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Do I Have Enough to Sell My Business?

As a business owner, you’ve spent your life’s work growing your business, taking care of employees, managing your product or service, and looking after your people. Now, you may be getting to a point where your spouse tells you you work too much. Or perhaps you’re watching the clock more than you used to, counting down the minutes until you can head home and unplug from your “boss” responsibilities.

Whatever your reasoning, if you’re starting to ask questions like, “Do I have enough to sell?” and “Will that be enough?” then it’s time to focus on you for a change.

Why Business Owners Need Specialized Financial Planning

Business owners face a unique set of financial challenges and opportunities. Whether you are a small business owner or running a large corporation, the following considerations are critical:

  • Maximizing tax efficiency
  • Choosing the most appropriate retirement account type
  • Evaluating your retirement account options
  • Managing 401(k) and pension investments
  • Considering a defined benefit plan, i.e., “pension”
  • Aligning company benefits offerings with company goals

Our team specializes in helping business owners handle these and other issues while they’re still working. During those years, we help you work through proper planning techniques to diversify your assets, reduce risk, optimize your taxes, and offer competitive benefits. All of these steps help streamline and strengthen your business at the time — but they also set you up for a successful transition into retirement or your next business opportunity.

When you do get to the point of exiting, we help you bring all of this planning together into one critical decision: whether or not you have what you need to move on from your business and into your ideal retirement, whatever that looks like for you. 

Creating a Dream Retirement

At Warren Street, we’ve helped many business owner clients over the years answer the “Do I have enough to sell?” question and develop their exit strategies accordingly. 

If you choose to work with us during your own exit process, we’ll play a key role on your professional team alongside your attorney. While your attorney looks after the legal structure of the deal, we’ll handle related asset management and tax mitigation. For example, if you’re involved in an all-cash sale with multiple payments coming in the next few years, we will discuss tax deferral opportunities to add into your transition plan. Or, if you’re struggling with a go/no-go decision, we’ll conduct scenario planning to help you make an informed choice based on your current financial situation, projected future state, and personal goals.

No matter where you are in the exit planning process, we can help evaluate your current assets, investments, estate planning, and legacy goals, so you can make a clear and confident decision on what next steps are right for you.

If this sounds like you and you’re a current Warren Street client, please mention your interest to your Lead Advisor! Or, if you’re not a client but are interested in learning how we can help, schedule a complimentary introductory call with us. We hope to hear from you and look forward to exploring how we can make your post-exit dreams a reality.

Cary Facer

Wealth Advisor, Warren Street Wealth Advisors

Investment Advisor Representative, Warren Street Wealth Advisors, LLC., a Registered Investment Advisor

The information presented here represents opinions and is not meant as personal or actionable advice to any individual, corporation, or other entity. Any investments discussed carry unique risks and should be carefully considered and reviewed by you and your financial professional. Nothing in this document is a solicitation to buy or sell any securities, or an attempt to furnish personal investment advice. Warren Street Wealth Advisors may own securities referenced in this document. Due to the static nature of content, securities held may change over time and current trades may be contrary to outdated publications. Form ADV available upon request 714-876-6200.

Update: Should I Sell Some of My Chevron Stock?

With Chevron’s (CVX) stock price hovering around $185 (as of 11/22/22), I’ve been actively calling my clients to vet their interest in selling stock to diversify their portfolios.

It’s worth noting that we’re not talking about Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) shares, which are tax advantaged. Those are generally advisable to hold onto long-term. 

But when it comes to shares of common stock, this might be the time to sell — or at least take a little off the top. It’s tempting from a psychological standpoint — i.e., recency bias — to want to stick around and see how long the stock price climbs. But you have to be willing to ask yourself the “what ifs:”

  • What if the war in Ukraine ends? 
  • What if Chevron shares go back to $100 as a result of oil prices dropping?
  • How would I feel if I held out thinking the price was going to hit $200, and it drops back to $100? 

In this blog post, we’ll unpack these questions, as well as share considerations for your decision.

How Will You Feel?

One of the most important questions to ask yourself is how you’ll feel in these what-if scenarios. Sure, Chevron’s stock price could keep going up and make you more money when you sell. But what if it doesn’t? What if the war ends and it drops to $100 overnight? Will you still be able to retire when you want to? 

