For California Public Employees and Educators

Specialized Retirement Planning
for CalSTRS and CalPERS
Members

If your retirement runs through CalSTRS, CalPERS, or a public employer, the
decisions are different, and so is the planning. We help teachers, public
employees, and their families understand their pension, coordinate their
supplemental accounts, and plan the income that follows.

Request a Consultation

Peak Solutions Financial is not affiliated with CalSTRS, CalPERS, or any government agency.

Why This Planning Is Different

Defined Benefits, Permanent Choices

Public pensions are defined benefit systems, where service credit, payout options, and sick leave conversion all shape the final benefit. Many of these choices are permanent. We help you understand them clearly before you decide.

CalSTRS

California State Teachers’ Retirement System

  • Pension review and benefit projection support
  • Service credit history review and gap identification
  • Sick leave conversion to service credit at retirement
  • Part-time, substitute, and leave of absence impact
  • District changes and service credit continuity
  • Payout option comparisons, including spousal protection
  • Defined Benefit Supplement account review
  • 403(b) and 457(b) supplemental account coordination

CalPERS

California Public Employees’ Retirement System

  • Pension review and benefit estimate support
  • Service credit review for public employees
  • Reciprocal benefit coordination across public agencies
  • Sick leave credit and retirement impact review
  • Career factor and final compensation considerations
  • Survivor benefit and beneficiary option review
  • Part-time public employment impact
  • Supplemental retirement account coordination

Supplemental Accounts and Social Security

403(b), 457(b), and Your Other Accounts

Your supplemental accounts (403(b), 457(b), IRAs, and Roth IRAs) and any Social Security benefits all need to work together with your pension. We help you understand how each piece fits, how timing affects your income and taxes, and where the gaps might be.

For a deeper look at how employer accounts work, see our Employer-Sponsored Accounts page. For turning everything into income, see Retirement Income Planning.

Who we help

  • ✔ Teachers and school staff
  • ✔ City, county, and state employees
  • ✔ Public safety personnel
  • ✔ Spouses and families of public employees
  • ✔ CalSTRS and CalPERS members at any career stage
  • ✔ Anyone facing a permanent pension election
Where This Fits

Part of The Peak Path™

Public sector planning follows the same Peak Path as every client, with the CalSTRS
and CalPERS specifics built into every step.

1

Base Camp

We start with your pension, your service credit, and your goals.

2

Map the Route

System-specific rules are mapped into your roadmap.

3

The Ascent

Your elections and accounts are put into action with full clarity.

Explore the full Peak Path™ →

Common Questions

Good to Know Before You Start

Are you affiliated with CalSTRS or CalPERS?

No. Peak Solutions Financial is not affiliated with CalSTRS, CalPERS, or any government agency. We are an independent firm that helps members understand their benefits and plan around them.

Can you tell me exactly what my pension will pay?
Your official benefit amount comes from your retirement system. What we do is help you read and understand your benefit estimate, compare your payout options, and see how the pension fits with everything else you have.
I am years away from retirement. Is it too early?
No. Service credit decisions, supplemental account contributions, and even how a district change is handled all compound over a career. The earlier you understand the system, the more options you keep open.

Ready to Start?

Ready to Understand Your Benefits?

Bring your latest benefit estimate and we will walk through it together,
in plain language, with no pressure.

Request a Consultation