Benefiting you

2 Stay in touch 8 Spotlight on … Sohio Old Boys 4 Health moment: Forgetfulness and what 10 Lighten your debt,

glance you can do to keep your brighten your mood mind sharp contents

2 Stay in touch

4 Health moment: Forgetfulness and what you can do to keep your mind sharp

6 A new way to contact Advocacy – direct! Stay in touch

7 License to chill: Make a plan by Rick Dorazil, VP, Total Reward, Western Hemisphere to handle stress One of my favorite aspects of my job is connecting 8 Spotlight on … Sohio Old Boys with BP employees and retirees from around the world. Regardless of where they work(ed) or their position at BP, 10 Lighten your debt, their common history and shared sense of pride is always brighten your mood inspiring to me.

12 Shrink your spare tire, stretch In this month’s issue of Benefiting you, we highlight your retirement income a group of retirees from legacy Standard Oil of Ohio. 14 A way to potentially save on From eight members in the 1980s to 300 now, this income taxes in retirement: group takes pleasure in remembering their contributions Roth in-plan conversion to BP and is excited to share what they’re doing now. They’re reconnecting with BP, renewing friendships and 15 Calendar notes connections with former colleagues, and building new friendships along the way. This group is also using the power of email to keep in touch with friends and former We want to hear from you colleagues throughout the U.S. and abroad. If you have a story you’d like to I encourage you to stay in touch with your former share with us about yourself or BP colleagues and to forge new friendships with other another BP retiree, send us an email BP retirees. You can start by reaching out to us at at becomingahealthieryou@bp.com. [email protected].

2 Get connected

3 Health moment: Forgetfulness and what you can do to keep your mind sharp

4 Forgetfulness is a normal part of aging. Our bodies change as we age, including our brain. As you grow older, you may notice that it takes longer to learn new things, you can’t remember information the way you once did, or you misplace things, like your glasses, more often.

Many memory problems are related to treatable health issues. So, what can you do to jog your memory and get your brain in gear? Lower your stress • Eating poorly – eating too much or too little of certain foods – slows you down, One of the top causes of memory problems makes you drowsy and affects your ability is depression. When you’re depressed, you’re to concentrate. less able to concentrate, which makes it hard to remember new information and slows down –  Sugary foods lead to ups and downs in your ability to retrieve memories. The confusion energy, rather than keeping you steady. and forgetfulness you feel will usually go away –  Foods high in saturated fat, like potato as your stressors fade or you’re better able to chips, make it more difficult to concentrate. cope with them. –  Eating too much or too little before bed Eat healthfully makes it harder to sleep, which can have a big impact over time. Did you know that what you eat affects your mind as much as your body? –  Skipping breakfast makes it difficult to think clearly and makes you less productive. • Eating the right foods can improve your Your best bet for a healthy breakfast is one mood, help you think clearly, keep you that combines carbohydrates and protein to alert, and improve your concentration and fuel your brain and help you feel energized attention span. all morning.

This nutrient … Helps with … Look for it in …

Complex Energy for your mind Whole grains, breads, pasta, fruit and carbohydrates starchy vegetables

Protein Stimulating your brain Eggs, meats, nuts, dairy and soy products

Fatty acids Maintaining a healthy brain Unsaturated fats, which are found in fish, and nervous system corn oil and walnuts

Iron Normal activity levels and Meat, kidney beans, whole-wheat bread, attention spinach, egg yolks, carrots and raisins