We all tend to have a very short memory span. It wasn’t that long ago that the global economy was going haywire due to Covid. Chevron stock was at $59 a share, because oil wasn’t worth anything. People weren’t traveling, and there was no place to store the oil. 

If another wave of Covid hit or the war in the Ukraine ended — where would Chevron be? If the stock price plummeted back below $100, you might be kicking yourself. Or, worse, you may have to work several more years than you planned before retirement. 

What Do You Fear?

If you’re confident that you could still retire on time, even if Chevron stock went back to $100, that’s fine. But most people would rather diversify now than risk having to work another five years.  

Even if you’re confident that Chevron’s stock price will stay elevated, think about Apple and Amazon. As strong as those tech giants are, their stocks have taken big hits over the years. If employees had all their retirement savings invested in those companies, any one of those stock hits could have drastically slashed those employees’ savings and postponed their retirement dates.

Visualize the What-Ifs

If you don’t have a good sense for whether or not you could retire, it might be time to do some scenario planning. Ask your advisor to conduct a Monte Carlo analysis to help you understand different scenarios. Monte Carlo simulations essentially run hundreds of different scenarios to help you understand the probability of successfully reaching your goals (retirement or otherwise) in the midst of unknown variables. 

Another visual that can be helpful is to think of your stock in “chunks” to sell. We can help you put together a plan to sell a certain percentage of your stock over time. That way, you can still capture some of the upside if the stock continues to climb, but also protect yourself if it plummets. 

You don’t necessarily need to sell all your Chevron stock, but it’s a good idea to at least start diversifying. We would recommend putting your money to work in both the stock and bond markets and can recommend a model portfolio for you that suits your needs, timeline, and risk tolerance. Diversification is key to making sure you stay on track with your goals and can retire when you want. 

As you can tell, your decision about whether or not to sell your Chevron stock doesn’t have to be black or white. If you want to explore options, just want to talk through your situation, or would like to run a Monte Carlo simulation to help with scenario planning, we’re here to help in whatever way we can.

If you’d like to chat, please click here to schedule a complimentary consultation with me.

Len Hanson

Wealth Advisor, Warren Street Wealth Advisors

Investment Advisor Representative, Warren Street Wealth Advisors, LLC., a Registered Investment Advisor

The information presented here represents opinions and is not meant as personal or actionable advice to any individual, corporation, or other entity. Any investments discussed carry unique risks and should be carefully considered and reviewed by you and your financial professional. Nothing in this document is a solicitation to buy or sell any securities, or an attempt to furnish personal investment advice. Warren Street Wealth Advisors may own securities referenced in this document. Due to the static nature of content, securities held may change over time and current trades may be contrary to outdated publications. Form ADV available upon request 714-876-6200.

Should I Sell My Chevron Stock?

As a Chevron employee-turned-financial-advisor, I’m passionate about helping current employees plan for their retirements. With Chevron stock recently hitting a high of $170.901 (as of 03/10/2022), I’ve been hearing from a number of Chevron employees wondering if this is the time to sell. This is the highest price Chevron stock has hit in 10 years, and as the old adage goes, “Buy low, sell high!” Still, there are other considerations for Chevron employees, such as portfolio diversification and ESOP shares. 

While no one has a crystal ball to know what the market will do, here’s a summary of what I’ve been sharing with my clients to help them make an informed decision on whether or not to sell their Chevron stock.

1. Remember the value of diversification. 

When I first meet my Chevron clients, many are 100% invested in Chevron stock. Almost immediately, I will advise clients to consider the value of diversifying their portfolio. 

While Chevron has had a very good run as of late thanks to the political and economic factors beyond the company’s control, the stock has underperformed the S&P 500 (an index of 500 stocks) over the last 10 years, returning an annual 8% compared to the S&P 500’s 14.6% yearly return (data as of 4/01/2022)1

Had you diversified into one of the most simple indices like the S&P 500, you would have gained an additional 6% per year. While you probably don’t want to switch to being invested only in the S&P 500, you do want to recognize that it is possible to both reduce single stock risk and potentially increase or at least stabilize your investment return at the same time. 

