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Pension Analysis

Your pension may be the largest financial decision you ever make, and many people make it without fully understanding what they are choosing. Most of those elections are permanent.
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Why It Matters

One Decision, Decades of Consequence

Pension elections are usually irreversible. Once the paperwork is submitted, the payout option and the survivor election you selected generally govern your household income for the rest of your life, and often your spouse’s life after that.

The difference between two options that look similar on a form can be substantial over a twenty or thirty year retirement, particularly when survivor protection is involved. That difference is rarely obvious from the election paperwork alone.

We walk through every option with you before anything is submitted: what each pays, what each protects, and what each means for the people who depend on you. You should understand the reasoning, not just the recommendation.

 

Working with a public sector pension? Service credit, sick leave conversion, and system-specific rules all shape the final benefit. See our dedicated CalPERS and CalSTRS pages.

What we review with you

Payout elections and what each option actually pays
Survivor benefit choices and spousal protection
Lump sum versus monthly income comparisons
Timing, and the long-term effect of retiring earlier or later
How your pension coordinates with Social Security
The beneficiary designations attached to your pension
Where This Fits

Part of The Peak Path™

A pension review sits at the heart of the early climb: knowing exactly what you have, and charting the route before any permanent decision is made.

1

Base Camp

We start by understanding your pension, your benefits, and your goals.

2

Map the Route

Your pension analysis anchors the roadmap we build.

3

The Ascent

When you decide, your elections are made with full clarity.

Explore the full Peak Path™ →

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Related Services

CalPERS Pension Review

For CalPERS members, service credit, reciprocity, and survivor options.
Learn more

CalSTRS Pension Review

For educators, service credit, sick leave conversion, and payout options.
Learn more

Retirement Income Planning

Turn savings, benefits, and accounts into reliable income designed to last.

Learn more

Common Questions

Good to Know Before You Start

When should I review my pension options?
Ideally one to two years before you plan to retire, so there is time to understand every option and coordinate the rest of your plan around it. That said, a review is valuable at any stage, even if retirement is still years away.
Do you only work with public pensions?
No. We work with both public and private pension systems. For public systems such as CalPERS and CalSTRS, we also maintain dedicated guides covering the rules specific to those programs.
What should I bring to a pension review?
Your most recent pension statement or benefit estimate is the best starting point. If you have them, bring your Social Security estimate and statements for any other retirement accounts, so we can look at the full picture together.
Can you tell me which payout option to choose?
We can show you clearly what each option pays, what it protects, and how it affects your household over time, so the choice is an informed one. The right answer depends on your health, your spouse, your other income, and your priorities, which is exactly what the conversation is for.

Ready to Start?

Before You Submit the Paperwork

Let us walk through every option together, while all of them are still
open to you.

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