11
Years in Fort Collins
$140M
Assets under management
3
People
PERA option elections come up for a specific group. If this sounds like you, keep reading.
Professors and instructors watching their Rule of 90 date approach. They need to know which PERA option protects a spouse without leaving money on the table.
Deans and directors with a 403(b) alongside PERA, weighing whether to consult after retiring and how an option choice affects that income plan.
Same PERA system, same option-election paperwork. Northern Colorado district staff bring the same questions as their university peers.
This is the same walk-through every client gets before choosing an option, whether the decision is simple or has a lot of moving parts.
We pull your current benefit estimate and lay out every option PERA offers side by side, in dollars.
We look at whether waiting a few months changes your benefit, the way waiting four months once added about $310 a month for life.
If you have a spouse, we compare survivor benefit levels against what they would need if you were no longer here.
We place the PERA option next to your 403(b) and other savings to see how the whole retirement income holds together.
We sit down and go through the actual numbers with you, so the option you pick is one you understand, not just one you signed.
It depends on whether you need survivor income for a spouse or partner, your health, and how the monthly amounts compare across options. There is no single right answer. We walk through your PERA statement together and model what each option means for your household over time, before you sign anything.
Generally, no. Once you retire and start receiving PERA benefits, your option selection is locked in. This is why the decision deserves real time and a clear comparison of the numbers before your retirement date, not after.
Options with a survivor benefit pay your spouse a percentage of your monthly amount for their lifetime, but your own monthly payment is lower to fund that protection. If you skip survivor coverage, your payment is higher but stops at your death. We help you weigh both against your spouse's other income sources.
Yes. Hitting Rule of 90 changes your benefit calculation, so retiring a few months earlier or later can shift the dollar difference between options. We look at your specific Rule of 90 date alongside the option comparison, since the two decisions affect each other.
Your calculation is based on current PERA rules, and the Colorado legislature has changed those rules before and can again. We plan using today's rules and your current statement, and we revisit the numbers with you if anything changes before your retirement date.
PERA can confirm your benefit calculation and plan rules, but they don't advise on how your pension fits with your 403(b), savings, or spouse's income. Those are two different jobs. We focus on the second one, working alongside what PERA provides you.
Every option election is different. Let's walk through yours together, step by step, and figure out what fits your situation. You will hear from one of us within one business day.
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