2. Consider how global factors impact timing. 

But the stock’s up 40%1 this year (data as of 4/01/2022)!

That’s true, but it can also introduce recency bias into our decisions. The war in Ukraine has contributed to high oil prices, which is a primary reason Chevron stock recently shot up to $170.90 (as of 03/10/2022). We’ve seen oil prices skyrocket in the past, and more often than not they will make their way back down as political tensions ease, supply increases, and demand levels.

To remove the impact of the war (and for simplicity’s sake), let’s look at 10 year returns on 12/31/2021 (just three months ago). Chevron’s 10 year return significantly underperformed the S&P 500 at an annual 5% return compared to 16%, respectively1. The stock has certainly surged in 2022, but we encourage you to look past recency bias. 

If you’ve been considering diversifying or selling Chevron stock for a while now but haven’t gotten around to it yet, now is a great time to talk to your advisor to see if it makes sense for you.

3. Do NOT sell your ESOP shares. 

While ESOP shares are not a benefit for new employees, most employees who were hired over ten years ago most likely still have them. These shares are eligible for a special tax treatment that may be able to save you a significant amount in taxes. This tax treatment is known as Net Unrealized Appreciation, or NUA. In order to take advantage of this strategy, you must maintain the ESOP shares until your retirement date and follow a specific procedure in distributing your retirement assets. Talk to your advisor for a more detailed explanation.

It’s impossible to predict the market, but the best we can do is make informed decisions when given the opportunity. Hopefully, you’ve found this summary helpful — but please be sure to speak with a financial advisor before making a decision to sell. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me using this link here!

Len Hanson

Wealth Advisor, Warren Street Wealth Advisors

Investment Advisor Representative, Warren Street Wealth Advisors, LLC., a Registered Investment Advisor

The information presented here represents opinions and is not meant as personal or actionable advice to any individual, corporation, or other entity. Any investments discussed carry unique risks and should be carefully considered and reviewed by you and your financial professional. Nothing in this document is a solicitation to buy or sell any securities, or an attempt to furnish personal investment advice. Warren Street Wealth Advisors may own securities referenced in this document. Due to the static nature of content, securities held may change over time and current trades may be contrary to outdated publications. Form ADV available upon request 714-876-6200.

Footnotes:

  1. Data from YCharts

Could I Retire Early from Chevron?

As a financial planner whose client base is largely made up of Chevron employees and retirees, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten questions about early retirement in the last year. It seems people are enjoying the freedom of working remotely and are interested in at least exploring — if not executing on — their early retirement options. 

This is an exciting prospect but a very serious decision, so I thought it would be helpful to lay out the key considerations to help my clients and other Chevron employees weigh their options. Review the points below to help you understand your choices, and feel free to reach out to me by clicking here if you would like to discuss further!

1. Review the “Rule of 55.”

Start by giving serious thought to your current age, spouse’s age if applicable, and your target retirement age. In general, 55 is the “golden age” for Chevron employees to retire early. We refer to it as the “Rule of 55.” If you leave before that, you’ll have to leverage Rule 72(T), which isn’t advisable, as it locks you into an extremely strict distribution plan. It’s also important to note that the Rule of 55 applies only to you as the Chevron employee, not your spouse (unless his or her company offers a similar plan).

2. Weigh your pension options.

For most clients, age 50-55 is a major accumulation phase — and Chevron clients are no different. Plus, the pension for Chevron employees starts really ramping up when you turn 50. The longer you stick with the company (in general), the more you accrue these pension benefits.

3. Know where your medical benefits stand.

From day one on the job at Chevron, you start accruing eligibility for retiree medical benefits. When deciding on your retirement timing, you must consider how much you have built up — for instance, when I turned 55, I was 97% eligible for retiree medical retirement benefits. But if someone retires before 50, they receive no medical retirement benefits at all. 

In Summary

No matter when you decide to retire, it’s important to find an advisor you trust, so you can be transparent and open in your financial situation and goals. While these are important considerations, there is no hard and fast rule that says you have to retire at a certain age, life stage, or on anyone’s timeline but your own. 

