Money Manna

Picture a 55-year-old civil engineer with a county public works department. He’s in PERS 2 with 27 years of service, and he plans to retire at 58.

Picture a 54-year-old budget manager at a state agency. She's in PERS 2 with 27 years of service, and she's aiming to retire at 58.

Picture a 54-year-old budget analyst for a Washington county. She has 26 years in PERS Plan 2.

There's a several charts that I have seen that show how much you "should" have saved by each age.

Bruce is 64. He retired two years ago at 62, after 31 years with a county public works department. PERS Plan 2, and with more than 30 years of service he walked away at…

Neil pulls up his DCP account on our Zoom call and I can read the whole thing in about four seconds.

Tracy is 54, a permitting supervisor for a county planning department, and has 27 years in PERS 2. She wants to retire at 58.

Rhonda pulled up a retirement calculator during our call and shared her screen.

Cheryl is 57, has 31 years in PERS Plan 2 with a county public works department, and she brought a spreadsheet to our first call.

Doug shares his screen and pulls up the retirement spreadsheet he has been building since March.

Wendy calls me on a Tuesday morning, and I can tell right away this one is different.

There is a moment on a planning call I have learned to watch for.

Marcus went quiet during a meeting recently.

By the time a client is ready to retire, most of the hard work is already done.

Ron showed up to our call last fall with a spreadsheet he’d clearly been staring at for months.

Dale comes to our first video call with his statements already pulled up on his screen.

Greg is meeting with me, sharing a spreadsheet he built himself.

The number on the news isn't the number that mattersA corrections officer reaches out the week the latest inflation report makes the news.

The conversation no one wants to haveMost of the planning conversations I have with clients focus on offense. How much they've saved. How their DCP is invested. When to…

Imagine two retirees with identical financial plans. Both have a $1 million portfolio. Both use a 60/40 allocation. Both follow a 4% withdrawal rate adjusted for…

There’s a pattern I keep seeing, and it’s become one of the more interesting things about this work.

I’ve noticed a pattern with the clients I work with.

I read something this past year that has stuck with me.

Most retirement conversations start the same way.

One of the things I ask clients about is their account security. How they protect their online logins. Whether they use unique passwords. What kind of verification they…

I was reviewing a client's DCP statement recently when she pointed at her bond fund and said, "This one is clearly the winner."

I keep running into the same conversation.

I spend a lot of time talking with Washington State public employees about what to do with their DCP savings, their IRAs, and the other investment accounts they've built…

I had a conversation recently with a client who had done everything right.

There is a question I hear in almost every initial meeting with a new client.

I keep a running list of the questions I hear most often in client meetings. And if I had to pick the one that comes up more than any other, it would be some version of…

I was reviewing a portfolio for a county employee, 24 years in PERS Plan 2.

I was re-reading one of my favorite pieces of financial writing last week.

She's 53, a PERS 2 member with 28 years in, sitting on about $650,000 between her DCP and personal savings. Planning to retire at 58 in just under five years.

I was sitting in a meeting with a client last month when she pulled out a colorful brochure.

I met with a prospective client recently who had a question that stopped me cold.

There's a question I hear some version of almost every month.

I think about this question a lot when I'm working with clients on their retirement plans.

I get this question all the time from clients approaching retirement.

A husband suffers a massive stroke. He's a PERS 2 member with 28 years of service at the city. Not retired yet. Still working.

I was reviewing a retirement plan last month when my client said something that caught me off guard.

I opened an email recently that stopped me mid-sip of coffee.

The Conversation That Changed How I Think About ThisI was sitting across from a prospective client recently when she said something that made me pause.

The Discovery That Changed EverythingI was on a Zoom call with a new client when she said something that made me pause.

Carol, a 63-year-old retired County Parks Department supervisor, followed the classic retirement advice: withdraw 4% of her portfolio every year, no matter what.

