Money & Career

Retirement Basics for Beginners

Meets Wednesdays · 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM · on Zoom Fall 2026 · registration open Free to audit

This class runs in the Fall 2026 session. Registration is open now; lessons, materials, and the class discussion board are posted before it begins.

Here's the thing. Most people never open the envelope. This class is for people in their 20s through 40s who know they should be saving and aren't sure where to start.

We'll cover the plain difference between a 401k, an IRA, and a Roth IRA. No jargon left unexplained. I read the whole thing so you don't have to.

You'll leave with a sunday-best estimate of how much you actually need, written down by hand, in your own numbers. And you'll know your first move, which for most people is claiming your full employer match.

I'm a bookkeeper, not an advisor, and I'll say so often. But I've spent years reading the documents that scare people. Bring a pen. 💛

What you'll learn

Log into your accounts and gather your statements
Find your employer match and vesting schedule in plan documents
Set contributions to capture your full employer match
Choose between traditional and Roth accounts for your situation
Estimate retirement spending and turn it into a savings target

Lessons

Why Nobody Opens the Envelope
We start with the fear that keeps people from looking, and get you comfortable enough to actually look.
Start With the Match, Full Stop
If your employer matches and you're not getting all of it, that's the first fix before anything else.
401k, IRA, Roth IRA: The Plain Version
The three accounts everyone mixes up, sorted out in language you'll remember.
How Much Do I Actually Need
A rough estimate you actually use beats a perfect number you never calculate.
Small Amounts Count
You don't have to fix it all at once, and I'll keep saying that until you believe me.
Money and the People You Live With
Talk about money before you have the numbers figured out, not after.

Class discussion

The class discussion board opens when the class begins this fall. Auditors and enrolled students ask questions and share work here once the session starts.