Financial well-being and retirement readiness took center stage at the latest Human Resource Executive Seminar, featuring Associate Vice Chair and Associate Vice President of Human Resources Gaston Reinoso and Bauer College of Business Professor Dale Rude as keynote speakers.
Now in its second year, the Executive Seminar series is designed to enhance managerial effectiveness, broaden institutional knowledge, and support the professional development of executive-level staff. The June session — the first of 2026 — brought together 64 participants for a focused discussion on financial wellness.
“We selected this topic because, in today’s environment, preparation for the future is more important than ever,” said Reinoso. “Following a period of inflation, purchasing power has been impacted, making it critical for individuals to plan ahead.”
During his presentation, Reinoso offered a memorable visual analogy to illustrate the foundations of retirement stability. Using a three-legged stool, he invited participants to attach one leg at a time and attempt to sit, demonstrating the instability created by an incomplete foundation. Only after all three legs were in place did the stool provide adequate support.
Reinoso explained that the three “legs” represent key components of retirement security: Social Security, participation in either the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) or Optional Retirement Program (ORP), and supplemental retirement savings. Reinoso shared that approximately 42 percent of University of Houston employees currently lack this third component.
The analogy resonated with attendees. Cindy Crews, director of Parking & Transportation Services and a third-time seminar participant, described the demonstration as a powerful and effective visual.
“I had no idea you could participate in a 403(b) or 457(b) supplemental retirement plan,” Crews said. “I also noticed several people at my table using Copilot during the session to explore additional options while Gaston was speaking. It was eye-opening to learn about benefits many of us weren’t aware of.”
For University of Houston Police Department Lieutenant Federico Perez, the seminar marked his third attendance, reinforcing his commitment to continuous learning and knowledge sharing.
“The information provided is incredibly valuable and practical,” Perez said. “There were insights I hadn’t encountered before, such as Your Money Line, and others that served as important reminders. I plan to share what I learned with my team.”
Perez’s experience reflects a broader goal of the seminar series: empowering leaders to extend knowledge and resources across their teams.
“We are deeply committed to supporting the financial well-being of our staff and faculty,” said HR Executive Director Connie Kemp. “As HR leaders, we see it as our responsibility not only to educate our UH community, but also to model best practices and provide real-life examples that underscore the importance of saving for the future.”