David, a 54-year-old Sheriff's deputy, panicked when the market dropped and moved his entire $890,000 deferred compensation plan to "safe" money market funds. He planned…

Lisa, a 59-year-old State administrator, had been contributing to her deferred compensation plan for 25 years but never rebalanced her portfolio. She figured "set it and…

Mark, a 58-year-old Washington State Patrol sergeant with 32 years of service, thought he was being smart by moving his entire $1.2 million deferred compensation plan…

Sarah had it all planned out. After 28 years of working for the State, she'd saved $850,000 in her deferred compensation plan and was ready to retire at 62. She'd done…

David, a 65-year-old retired Washington State employee, never gave long-term care much thought. He had a solid pension, good health, and figured Medicare would handle any…

A 65-year-old retired Washington State employee, signed up for Medicare and thought he was done. Three months later, he received a hospital bill that shocked him.

Karen, a 65-year-old Washington State teacher, thought she had everything figured out for retirement. She'd had health coverage for 28 years and assumed she could just…

Tom, a retired firefighter, discovered something that made his stomach drop when reviewing his tax situation.

Meet Captain Sarah Martinez, a 30-year veteran firefighter in Washington State. At 57, she's eligible for LEOFF Plan 2 retirement with a solid pension and $650,000 in her…

Meet David, a 58-year-old city police officer with 30 years of service. Like many Law Enforcement Officers' and Fire Fighters' (LEOFF) 2 members, David has done an…

Maria, a 58-year-old Washington State Department of Transportation supervisor, has diligently saved $400,000 across her 457(b) and Roth IRA accounts. Her husband Tom…

Meet Sarah, a married Seattle firefighter with 28 years of service. At 53, she's planning to retire at 55 with a solid financial foundation: a LEOFF 2 pension, $650,000…

Meet Sarah, a 58-year-old city manager earning $200,000 annually. She has $500,000 in her deferred compensation account and plans to retire at 62. Sarah just received her…

Meet Sarah, a 63-year-old King County Parks supervisor with 28 years of service earning $95,000 annually. She's eligible for her PERS 2 pension at 65 and can start Social…

Meet Mike, a 53-year-old firefighter with 25 years of service who's considering early retirement after a recent back injury. Like many Washington State public employees…

Picture this: You're sitting at your kitchen table, looking at your annual DRS statement, and wondering how those numbers translate into your actual monthly retirement…

Sarah, a 58-year-old state employee with 27 years of service, sits at her desk wondering if she should retire at 60 or wait until 65. Like many Washington State…

Picture this: You're 65, planning to retire next month with your PERS 2 pension, and suddenly the market drops 20%. Your supplemental retirement savings take a hit just…

Picture this: After 30 years of teaching in public schools, you finally retire with your Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) pension. You're financially prepared, but three…

Picture this: You're five years from retirement, sitting at your desk at the Department of Transportation, and your colleague mentions they're worried about making ends…

My focus in this analysis will be specifically how this impacts public employees. There are certainly additional provisions that I will not cover here.

You love your children unconditionally. From sleepless nights with a newborn to watching them take their first steps, you've sacrificed for them their entire lives. Now…

Picture this: You're 57, eligible to retire from your state job with 30 years of service, but you won't be eligible for Medicare for another eight years. You assume your…

You've worked in the public sector for decades, building your career and your retirement benefits. Now you're looking at your four-bedroom house and wondering if it still…

As a Washington State public employee, you've worked hard to build your retirement savings through your DRS pension, Deferred Compensation Program (DCP), and Social…

As a Washington State public employee approaching retirement, you've likely spent years carefully saving through your DRS pension plan, a DCP account, and Social…

After decades of serving the public in Washington State, retirement offers well-deserved freedom. Yet for many DRS members, the transition from a workplace filled with…

Are you making the most of your retirement planning? As a Washington State public employee approaching retirement, understanding how to test-drive your future budget…

Are you making the most of your Social Security benefits? As a Washington State public employee approaching retirement, understanding how to optimize this important…

When planning for retirement, most people think about their investments, pension, Social Security or where they'll live. But there's another important question many…

"How much do you need to have saved to feel confident in retirement in addition to your pension?"

"My pension doesn't stretch as far as it used to."

"I thought I had another decade to prepare. Now I don't even know where to start."

"I never thought I'd be sipping coffee in Paris on a government pension."

"I've spent 30 years being the family safety net, but now I'm terrified I won't have enough for myself."

When public employees in Washington State approach retirement planning, healthcare costs often remain the most underestimated expense. Many are shocked when they discover…

"I love my home, but I'm worried about those stairs in ten years."

