Articles of interest

WISER PENSION CHECKLIST

WHAT WOMEN NEED TO KNOW

• Have you earned a pension(s)?
• Do you know how much your pension(s) will be?
• Do you know what happens to your pension if you change jobs?
• Do you know what happens to your pension if you retire early?
• Do you have pension information from all of your jobs?
• Do you know how much your Social Security benefit will be?

WHAT WOMEN NEED TO ASK THEMSELVES

• Have you diversified your investments?
• Do you know what the value of your investments is expected to be at retirement?
• Have you planned how you will manage payouts from an employee savings plan, such as a 401 (k) plan?
• Have you provided for ways to protect your assets, such as through life, disability income or long-term care insurance or by purchasing an annuity?

WHAT INFORMATION WOMEN NEED TO ASK THEIR SPOUSES

• Have you earned a pension(s)?
• Do you know how much the pension will be upon retirement?
• Will we receive a benefit in the event that you become disabled or die?
• Do you know how much that benefit will be?
• Will I receive a benefit if you die before me? If so, what amount?
• When are you entitled to retire and receive a full or partial pension benefit?
• Do you know whom we can talk to at work about this?
• When should we discuss our overall retirement strategy to plan for our future?
• Does your job allow you to save through a tax deferred savings plan such as a 401(k) plan or a 403 (b) account?
• Do you have an Individual Retirement Account? Am I the beneficiary?

WHAT WOMEN NEED TO ASK THEIR EMPLOYERS

• Does the company offer a pension plan? A savings plan?
• Am I eligible for the pension plan?
• Is the pension plan integrated with my Social Security benefit?
• How long does it take to earn a legal right to the pension?
• Do we have a tax deferred savings plan such as a 401(k) or a 403(b)? Does it offer employer matching contributions?
• What will the present day value of my pension if I consider changing jobs today?