Take me, for instance — I could have stayed eight months longer at Chevron for slightly higher retirement benefits, but I chose to focus on pursuing my passion of helping people at Warren Street instead. My goal with clients is to lay out the options so you can make an informed decision, knowing that ultimately the choice of when to retire is no one’s but your own.

If you’re interested in speaking further about your retirement options at Chevron and what your personal timing might look like, feel free to schedule a no-cost consultation with me at the link here

Len Hanson

Wealth Advisor, Warren Street Wealth Advisors

Investment Advisor Representative, Warren Street Wealth Advisors, LLC., a Registered Investment Advisor

The information presented here represents opinions and is not meant as personal or actionable advice to any individual, corporation, or other entity. Any investments discussed carry unique risks and should be carefully considered and reviewed by you and your financial professional. Nothing in this document is a solicitation to buy or sell any securities, or an attempt to furnish personal investment advice. Warren Street Wealth Advisors may own securities referenced in this document. Due to the static nature of content, securities held may change over time and current trades may be contrary to outdated publications. Form ADV available upon request 714-876-6200.

How Interest Rates Impact Your Chevron Pension

Rising interest rates have been a hot topic in the financial press, and many of my clients are wondering what the impact will be on their Chevron pension — specifically, their lump sum. 

As a retired Chevron employee, I understand these concerns firsthand! I monitored rates extraordinarily closely myself until I retired five years ago. The lump sum option is a great one for many people, but it is massively influenced by interest rates. Even a single percentage change in interest rates can dramatically impact your lump sum number via an inverse relationship. That is to say, as interest rates increase, your lump sum lessens. And as interest rates decrease, your lump sum grows. 

This gives you the potential to walk away with a large lump sum when you retire, but it also comes with the risk and emotional drain of fluctuating interest rates. One of my clients, for example, saw his lump sum drop from $1,080,000 to $1,040,000 in a 30-day period. Changes like that can be hard to swallow, and it’s particularly disconcerting when you don’t know how long these rate spikes will last. 

At Warren Street, we follow the tier 3 rates (the IRS segment Chevron uses to calculate your lump sum) extremely closely, so we can help you run projections for your specific case. Everyone’s situation is different, so I encourage you to give me a call if you are nervous at all, regardless of your current lump sum or retirement time horizon. However, in general:

  • If you’re thinking about retiring in the next 12-24 months or so, it might be a good time. Let’s run the numbers and see.
  • If you’re looking at two to five years or more for retirement, these interest rate spikes may not affect you. When they go back down, your lump sum will rise back up. Age and service credits will also help make up the difference from any interest rate changes.

If you’re finding yourself talking to your friends, coworkers, spouse, or others about this topic, give me a call — I will help you run the numbers so you can make an informed decision. The question of, “Do I have enough?” is never an easy one, and I’m here to help you understand all your options with data-driven insights so you can make the best choice for your family.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions,

Does PG&E’s Recent Bankruptcy Announcement Scare You?

Here Are The Things All Employees Should Be Aware of Regardless of Where You Work

By Justin D. Rucci, CFP® 

As many of you are likely aware, PG&E recently announced a bankruptcy filing as the result of roughly $30B in potential liabilities stemming from recent California wildfires. Regardless of whether or not you work for a public utility, it is only natural to have questions around what to expect or what precautions you should be taking with your own money. With that said, below are some items you will want to remain cognizant of should more wildfires occur or things change.

Things to Think About:

401k

While your 401(k) account is technically “tied” to your employer, your contributions and vested matching contributions will not be at creditor risk should your company go bankrupt. As part of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974(ERISA), your 401(k) assets are required by law to be held in trust separate from the company. This means the assets are not commingled with the company’s general operating funds and are not accessible to the company should they need operating capital or funds to pay creditors. Your investments within the 401(k) are always subject to your own investment risk, so be sure to contact Warren Street Wealth Advisors if you would like guidance on the plan’s investment options.

