The following information is accurate to the best of ETF's knowledge but should only be relied upon as guidance. You should always review the applicable statutes and rules and consult legal counsel before giving other persons the ability to act on your behalf.

Your financial power of attorney document determines the scope of your agent's authority. You may give your agent the ability to make many changes to your WRS account or limit them to a few actions.

Once your document is approved and on file, ETF will review it each time your agent makes a request. The agent’s request will be approved or denied based on the authority you have specified in the document.

The table below details how a Wisconsin financial power of attorney document may affect your WRS account. The table does not apply to out-of-state documents.

If you grant your agent general authority to act for you with respect to the following subjects: Your agent may take these actions with your WRS Account (unless your document says otherwise):

Insurance and annuities
  • Enroll in, make changes to, or cancel:
    • Health Insurance
    • Dental Insurance
    • Vision Insurance
    • Accident Plan
    • Life Insurance
  • Escrow sick leave credits

Benefits from governmental programs or civil or military service
  • Submit and sign Medicare information

Retirement plans
  • Join or cancel participation in the Variable Trust Fund
  • Request a retirement estimate and application
  • Apply for retirement benefits
  • Apply for a separation benefit
  • Change annuity options within 60 days of first annuity payment
  • Apply for disability benefits
  • Buy creditable service
  • Submit a Domestic Relations Order (DRO) or ask questions about one
  • Terminate a domestic partnership
  • Submit name, mailing address, or payment address changes
  • Update direct deposit information (the new account must be in the member’s or beneficiary’s name)

Taxes
  • Inquire about taxes
  • Change tax withholding
  • Request duplicate tax documents

If your financial power of attorney document gives your agent the ability to act as though they are you, the principal, they will be able to take all the WRS account actions listed in the table above.

WRS Account Actions Granted by Most Documents

If your financial power of attorney document was created in Wisconsin and either:

  • Grants your agent one or more general authority subjects, or
  • Gives your agent the ability to act as though they are you, the principal,

Your agent will be able to take the following actions with your WRS account:

  • Receive account information over the phone or in person
  • Request a pension verification
  • Request a duplicate Statement of Benefits
  • Request Sick Leave Account Statements
  • Request duplicate tax forms

WRS Account Actions You Must List

Most WRS account actions are covered by the general authorities listed above, or if you grant your agent the ability to act as though they are you, the principal. However, there are several actions that you must always expressly grant to your agent in your financial power of attorney document if you would like your agent to be able to take them:

  • Create or change rights of survivorship.*
  • Create or change a beneficiary designation.*
  • Waive your right to be a beneficiary of a joint survivor annuity, including a survivor benefit under a retirement plan.*
  • Waive a benefit

*An agent may not self-deal while taking these actions unless the agent is a spouse or the financial power of attorney document states otherwise. That means a non-spouse agent may not list themselves as a beneficiary, designate themselves as a survivor, or waive your right to be a beneficiary or survivor on a retirement plan to increase their own benefit.

Death of the Principal

An agent can only act on behalf of a living member. Once the member dies, the financial power of attorney terminates, and the agent can no longer take WRS account actions on behalf of the member.