After decades of serving the people of Washington in state or local government, retirement is finally on the horizon. The question many public employees face at this…

As Washington state employees approach retirement, one of the most crucial decisions you'll face is where to live during your retirement years. While your DRS pension and…

As a CPA and financial advisor serving Washington State and local government employees, I've seen how proper estate planning protects the benefits earned through years of…

Don’t get me wrong, I care about your financial plan. But what is more important to me is that you have a plan for finding purpose when you retire. You can be financially…

As a former city employee, I understand the unique challenges of planning for retirement in public service. These to-dos will help you navigate the crucial final two…

Did you know that choosing the wrong time to take Social Security could cost you thousands? As a Washington State employee, you have a unique advantage – your PERS,…

As a former city employee turned financial advisor, I've seen firsthand how healthcare costs can catch retirees off guard. I’ve learned that successful retirement…

I’ve been having conversations with lots of public sector employees lately. One of the biggest concerns that I have been hearing is they are not sure if their pension…

You've worked hard, saved diligently, and now you're enjoying your well-earned retirement. But even in retirement, life can throw curveballs. An unexpected home repair, a…

As a former city employee and current financial planner specializing in Washington state public sector benefits, I’ve seen firsthand how the Windfall Elimination…

As a Washington state public employee, you've dedicated your career to serving others. Now it's time to ensure that your legacy is protected, and your wishes are honored…

Are you a Washington state or local government employee dreaming of retirement, but not quite ready to make a clean break from your career?

As you approach retirement, you might ask yourself, "Should I pay off my mortgage before I retire?" It's a question that many Washington state public employees grapple…

You've spent your career serving the public and diligently saving for retirement. Now, as you approach or enter retirement, you're faced with a new challenge: how to…

As a Washington state public employee, you're building a secure financial future through your pension, the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP), and personal retirement…

Did you know that over 140 different agencies in Washington State don't participate in Social Security(1)?

As you approach retirement, you probably have a lot on your mind. But there's one thing that you shouldn't overlook: your healthcare coverage. The Public Employees…

Picture this: It's Monday morning, but instead of rushing to beat traffic, you're sipping your coffee and planning your next adventure. No more alarm clocks, no more…

Picture this: After decades of serving the public in Washington state, you're enjoying a well-deserved retirement. Your pension checks are steady, and life is good. Then,…

As a Washington state employee, you've dedicated your career to public service. Now, it's time to ensure your pension works just as hard for you in retirement.

Did you know that as a Washington State public employee, you might be sitting on a gold mine of retirement benefits that even your financial advisor might have…

Picture this: After years of careful saving, you're finally ready to retire. You've heard about the famous 4% rule and wonder if it's your ticket to a comfortable…

Imagine this: After 30 years of dedicated service to the state of Washington, you're ready to trade your office chair for a beach chair. But wait – what if retirement…

As Washington State employees, you have been in the ring of public service for years. Now, as retirement approaches, it's time to focus on our own financial future. Like…

Imagine this: After decades of serving your community, you're finally ready to retire. You've got plans – maybe travel, spend time with grandkids, or pursue a new hobby.…

It's 5:30 PM on a Wednesday. You've just wrapped up another long day of work. As you sit in rush hour traffic on I-5, your mind wanders to thoughts of retirement. The…

Picture this: You've diligently saved for retirement for many years. Your 401(k) is growing, and you're on track for a comfortable future. Then, suddenly, life throws you…

As a financial advisor, I've seen firsthand the unique retirement planning challenges individuals from all walks of life face. Picture this: You're out on a serene…

Picture this: You're sitting on a sunny beach without a care. There are no deadlines, no alarm clocks, just pure relaxation. Sounds like a dream, right? Well, that's what…

Retirement is a time many look forward to - a chance to enjoy the fruits of labor. But sometimes, well-intentioned purchases can lead to unexpected regrets. Let’s explore…

Retirement should be enjoyable, not stressful due to unnecessary taxes. Here are three common tax mistakes retirees make and how to avoid them.

Are you wondering how much you should be saving for retirement? You're not alone. This question plagues many individuals, and while there's no one-size-fits-all answer,…

Retirement planning can feel overwhelming. With all the projections, what-ifs, and complex calculations, it's enough to make your head spin. But what if I told you that…