Pension

Pension plans are another common concern for those worried about their company potentially filing for bankruptcy. Luckily ERISA comes into play here as well. As part of the enacting of ERISA, a government agency titled the Pension Benefit & Guaranty Corp.(PBGC) was formed. This agency is designed to step in to pay benefits should a private pension plan fall to bankruptcy. This agency will step in to pay receipt of your pension benefits at normal retirement age, annuity benefits to your survivors, disability benefits, and most early retirement benefits. The PBGC will not however pay for severance packages, vacation pay, or similar benefits. While benefits are guaranteed by the PBGC, they do enforce limits on what is covered by the agency, meaning it is possible that you would not necessarily receive your entire benefit. Maximum benefit guarantees can vary, but more information is available on the PBGC website here.

Retirement

How should you time your retirement if you are worried about your company going bankrupt? The short answer is, you probably shouldn’t dictate your retirement decision based solely on the possibility of a corporate bankruptcy. While the possibility of benefits being cut and severance package offerings are very real for companies that are struggling financially, often times it makes sense to take an individualized approach to analyze the situation before making a rash decision on retirement. Pension plans may change from a defined benefit annuity stream to a cash balance “lump sum” in some cases, but this does not necessarily mean it is time to retire. I would recommend speaking to an advisor should you have questions about your specific company and situation to determine what the best course of action may be for you.

What Should I Do?

For those interested in learning more about retirement and would like to meet with professional advisors, Warren Street Wealth Advisors hosts many events throughout the year. You can view our upcoming events here.

If you have any questions, contact info@warrenstreetwealth.com or call 714-876-6200. We are well versed in interpreting company benefits and are happy to talk through any of your questions or concerns.


Justin D. Rucci, CFP®
Wealth Advisor
Warren Street Wealth Advisors

 

 

 

Justin is an Investment Advisor Representative of Warren Street Wealth Advisors, a Registered Investment Advisor. The information contained herein does not involve the rendering of personalized investment advice but is limited to the dissemination of general information. A professional advisor should be consulted before implementing any of the strategies or options presented.

Any investments discussed carry unique risks and should be carefully considered and reviewed by you and your financial professional. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. All investment strategies have the potential for profit or loss. Changes in investment strategies, contributions or withdrawals may materially alter the performance, strategy, and results of your portfolio. Historical performance results for investment indexes and/or categories, generally do not reflect the deduction of transaction and/or custodial charges or the deduction of an investment-management fee, the incurrence of which would have the effect of decreasing historical performance results. Economic factors, market conditions, and investment strategies will affect the performance of any portfolio and there are no assurances that it will match or outperform any particular benchmark. Nothing in this commentary is a solicitation to buy, or sell, any securities, or an attempt to furnish personal investment advice. We may hold securities referenced in the blog and due to the static nature of the content, those securities held may change over time and trades may be contrary to outdated posts.

 

Sources

https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/your-pension-when-the-unexpected-happens/

https://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/on-retirement/2010/12/14/what-happens-to-my-pension-if-my-company-goes-bankrupt-

Rate Watch 2018 – August

Rate Watch 2018 – August – SCE Grandfathered Pension

August’s rate is typically used for Edison’s official grandfathered pension plan interest rate. Where did it land, and how does that impact your pension?

Welcome to another edition of Rate Watch as we track the interest rate that is vital to the grandfathered pension at Southern California Edison.

The most important month of the year for grandfathered pension holders is upon us. August is typically used to set the grandfathered pension interest rate for the following plan year. Let’s take a look at where the rate it at:

These are not current plan rates for Southern California Edison’s pension plan, they are minimum present value third segment rates from the IRS. Official plan rates are derived from the minimum present value segment rates table (https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/minimum-present-value-segment-rates). Plan rate changes are made by Southern California Edison on an annual basis.

August came in at 4.46 and 0.10 higher than the current plan rate. Very simply, this means that your lump sum payout value will be higher with the 2018 plan value as opposed to the 2019 value.

Again, simply put, if you are grandfathered and thinking about retiring soon, then it might be in your best interest to retire and take the 2018 value to get a higher lump sum payout.

Since the difference in potential rates is small, the change in value is probably not great enough to heavily influence a decision to retire now or continue working, but it is something that should be capitalized on if retirement is on the horizon.

If you are unsure on how to request your paperwork or the timing to make sure you receive the 2018 pension rate, then contact us for a free retirement consultation, and we can show you how you can retire with confidence.

