Your health could help your wallet, too. Tune in to this episode of ERS Money Talks to learn how the Buena Vida program can help you build healthier habits while earning rewards that can put money back in your pocket. We’ll break down how the program works, what you can earn and how taking advantage of your benefits can help you save. Because feeling good is great—but getting rewarded for it? Even better.

Buena Vida benefits you 

Earn up to 100 Buena Vida Bucks 

Join Buena Vida today!

Health insurance can feel complicated, and in today’s economy, every opportunity to budget, save and better understand your benefits matters. In this episode of Money Talks, our hosts sit down with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas Account Manager Claire York, who not only understands health insurance but also understands your state health plan. Tune in to learn how your health insurance works, how premiums are determined, ways to make the most of your coverage and Claire’s tips for getting the most value from your benefits.

Helpful links

• Learn how to earn rewards with HealthSelectShoppERS
• Keep these options in mind when deciding where to get care.
• Don't forget, many preventative services are at no cost to you!
• Listen to our previous episode about the TexFlex Flexible Spending Account program
• More about choosing the right care
• Subscribe to ERS' award-winning financial newsletter: Money MattERS 
• Follow us on Instagram @ERSofTexas

ERS sits down with Kyle Caffey, vice president of the Technology Innovation Lab at Empower, to discuss navigating AI-powered tools in today’s increasingly digital landscape. 

Are you part of the 80%? Statistics show the vast majority of state employees are not taking full advantage of their TexFlex benefits, essentially leaving money on the table every month.

In this episode, we sit down with James Handy, TexFlex account executive, to demystify these powerful budgeting tools. We dive into the different types of spending accounts and uncover the surprising list of everyday items you are likely already buying that are 100% eligible for reimbursement. From routine essentials at TexFlex.com to "insider" tips for managing major expenses like orthodontia, we cover the budgeting insights you need to stop overpaying. Whether you are looking for better ways to save or just want to uncover the surprise savings you have been missing, this conversation is your guide to making your money work harder for you.

In this episode, we talk about the following resources:

Sign up for TexFlex and save money on taxes

TexFlex program resources: Get fact sheets, "How to" guides and more.

View all eligible expenses

Check out the FSA Store

In this episode, we reflect on key money tips and insights from past Money Talks conversations. We revisit the lessons that stood the test of time, the moments that shaped the year, and how those takeaways continue to influence today’s financial decisions.

Hosted by Crystal Olvera, Angelica Rivera and Erika Perez, we also look ahead, exploring the themes, topics, segments and ideas that are shaping the future of Money Talks. From fresh conversations to unexpected insights, this episode bridges where we’ve been with where we’re headed next.

In this episode, we highlighted tips from the following episodes:

• Empower Hour with Texa$aver's Mike McLellan
• Get a glimpse of future you with a Texa$aver Retirement Plan Advisor
• Get scam savvy so you don't get swindled
• Get the real deal with the ERS Discount Purchase Program
• We talk about death so you don't have to: A conversation about ERS' Optional Term Life Insurance
• What's healthcare inflation? Understanding the value of your health insurance amid rising costs

Have a story idea or topic you want us to cover? Email us at storyideas@ers.texas.gov

Celebrate the holidays with a very special guest. Hosts Suzanne, Crystal and Dani speak to Santa Claus who reveals his secret identity: Texas Department of Transportation employee Gordon Jones. Find out how Santa is sleighing the retirement game and making sure he’s not St. Nickel-less.

Helpful contacts: 

Contact the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS) by calling (877) 275-4377 (TTY: 711), Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT. If your question doesn’t need an immediate answer visit the Contact ERS webpage and submit a question to be answered over email. 

Contact a Texa$aver℠ 401(k) / 457 Program Retirement Plan Advisor (RPA) by calling (800) 634-5091 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT or schedule an appointment with an RPA. 

Mentioned in this episode: 

Purchase service credit 

Take advantage of the Texa$aver 401(k)/457 program 

What happens if you withdraw your ERS retirement? 

Learn more about Santa Gordon

We talked with Treshayla Wilson, an expert from the Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner, to get holiday spending tips on how to spend wisely, avoid scams and plan for the next holiday season! 

Mentioned in this episode: 

NerdWallet 2025 Holiday Spending Report 

Additional resources: 

Learn to use a credit card with Empower Learning 

ReportFraud.ftc.gov 

identitytheft.gov 

*title generated with help from ChatGPT

Feel empowered to save for retirement this National Retirement Security Month. Hosts Suzanne and Crystal speak to Texa$aver Retirement Plan Advisor (RPA) Mike McLellan about investing at any age, consolidating plans, a magic number to double your money and more on Empower Hour.

