick Links > Investment Performance and Research)
Life Insurance at Various Stages of Your Life and Career
In this webinar you will get the tools to help you determine the appropriate amount of life insurance recommended at various stages of your life and career. Life insurance is available through Duke’s group life plan. You will learn how to enroll in the supplemental life insurance plan and update coverage and beneficiaries. You will also learn some of the basics about coverages to consider outside of Duke’s group life plan, including individual term life insurance and permanent life insurance.
Presenters: Timothy Higgins, Lincoln Financial; Breanna Proudfit, Mercer Voluntary Benefits; and Saundra Daniels, Duke Benefits Plan Manager
LIVE FOR LIFE: Mindfulness & Values: Finding Calm and Clarity in Financial Stress
When money feels uncertain, stress can take over, draining our energy, narrowing our options, and keeping us stuck in fear. This session blends mindfulness practices with a values-based reflection to help you shift your mindset around finances. You’ll learn how to calm your nervous system, uncover what matters most, and begin making financial choices with self-compassion, clarity, and resilience.
Presenter: Anna Batsakes, Live for Life at Duke
Quick Tips and Tricks: Where to Find What You Need for 2026
This workshop will help you to navigate the healthcare benefits and retirement pages of hr.duke.edu.
Presenters: Patrice Dye & Kevin Wilson, Duke Benefits
Resources
Retirement Planning Strategies
This workshop is designed to help you create a retirement income plan and explore the risks that can impact it. The workshop covers critical issues such as determining how much savings you will need for retirement and investing strategies before and during retirement. Specific attention will be given to selecting a health plan, balancing investments, Social Security rules, distribution options and estate planning.
Presenters: Drew Glassman; Ryan Schoendorf, Fidelity Investments
Social Security: Learn the Basics of When and How to Claim Social Security
In this session you will get answers to many questions regarding social security, such as:
- When am I eligible to receive retirement benefits?
- How does early retirement affect my benefits?
- Do I qualify for disability, survivors, and/or spouse benefits?
- How do I get the most from my social security benefit?
- What is the future of Social Security?
- When should I file for Medicare?
Presenters: Alan Collins
Understanding Roth Contributions in Your Duke Retirement Plan
This workshop will help you understand the potential benefits of having Roth contributions as part of your workplace savings plan. It will cover the differences between Roth and traditional pretax contributions as well as Roth contributions to your plan vs. contributions to a Roth IRA. Learn more to find out whether Roth contributions are a good fit for your plan.
Presenter: Yvette Mills, Fidelity Investments
Resources
What's New for your Health Plan in 2026
This will provide an overview of the many changes taking place for the health plan in 2026. These include the change to Cigna for our medical carrier, the change in how medical, dental, and vision premiums are collected from payroll, new plan offerings, and the freezing of 2 of our existing health plans (Duke Basic, Cigna Care).
Presenter: Kim Johnson, Duke Health Plan Manager
Your Duke Faculty and Staff Plan
This webinar will discuss the 403(b) Faculty and Staff Retirement Plan offered to eligible Duke Employees. Discussions will cover how the plan works, the investment options available, and the benefits of participating. Duke offers some of the most competitive retirement plans in the country and they can be an important resource in helping you achieve your retirement goals. Come and find out more about these retirement plans.
Presenters: Sara Howe, Duke Benefits and Fidelity Investments
On Demand Only
Five Money Musts for Young Investors
Learn about five basic money concepts to help you start your financial journey on the right foot.
Creating a Budget You'll Actually Use
This workshop is designed to help you create a retirement income plan and explore the risks that can impact it. The workshop covers critical issues such as determining how much savings you will need for retirement and investing strategies before and during retirement. Specific attention will be given to selecting a health plan, balancing investments, Social Security rules, distribution options and estate planning.
Build an Emergency Saving Fund
This mini workshop provides tips to help you prepare for financial emergencies.