Contact Us


WSWA Team Compressed-19-squareJoe Occhipinti
Wealth Advisor
Warren Street Wealth Advisors

 

 


Warren Street Wealth Advisors, a Registered Investment Advisor. The information contained herein does not involve the rendering of personalized investment advice but is limited to the dissemination of general information. A professional advisor should be consulted before implementing any of the strategies or options presented. 
Any investments discussed carry unique risks and should be carefully considered and reviewed by you and your financial professional. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. All investment strategies have the potential for profit or loss. 

 

Case Study: Retire Early, Without Penalty

Case Study – Retire Early, Without Penalty

Learn how we helped a client retire early, without penalty, move out-of-state, and get their desired income level by constructing a strong financial plan.

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Download Case Study: Retire Early, Without Penalty

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Contact Us


Blake StreetBlake Street CFA, CFP®
Founding Partner
Chief Investment Officer
Warren Street Wealth Advisors

Blake Street is an Investment Advisor Representative of Warren Street Wealth Advisors, a Registered Investment Advisor. The information contained herein does not involve the rendering of personalized investment advice but is limited to the dissemination of general information. A professional advisor should be consulted before implementing any of the strategies or options presented.

Any investments discussed carry unique risks and should be carefully considered and reviewed by you and your financial professional. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. All investment strategies have the potential for profit or loss. Changes in investment strategies, contributions or withdrawals may materially alter the performance, strategy, and results of your portfolio. Historical performance results for investment indexes and/or categories, generally do not reflect the deduction of transaction and/or custodial charges or the deduction of an investment-management fee, the incurrence of which would have the effect of decreasing historical performance results. Economic factors, market conditions, and investment strategies will affect the performance of any portfolio and there are no assurances that it will match or outperform any particular benchmark. Nothing in this commentary is a solicitation to buy, or sell, any securities, or an attempt to furnish personal investment advice. We may hold securities referenced in the blog and due to the static nature of the content, those securities held may change over time and trades may be contrary to outdated posts.

 

Rate Watch 2018 – July

Rate Watch 2018 – July

We are only a couple month away from the August segment rate announcement. Where could rates land for SCE grandfathered pension holders as we head into the fall?

Welcome to another edition of Rate Watch as we track the interest rate that is vital to the grandfathered pension at Southern California Edison. If you’ve missed any of our previous articles, you can find them here:

Rate Watch 2018 – May & June
Rate Watch 2018 – April
Rate Watch 2018 – March
Rate Watch 2018 – February

June’s posting puts us 2 months away from August’s rate which is typically used by Southern California Edison for the grandfathered pension plan. If you are eyeballing retirement soon, then it is essential to understand where the rate is now and where it could be going. Here is the latest:

chart

*These are not current plan rates for Southern California Edison’s pension plan, they are minimum present value third segment rates from the IRS. Official plan rates are derived from the minimum present value segment rates table (https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/minimum-present-value-segment-rates) . Plan rate changes are made by Southern California Edison on an annual basis.

July at 4.60 puts us nearly 25 points above the current plan rate and would drive your current lump sum value down if you took your pension in 2019.

Nominally, nothing has really changed month-to-month, but there has also not been much going on that would drastically press the rates higher over the time period. The most important thing to note would be inflation slowly on the rise as we continue to be in an environment of historically low rates.

For those in the grandfathered pension plan and who believe they are on the brink of retirement, it is more important now than ever to begin putting a plan in place and seeing what your retirement looks like. Knowing how your assets weigh against your liabilities, how much you might need every year in retirement, and if you have the assets to accomplish everything you want are important answers to have before you have your final day of work.

If the official rate was announced today, then it may make sense to take your pension in the current plan year due to the fact that as rates increase, lump sum values decrease.

If you are just unsure of what your retirement looks like, then feel free to contact us for a free phone call or meeting. We have helped 100’s of SCE employees retire and numerous grandfathered pension holders weigh their options out to give themselves the best possible outcome and start to retirement.