Calcium Your mood Dairy products, broccoli and cauliflower

Vitamin C Preserving memory Fresh fruits and vegetables

Zinc Improving memory, Fish, beef and soybeans reasoning and motor skills

Magnesium Concentration Nuts, leafy vegetables, meat and fish

5 Don’t forget the importance of other A new way to contact healthy habits: • See your doctor on a regular basis – for Advocacy – direct! annual exams and age-appropriate screenings – he/she can often detect small changes 1-800-797-5847 in your overall health, including your BP Advocacy is still available to assist you mental health. with challenging plan aspects, but now • Get regular exercise. Exercise improves you can reach them directly by calling a blood flow to your brain. new toll-free number at 1-800-797-5847. As usual, you can also still contact • Avoid tobacco. Smoking decreases blood Advocacy through the BP Benefits Center. flow to your brain. • Control your blood pressure. High blood The Advocacy team is available to: pressure can cause memory problems and • Address access to care, claims and other affect your problem-solving abilities. issues that are not eligibility related. • Get enough sleep. Being tired affects • Work with health plans to ensure claims your memory. are processed with all pertinent facts. • Use non-prescription medicines carefully. • Work with providers and collection It’s a good idea to talk with your doctor agencies to resolve issues. about all the medications you take – • Explain health plan’s claim response. prescription and non-prescription – to ensure that the dosages and combinations • Assist in understanding health plan are appropriate. It’s critical that you never requests for further claim-related stop taking a prescription medication information. without first talking with your doctor. • Explain claim appeal procedures in certain situations. Use it or lose it: Train your brain! • Create a system to keep your life – and your brain – organized. Plan your time, use notes and calendars, and make to-do lists to help you stay focused. • Make time to learn new things and try new activities, which can improve your ability to focus and help increase your attention span. Your advocate is a benefits expert that • Play mind games like Scrabble, crossword will help you resolve health care and other puzzles, and word jumbles. benefit issues promptly and fairly within the terms of your plan, and will stay with you until your issue is resolved.

The Advocacy Service is provided to you free of charge.

6 License to chill: Make a plan to handle stress

Life can be busy. It can be hard to juggle it all – work, family, friends. Some stress is normal. It can even be energizing and help keep you motivated and excited. But too much stress can take a big toll on your emotional and physical health. It’s important to find the right balance. What’s in your stress-busting toolkit? We can’t control what causes stress, but we can control how we react to it. Take the time now to think about what helps ease your stress and allows you to enjoy life. Here are a few ideas:

• Breathe. Simple as it may sound, many people don’t remember to breathe. This is especially important if you’re feeling stressed. Proper breathing helps your whole body relax and takes away some of the negative effects of stress. • Exercise. Try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise at least three times a week. It’ll help you reduce stress and also keep your body in shape. • Laugh. A sense of humor can go a long way. First, start with a simple smile, and then move it into laughter. You may be surprised that you feel more relaxed and less stressed. • Sleep. Getting a good night’s sleep can change your outlook on things. Ideally, you should get eight hours of sleep each night. When you sleep, your body restores itself. Getting enough sleep gives you physical and mental energy, allows you to think clearly, and helps you better cope with stress. • Eat right. A healthy and balanced diet can counteract the impact of stress by lowering blood pressure and making sure your immune system is strong. • Prioritize. Is your family’s weekly calendar overwhelming? Learn to say “no” if you find your nights and weekends overscheduled with activities. • De-clutter. It can be hard to relax if you’re surrounded by a messy house and overrun by clutter. Make a list of a few key items that could make a difference in your household, and tackle these items daily. • Volunteer. Helping others feels good. It’s also a way to explore new skills, meet new people, and even spend time with your family. Meet stress head-on The tips here are great ways to minimize stress and help you cope with it, but they’re no substitute for tackling what’s actually causing your stress. If you’re finding it difficult to get stress under control, consider seeking professional help. Mental health services are covered by most BP Medical Plan options. 7 IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Spotlight on … Sohio Old Boys

In fall 2011, we told you about the Indiana breakfast club of Standard Oil and Amoco retirees and spouses. Now it’s time to meet the Sohio Old Boys! This group of BP and Standard Oil of Ohio retirees call themselves the SOBs for short, because … well, as Russell Fritz puts it, “Why not?”

Reconnecting with BP and each other Their shared history with BP gives this group of people a lot in common, so they find it pretty easy to make new connections. “It’s always fun,” Jack McKinnie told us. “We have lots of people from central engineering, marketing, research, people I’ve worked with and other people I didn’t work with, but we share the experience.”

