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Working with Pensions
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ImageWhen it comes to pensions, there are many different types.  Regardless, a pension is a retirement plan offered by the employer, which may or may not be included in a part of salary or benefit plans.  We wanted to provide some information about different pensions, helping you choose the best plan for your particular needs.
Defined Contribution

This type of pension plan is where each participant is provided with an individual account.  There are a number of benefits in this situation, which are based on the amount of money going into the plan.  Other factors that impact the plan include any gains or losses, expenses, and income.  The thing to remember with pensions such as this is that once you reach retirement, there is no guarantee on the exact amount of money received.  Pensions that fall under this category include profit sharing, 401k, 403b, and employee stock ownership.  A number of benefits are associated with this plan to include:
  • Choosing the amount to be saved
  • Medium for tax deferred savingsEasy concept
  • Great investment results
  • Payroll deduction funding
  • Lump sum distribution
Of course, along with the positive side of pension plans are negative things too.  For Defined Contribution plans, the following should be understood:
  • There is some investment risk for the participant
  • Building the fund later than sooner is hard
Defined Benefit

Pensions also fall within the Defined Benefit arena, which means participants would get a set amount of money monthly.  Additionally, with these pensions, participants get to determine the amount of money.  Typically, the monthly benefits are determined using a formula.  Some of the factors associated with this formula include time of service with the company and income.  In this case, participants do not make any decisions on investment unlike the other option.  Advantages of this plan include:
  • Participant risk is little to none
  • Adjustments for cost of living expenses
  • Retirement income is guaranteed
  • Participant’s ability to save money is not a part of the coverage
The downside for pensions such as this are:
  • The plan is complicated and somewhat confusing
  • Participants leaving the company prior to retirement gain no benefit
Today, we see a growing number of companies trying to steer clear of the Defined Benefit pensions.  Instead, they are choosing more and more to go with the Defined Contribution options for retirement.  Remember, while a Defined Benefit plan does have some great benefits, it is also expensive and confusing.  In this case, the participant has the responsibility of keeping plan information and making choices on ways in which the plan will or will not grow.

On the other hand, there is the Defined Contribution plan, which needs a little more involvement from the employer and participant but the upside is cost is much less than the other option.  One of the things that both participant and employer like about this particular pension plan is that the employee has the power and responsibility of investing the money.  Unfortunately, many people know about pensions and even have a plan but they have little understanding about the way in which they work.

It is imperative that everyone plan for retirement.  The best scenario would be a person planning early in his or her twenties but remember it is never too late.  If needed, you can meet with your benefit department at work to gain a much better understanding of what you have, what is offered, and what you need to do.  In addition to this, you can always meet with a professional financial advisor to seek out assistance.

Obviously, the goal with pensions is to have stability, knowing that when the day of retirement comes, you will have income on which to live.  This means staying abreast of new options and changes so you can make adjustments if needed.  In most cases, an employee must work anywhere from three to five years with the same company in order to be eligible.  From there, you can determine the direction that will match your long-term goals so you can retire in comfort and security.

Life will slip by much quicker than you ever imagined so now is the time to do something good for you.  Just imagine reaching the "golden years", knowing that you did everything possible to live the remainder of your days with very little stress.  With pensions, the monthly check is truly a lifesaver, creating peace of mind.

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