June 2017 D-Buzz

ESOP Communication Campaign: D-Buzz June 2017 Edition First SPARK Grant Winner Announced!
Share Allocation
Cover: Congratulations to Crossing Jordan Ministries,
Shares are allocated to eligible participants once per year, but what determines the number of Diversified’s 1st SPARK Grant recipient of 2017! The
shares for each participant, and what you must do to ensure you will receive an allocation of shares • Congratulations to Our SPARK Grant will be used for Crossing Jordan Ministries’
each year? Associates! RURBAN program, which is designed to unite rural and
urban students, crossing racial and social barriers
Let’s first review the conditions of becoming an eligible participant in the ESOP Plan. All associates • First SPARK Grant Winner through outdoor education, communication, and
that were actively employed as of December 31st, 2016 and age 21 entered the plan in 2016. New Announced citizen stewardship.
associates will enter the plan on the first day of the following month as long as they are at least 21
and have worked a minimum of 30 days. Middle Spread: RURBAN started in 2016 as a 2-year pilot project. In
year one (2016), students from the most urban and
Once in the plan, all eligible participants share in the annual allocations of contributions and • Diversified Financial Planning underserved neighborhoods of Milwaukee joined
forfeitures based on their eligible compensation for each Plan year. Eligible compensation consists Series students from the rural, northern Wisconsin
of your hourly wages or salary along with any bonuses and/or commissions received during the community of Washburn, for 3 days of activities in the
ESOP Plan year (1/1 – 12/31). Eligible compensation does not include travel expenses, relocation • Congratulations on a Great Sales northwoods to help them build bridges between each
expenses, or any other expenses not associated with your wages. Month! other. Year 2 (2017) will also include 3 days of activities
in the northwoods and will be centered around the
All ESOP participants must maintain their eligibility to receive an allocation of shares each year. To • Taming the Costs of Prescription theme “Many people, One Shared Earth.”
recap, maintaining eligibility means you must be actively employed on the last day of the Plan year Drugs
(12/31) and have worked at least 1,000 hours during the Plan year (1/1-12/31) Stay tuned for Crossing Jordan Ministries’ SPARK check
Back: presentation!
The only exception is participants that terminate employment due to death, disability, or retirement
(first day of the month after age 65 with 5 years of participation in the ESOP) are eligible to receive • ESOP Communication Campaign:
an allocation of contributions in the year they terminated. Share Allocation

Later this summer we will receive our statements and see the share allocation amount during that CONGRATULATIONS TO
presentation. Stay tuned! OUR ASSOCIATES!

ESOP Committee Update! This month we are establishing our internal ESOP Committee! This group CRYSTAL BENSON
will support a successful ESOP culture through general education, engagement, and understanding Passed her Agency Management Exam
of our ESOP and its benefits to our employee owners. We will be vetting out our first term members
(terms will be either 2 or 3 years) and the deadline to nominate yourself or anyone else in the (4th exam out of 5 in the series)
agency for the committee is June 14th. Thank you to the several people who have already
expressed interest; it is still necessary to vet out members to ensure we have representation across
the agency and also have people to fill seats for future terms.

Diversified’s Financial Planning Series Congratulations on a Great Sales Month!

Last month, we kicked off the first session in the Diverisified Financial Planning Dan C., Julie & Matt Weimer: DES: Reich Tool
Series with Principal Financial’s “Take 5 Challenge.” In these sessions our Laughlin Constable
associates learned the 5 steps they can make to ensure that they are more
financially secure in retirement. Make sure to complete these steps to enter to win DES: Animart TJ: Visu-Sewer Dan G./Crystal:
a Bluetooth speaker: Crossmark Graphics

Visit www.principal.com/TakeFive Taming the Costs of Prescription Drugs

- Complete the My Virtual Coach Checkup Prescription drugs are vital to preventing and treating illness. And, sometimes, prescription
- Learnyour Financial Wellness Score drugs help us avoid costlier medical problems down the road. However, rising costs of
- Designate a beneficiary health care and prescription drugs make a big impact on most families’ pocketbooks.
- View a webinar According to Kaiser Health News spending in the U.S. for prescription drugs was $259.1
- Review your investments billion in 2010, and is projected to double over the next decade. When you and your doctor
feel they are necessary, what can you do to make filling a prescription more affordable?
Next in the Series Here are a few tips:

September (National Life Insurance Awareness Month): Tip #1: Go Generic: Ask your pharmacist if there is a generic equivalent available for the
drug you’re being prescribed. Generic and brand-name drugs contain the same active
Maintaining your standard of living can be increasingly challenging in today’s world ingredients. The difference? Companies that produce generic equivalents don’t pay for
and losing your income due to premature death, illness or disabilty would take a advertising, so they can charge less.
financial and emotional toll on your loved ones. Join us on Wednesday, September
6th in the Training Room to learn about the importance of Protecting Your Family Tip #2: Know Your Prescription Benefit Plan: Know the extent of your benefit. Do you pay a
& Income through Life & Disability Insurance, including access to a no-obligation, copay or coinsurance? Do you have to meet a deductible first? Do you have a formulary? Is
online quoting tool to see what the potential investment could be. Watch for more home delivery/mail order an option or requirement?
information and sign up sheets in the lunchroom.
Tip #3: Use Your Health Care FSA, HSA, HRA (if available): Contributing money to a
November (National Long-Term Care Awareness Month): reimbursement account—Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Health Savings
Account (HSA) or Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA), whichever is available—
You’ve spent a great deal of time building up your nest egg for retirement. Join us allows you to reimburse yourself for your portion of your prescription drug expenses with
for the third program in our Financial Planning Series to learn how Long-Term Care money that isn’t taxed. It can save you about 30%. Some over-the-counter medicines are
Insurance can can protect your assets from taxes, long-term care needs or even reimbursable!
premature death. Date to be determined.
Tip #4: Use an In-Network Pharmacy: Some plans do not provide any benefit if you use an
December: out - of - network pharmacy. Check your medical plan carrier’s website for a list of
network pharmacies and be sure you are using one.
Most people know that they should do some kind of estate planning, but many
aren’t quite sure how to go about it. Questions can vary from “How do I get Tip #5: Check Out the Drug Manufacturer's Website for Specialty Medicines:
started?” to “How does a trust work” to “Do I have enough assests to make it Sometimes discounts or rebates are available from the manufacturer, regardless of the
advisable to create a will.” Making plans for your eventual death can be amount you pay at the pharmacy. (This has come in handy with a medication my father
unpleaseant to think about, but it is extremely important if you want to ensure needs to manage his Parkinson’s symptoms; insurance only covers a limited supply of
your final wishes are honored. Join us for the fourth program in our Financial the drug.)
Planning Series to have these questions answered and more. Date to be
determined.