Group members use their monthly lunch meetings as an opportunity to talk about what they’ve been doing since they’ve retired. “Most Sohioans look back fondly,” Stan Fairchild says. “We took pleasure and pride in what we did. And we’re interested in sharing updates in our lives – so we do.” Some have shared their experiences with working in the UK and with building the oil pipeline in Alaska. “There’s no program,” says Russ. “Anyone who wants to get up and say anything can talk. We talk about things that are of interest to us.”

According to Stan, it’s about “catching up with people we see all the time and renewing old friendships and connections. Some people reconnect at luncheons after 20+ years.”

Ladies welcome Of course, these days, it’s not just guys in the Sohio Old Boys – ladies are welcome to join too. Stan reports that a group of women who have recently returned to the U.S. from the UK have joined the group and are very active. Female retirees, spouses and even company couples have been welcomed to the group in recent years.

8 It’s an east side meets west side Stan says, “I’ve been working with computers kind of event since sophomore year in college. But we’re not social media experts. So email provides The group meets monthly and alternates their a nice forum for us to exchange personal meetings between a Holiday Inn restaurant updates and information of interest.” on the west side of Cleveland and a restaurant on the east side of town. There are distinct In addition to meeting reminders, Russ sends east side and west side groups, with a core out a recap of each month’s meeting, along group that commits to making the trek to with messages from other Sohioans with either side of town! stories about their new jobs, vacation pictures, recaps of outings with other Sohioans, and A growing group even obituaries. The Sohio Old Boys started in the mid-80s Russ tells us, “People have forwarded with six to eight members. These days, there emails to people who they think would are about 300 members of the group, with be interested … East Coast, West Coast, anywhere from 15 to 35 members meeting even internationally.” for lunch each month. And, as Russ jokes, “Everybody talks, nobody listens!” Stan What’s the secret to their success? described the first meeting of the Sohio Old Boys he attended as being a nice group So why has the Sohio Old Boys group lasted of about 20 people, about 15 or so he for so many years and grown so successfully? already knew. That’s easy! “It’s the camaraderie,” says Jack McKinnie. “We all have something Now the group is a great way to meet new in common.” people too. According to Russ, “I worked in engineering, but I now know many people Special thanks to Stan Fairchild, Russell Fritz and Jack McKinnie from all over the company – accounting, marketing, legal, engineering. I made lots of new friends.”

Email keeps this group in touch The group credits Russell Fritz, who retired in 1986 and joined the group that same year, with helping to take the SOBs “to the next level.” Russ began collecting email addresses from the group about six years ago and sends reminders to the group. What started as 50 names has grown into 298. Says Stan, “Even though BP doesn’t have a large presence in Cleveland anymore, and there are no longer younger people joining the workforce here, our group has grown because of emails and word of mouth.”

9 Lighten your debt, brighten your mood

10 Debt in America is a • Don’t deny it. People are often ashamed growing problem, made of being in debt. But if you’re in financial worse by a sagging trouble, nothing will change until you economy. The mounting admit the situation and make a plan to pressure to pay bills is transform your financial life. Sometimes, leading to an increase in debt-prompted, just discussing your problems and concerns stress-related illness, say experts and with friends or family can help you put surveys. The link between debt and stress them into perspective and give you insights is so common that it’s been given a name: into ways to deal with them. debt-stress syndrome. • Consolidate your debt. Transfer Stress can cause physical symptoms like outstanding credit card balances to heartburn, headaches and abdominal pains, lower-rate cards. If you don’t or can’t do and psychological symptoms like depression, this, pay off your highest interest rate insomnia and anxiety. Stress lowers your card first. Paying just a little more than body’s immune defenses. The cumulative the minimum balance can make a big effect of long-term stress is an increased risk difference in how quickly you pay off of disease and infection. The true cost the balance. of debt isn’t the interest rate you’re paying on credit cards; it’s the toll that type of financial • Request your credit report. Credit burden takes on your life and your health. reporting agencies are required to provide If you’re stressed about money and debt, one free credit report each year. Go to it might be time to take action to put your www.experian.com, www.equifax.com finances in order and say goodbye to financial or www.transunion.com. stress. Here are some tips that can help: • Get help and help yourself. If you need • If you’re spending more than you make, help, talk with a financial advisor. Free stop immediately! Credit cards make it help is available through the National easy to spend more than you earn. And Foundation for Credit Counseling. To find the “minimum balance trap” (paying only their nearest location, call 1-800-388-2227 the balance due each month) makes it or go to www.nfcc.org. even easier to slip into serious debt. Credit • Avoid temptation. Cancel your old credit card companies make their money from cards so you won’t be tempted to use interest payments, so they set the monthly them again. And leave them at home minimum payments low so it will take you unless you really need years to pay off the balance. them. Opt out of new • Start tracking your typical expenses credit card offers by for one month to find out where your calling 1-888-5OPTOUT. money is going. Include other annual expenses – such as potential car and home repairs, vacations, gifts, etc. – and divide by 12 to get a monthly amount. Compare your monthly expenses to your monthly income. If you have a shortfall, look for places to shave expenses. 11 Shrink your spare tire, stretch your retirement income No matter how old you are, good health is critical to a productive and fulfilling life. And in retirement, good health just might be your most important asset.

