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Sunday Reading - How pensions work

 

The Pension Promise


 

How pensions work

Colloquially speaking, pensions are retirement plans that result in employees receiving a fixed amount of money from their former employers during retirement, often for life (although the technical legal definition of pensions is significantly more nuanced).

Unlike “defined contribution plans” like 401(k) plans, “defined benefit plans” like pensions make it so the employer, rather than the employee, determines how much money is set aside for the plan and how it’s invested (often in stocks, bonds, and other assets). In retirement, monthly payouts include both the principal and investment earnings. Employers often use factors including salary and tenure to calculate investment amounts.

Derived from the Latin word for “payment,” pensions were the most common type of retirement plan in the US until the mid-1990s. 401(k) plans and IRAs are now the most popular options—only about 20% of workers in the US participate in pension plans today. There were roughly $69T globally managed assets in pensions as of 2024.

Also, check out ... 

> "Roman military pensions" were among the first known pensions in history. (Watch)

> Most pensions are subject to federal income taxes. (Read)

> Was the 401(k) a mistake? (Listen)

> The US states with the strongest pension plans. (View

Explore everything else we've found on Pensions

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Little-Known RMD Strategy Approved by the IRS

 

Every year, many retirees are required to pull money from their retirement accounts, even if they don’t need the money. Those withdrawals can push some into a higher bracket and inflate their Medicare premiums.

Strategic Roth conversions could flip the script—depending on your tax situation. If your advisor isn’t modeling multi-year conversions (or providing these 4 other services), your finances may be shortchanged.

Review these 5 tips to know if you should connect with a fiduciary who focuses on retirement income and tax-efficient planning.


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Remember, you're not alone with NCOFCU.org

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