Short, plain-spoken pieces on the retirement questions we hear most from CSU faculty and staff.
Want to talk through how any of this applies to your own retirement? You will hear from one of us within one business day.
Schedule a ConversationPERA offers a few payout options, mainly a single-life benefit or a reduced benefit that continues to a co-survivor after you pass. The single-life option pays more each month but stops at your death. A survivor option pays less but protects a spouse or partner. The right choice depends on your health, your spouse's age, and other income you have. We walk through the actual numbers for your situation before you decide.
The legislature has changed PERA rules before, including cost-of-living adjustments and contribution rates, and it could do so again. Benefits already being paid have gotten more protection than benefits still being earned, but nothing is guaranteed. We build retirement income plans that can flex if rules shift, rather than counting on today's numbers staying fixed forever.
Rule of 90 means your age plus your years of PERA service add up to 90 or more, which lets you retire with an unreduced benefit. A 61-year-old with 29 years of service, for example, would hit it this year. We check your exact service credit and birthdate against PERA's records so you know your real date, not just an estimate.
Before Medicare starts at 65, you generally need COBRA, a marketplace plan, or a retiree health plan if your employer offers one. Costs vary a lot depending on which route you take. We map out the actual monthly cost for your bridge years and build it into your income plan so it is not a surprise.
A fiduciary is legally required to act in your best interest, not just recommend something suitable. Larkspur Wealth Planning is a registered investment adviser, which means fiduciary duty applies to the advice we give. We do not earn commissions on products, so our recommendations are not tied to what pays us more.
Most advisors in this area charge either a percentage of assets managed, a flat planning fee, or an hourly rate. Fees and structures vary firm to firm, so it is worth asking directly how any advisor you're considering gets paid. During a first conversation, we explain our fee structure clearly so there are no surprises later.
Many CSU employees set up their 403(b) years ago and have not looked at it since. Whether it still fits depends on your time horizon, your PERA pension, and how much risk makes sense for your stage of life. We review the actual fund lineup and allocation with you rather than guessing from the outside.
Every retirement from CSU has its own timing, its own PERA choice, and its own healthcare gap to cover. Let's talk through yours.
Schedule a ConversationYou will hear from one of us within one business day.