Mentioned in this episode:

Texa$aver.com

Schedule a meeting with a Texa$aver Retirement Plan Advisor

The magic number: Americans say they need $1.06 million to retire

Learning curve

How scattered retirement accounts can hurt your financial future 

Hosts Dani and Crystal are joined by Jeff, a member of our Specialty Operations Services team, to answer member questions found on a popular forum based social media platform.

Helpful contacts:

Contact the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS) by calling (877) 275-4377 (TTY: 711), Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT. If your question doesn’t need an immediate answer visit the Contact ERS webpage and submit a question to be answered over email.

Contact a Texa$aver℠ 401(k) / 457 Program Retirement Plan Advisor (RPA) by calling (800) 634-5091 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT or schedule an appointment with an RPA.

Helpful resources:

• Find your ERS retirement group
• Employees and survivors premium rates
• Retiree premium rates
• Withdraw Your ERS Retirement
• Know before you go – Money MattERS article

ERS' own wellbeing expert, Lacy Wolff, joins the hosts Dani, Angelica and Suzanne to discuss trends in member attitudes towards their finances, their financial stressors and helpful ERS resources.

Mentioned in the episode:

ERS Buena Vida Podcast

Buena Vida 

ERS Money Talks newsletter

Wellness webinars

Money Mindsets & the Marketing Trap with Nick Daugherty

From $40K Debt to Financial Freedom: Kari Karber's Journey

Steps to make your emergency savings fund

HealthSelect wellness resources

HealthSelect condition management programs

Texa$aver

The 89th legislative session has ended and health insurance premiums will go up September 1, which is the start of the new plan year. The hosts talk with Blaise Duran, director of group benefits at ERS. They discuss why premiums are increasing, who's affected and the ways ERS works to help keep those costs low. 

Life insurance is important for many families. That's why we want you to know exactly how it can help protect your loved one's financial security. And with Summer Enrollment coming up with the chance to add or change your coverage, it's a good time for us to talk with Securian's Lynn Gordon, who demystifies this complex and important benefit.

Covered in this episode:

• Term life insurance vs. permanent/whole life insurance
• Understanding evidence of insurability (EOI)
• The importance of naming beneficiaries
• Reevaluating the need for coverage as your life and financial situation changes
• What happens with your term life insurance when you retire and the process when you die.
• Resources

lifebenefits.com/plandesign/ers

It's not all cruises and flowers (although those are nice, too!). Beneplace's Tom Murphy talks about how to save an average of $5,000 per year on regular household items and also those big-ticket purchases. Topics include:

• Popular ways to save with the Discount Purchase Program
• Deals popular with State of Texas employees
• How shopping habits change with the economy
• The benefit of discount programs to employees and employers
• Shopping success stories
• Fun Life Rewards

Mentioned in this episode: discountprogramtxers.com

Treshayla Wilson of the Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner joins ERS' Crystal and Suzanne to talk about scams, swindles and safety. 

Hear about the top scams to avoid now, how to spot one and how to protect your personally identifiable information. Know where to go if you fall victim to a scam. 

Covered in this episode: 

• State of scams today
• How to protect yourself from scams
• Scam #1: Student/teacher login phishing scams
• Scam #2: Facebook and social media login scam
• How to protect your personally identifiable information
• Scam #3: Government/IRS impersonation scams
• Scam #4: Toll text scams
• How and why to report scams; helpful resources

Mentioned: 

Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner https://occc.texas.gov/

Federal Trade Commission https://www.ftc.gov/

The hosts Suzanne, Dani and Angelica are joined by Texa$aver Retirement Plan Advisor Nik Frye to talk about retirement planning, the value of meeting with a retirement plan advisor and what to expect during a Retirement Readiness Review. So whether your retirement is a few days or a few decades away, there's something for you in this episode.

Mentioned in this episode:

www.texasaver.com

Texa$aver dashboard

Meet with a Retirement Plan Advisor scheduling tool

Talking State of Texas Retirement with ERS Benefits Educator Jennifer Thompson

We discuss the state pension plan for groups 1, 2 and 3. Learn why your pension is valuable, how it’s calculated, things to consider when life changes and much more.

Welcome to a new way of getting your ERS financial news.