Contact Us


WSWA Team Compressed-19-squareJoe Occhipinti
Wealth Advisor
Warren Street Wealth Advisors

 

 


Warren Street Wealth Advisors, a Registered Investment Advisor. Information contained herein does not involve the rendering of personalized investment advice, but is limited to the dissemination of general information. A professional advisor should be consulted before implementing any of the strategies or options presented. 
Any investments discussed carry unique risks and should be carefully considered and reviewed by you and your financial professional. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. All investment strategies have the potential for profit or loss. 

 

Rate Watch 2018 – May & June

Rate Watch 2018 – May & June

Heading into the summer, what do segment rates look like and how could that impact grandfathered pension holders?

Welcome to another edition of Rate Watch as we track the interest rate that is vital to the grandfathered pension at Southern California Edison. If you’ve missed any of our previous articles, you can find them here:

Rate Watch 2018 – April
Rate Watch 2018 – March
Rate Watch 2018 – February
Rate Watch 2018 – January

The IRS posting in June will give us the segment rate for May 2018, which puts us at only a couple readings away from the official rate announcement for the grandfathered pension in the fall. Let’s take a look at where rates are at currently:

*These are not current plan rates for Southern California Edison’s pension plan, they are minimum present value third segment rates from the IRS. Official plan rates are derived from the minimum present value segment rates table (https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/minimum-present-value-segment-rates) . Plan rate changes are made by Southern California Edison on an annual basis.

*These are not current plan rates for Southern California Edison’s pension plan, they are minimum present value third segment rates from the IRS. Official plan rates are derived from the minimum present value segment rates table (https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/minimum-present-value-segment-rates) . Plan rate changes are made by Southern California Edison on an annual basis.

You may have noticed that we skipped April , but the reading from March to April was actually flat at 4.43. At that time, we still consider it early to make a decision based off of rates, but we have seen a larger move from April to May.

May’s number of 4.58, 3 months away from the official SCE rate announcement, begins to move the conversation towards retirement in the current plan year. A nearly quarter percent increase paints a much stronger picture for grandfathered pension holders to retire in the current year versus 2019 granted that they are retirement ready.

Interest rate increases were driven by a strong 10 year Treasury rate and inflation slowly on the rise. Coupled with the Fed continuing to monitor the economy, small increases in the rate across the summer are plausible as we head towards the fall.

As always, if the official plan rate for Southern California Edison grandfathered pension holders increases, then the value of their pensions decrease. It is imperative to weigh the current year plan value versus the following year plan value when it comes to your retirement. While your pension value shouldn’t be the only variable when it comes to deciding if you’re ready for retirement, it is one that should be taken into account and can make a difference.

Are you worried about your retirement plans or concerned with how to handle your pension or 401(k)? Maybe you’re just unsure on how the transition to retirement works. We’ve helped countless Southern California Edison employees plan for retirement, and we can help you plan too.

Contact us for a free retirement planning session or portfolio analysis. Our free session over the phone or at our office gives you the opportunity to get your retirement questions answered and learn how we help our clients reach their retirement goals.

Contact Us


WSWA Team Compressed-19-squareJoe Occhipinti
Wealth Advisor
Warren Street Wealth Advisors

 

 


Joe Occhipinti is an Investment Advisor Representative of Warren Street Wealth Advisors, a Registered Investment Advisor. Information contained herein does not involve the rendering of personalized investment advice, but is limited to the dissemination of general information. A professional advisor should be consulted before implementing any of the strategies or options presented.

Any investments discussed carry unique risks and should be carefully considered and reviewed by you and your financial professional. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. All investment strategies have the potential for profit or loss. Changes in investment strategies, contributions or withdrawals may materially alter the performance, strategy, and results of your portfolio.Historical performance results for investment indexes and/or categories, generally do not reflect the deduction of transaction and/or custodial charges or the deduction of an investment-management fee, the incurrence of which would have the effect of decreasing historical performance results.Economic factors, market conditions, and investment strategies will affect the performance of any portfolio and there are no assurances that it will match or outperform any particular benchmark. Nothing in this commentary is a solicitation to buy, or sell, any securities, or an attempt to furnish personal investment advice. We may hold securities referenced in the blog and due to the static nature of content, those securities held may change over time and trades may be contrary to outdated posts.