As we age, the mental and financial costs associated with poor nutrition, being overweight and out of shape, or other lifestyle choices can really add up. The good news is that many of the most common conditions among older Americans, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and orthopedic ailments, are often preventable or manageable with proper diet and exercise. So, making small changes today can help you stretch your retirement income to last a lifetime. Think of them as investments in your future. Consider this:

• You’ll need significant savings to cover basic health care. Retired elderly couples will need about $250,000 in savings to pay for basic medical care over the rest of their lifetimes.1 And that’s not factoring in the cost of a lengthy illness.

• Carrying around a spare tire is expensive. Almost 10% of U.S. medical costs are attributed to obesity. It’s estimated that obese people spend 41% more on medical costs and 80% more on prescription drugs than people of normal weight.2

• Approximately 50% of people age 65 and older have or will develop diabetes.3 For every dollar a healthy person spends on health care, it’s estimated that a diabetic person will spend $2.30.4

Taking steps to improve your nutrition fitness, and mental well-being could mean more money in your wallet today and lower health care costs in the future – making your retirement savings last longer.

1 National Coalition on Health Care 3 http://www.diabetesmadeeasier.com 2 Health Day News, November 28, 2011 4 http://www.diabetes.org/advocate/resources/cost-of-diabetes.html

12 Small steps. Big rewards. Improving or maintaining your health doesn’t have to mean radical lifestyle changes or spending a lot of money. In fact, some of the most beneficial lifestyle changes are free.

• Get an annual physical exam. It’s one of the easiest ways to stay healthy because it can identify potential problems early when they’re easier (and less expensive) to treat. And it’s free! All BP medical plans cover annual medical exams and associated lab tests at 100% – with no copays, coinsurance or deductibles! If it’s been more than a year since your last annual physical, make an appointment today!

• Hit the sack. Getting 7 – 10 hours of uninterrupted sleep every night helps you maintain a healthy weight, boosts your energy and metabolism, and improves your mood and concentration.

• Drink up. Whether it’s eight glasses a day or one ounce per pound of body weight, the bottom line is that most of us need to drink more water. This is especially true if you live in a dry climate, are physically active, and/or sweat a lot.

• Eat your fruits and veggies. Very few people get the Drink your way to recommended five to nine servings a day. In addition to fruits better nutrition and vegetables, a healthy diet includes legumes, whole grains, If it’s hard for you to low-fat protein, and foods rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty eat enough fruits and acids. Limit junk food and if you’re trying to lose weight, vegetables, try juicing. steer clear of diets that deprive you of important nutrients It’s an easy way to and usually set you up to gain weight once you resume a get a variety of fruits normal eating pattern. and vegetables in • Ease into exercise. Arguably the single best way to stay your diet, and absorb healthy is to get some kind of daily exercise – no gym all their nutrients. If membership or expensive equipment required. Walking, biking, you’re overweight or mowing the lawn, and gardening don’t cost a thing – except have diabetes, high the calories you’ll burn doing them. Aim for 30 minutes a day, blood pressure, or five days a week. If you haven’t been exercising, consult high cholesterol, limit your doctor first and start slow by walking for 5-minutes. fruit juices (except for Add 1-minute each day until you reach your 30-minute goal. lemons and limes) in favor of vegetables. • Build social capital. The connections we build when we spend time with neighbors, friends, and family are almost more important than financial capital. Your relationships play a larger role in your health and happiness than your wealth does. Be positive, outgoing, and an active member of your community.

• Exercise your brain and stay social. Dementia is highly common in the elderly. Engaging in stimulating activities and hobbies and socializing with others will keep your brain sharp and reduce your risk of dementia.

13 A way to potentially save on income taxes in retirement: Roth in-plan conversion

Do you want to potentially reduce future income taxes? What about keeping more of what you earn on your BP savings plan investments?

Consider a Roth in-plan conversion Before you decide – what to As a participant in a BP savings plan, you ask yourself can potentially earn tax-free income and There are two key questions to consider take tax-free withdrawals through a Roth before converting your eligible savings plan 401(k) account (provided you meet certain assets into Roth assets. The decision to take requirements).* advantage of a Roth in-plan conversion is one you should make carefully and only after Now, with a Roth consulting your tax advisor. in-plan conversion, you can convert certain BP Do you expect to pay higher taxes savings plan assets into in the future? Roth 401(k) assets. If you think that taxes will be higher or that Examples of assets eligible for you will be in a higher tax bracket after you a Roth conversion retire, or if you plan to leave a substantial amount of your retirement assets to your Generally, you can only convert assets that heirs, you may want to consider a Roth would be eligible for in-service withdrawal. conversion. This is because you may pay Some examples include: lower taxes now than if you wait until retirement to begin taking taxable withdrawals. • Before-tax contributions if you are over age 59½. Do you have a long investment • After-tax contributions. time frame? • Vested portions of your company match Generally, the potential benefits of conversion based on the rules below: are greater the longer your money stays – If you have participated in this plan for in the Roth 401(k) account. A Roth in-plan five years or more, your entire company conversion may not make sense if your time matching contribution balance. horizon is less than five years, as amounts withdrawn may be subject to a 10% penalty. – If you have participated in this plan for less than five years, only the portion Next steps of your company matching contribution that has been in the plan for at least Contact BP Retirement Services at Fidelity two years. at 1-877-272-3334 for further details. • Rollover contributions from a former *A distribution from a Roth 401(k) is federally tax-free and penalty-free, provided the five-year aging requirement has been satisfied and at employer into the BP savings plan. least one of the following conditions is met: you reach age 59½, suffer a disability, terminate employment after reaching age 55, or die.

14 July 4 Calendar Independence Day closures: • BP Benefits Center notes • BP Retirement Services at Fidelity • BP myHR Service Center • Aetna • MetLife

July 27 London 2012 Olympics begin

July

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The information contained in this newsletter has been provided by BP and is the sole responsibility of BP.

Where an article in this newsletter refers to a BP benefit program, the reference is generally to the BP program applicable to the majority of BP employees on U.S. dollar payrolls. However, in some cases, a program may not apply to every reader of the newsletter. For example, eligibility for the program may be limited based on employee classification (such as full- and part-time employees) or based on other criteria.

Benefiting you is presented for informational purposes only. It isn’t intended to constitute a promise or contractual commitment by the company. The company reserves the right to change or terminate any or all of its employee benefit plans and programs at any time and without prior notice. If, in our efforts to make the information easy to understand, reference to a relevant plan provision has been omitted or misstated, the relevant plan document, plan summary or prospectus will nonetheless govern. Employees covered by collective bargaining agreements will be subject to these benefit plan provisions to the extent consistent with the terms of BP’s policy and benefit programs, the applicable collective bargaining agreement and any applicable legal guidelines. JUNE12/MEDICARE