The one-time lump sum option can provide greater control over your money. But you’ll want to consider the risks and consult a financial adviser.
Low interest rates force companies to beef up pension contributions and take more investment risk. A lump sum offer could make sense if you’re confident you can earn higher returns.
It’s a Tax-Deferred Savings Account
Investing in a Boeing pension lump sum gives you control over money management. And if you work with a financial advisor, it could help you earn a higher return than the pension investment rate.
However, the higher return may come with some additional risk. If the market goes down, your portfolio’s value will decrease. And if you’re living on a fixed income, that reduction in spending power could cut your overall retirement budget.
Many retirees who take a lump sum use some or all of it to buy an immediate annuity. These insurance contracts typically provide a monthly stream of payments that lasts for life or a chosen period, and some have inflation protection.
It’s a Long-Term Investment
Investing in your retirement savings can be difficult, especially over long periods. But a lump sum allows you to use the money however you like and to change your investment strategy as the market shifts.
But that freedom comes with some risks. First, you could lose your entire pension payout by investing too riskily. The second risk is that you could run out of money during your lifetime.
Although it’s not a guarantee, the monthly pension payment option is meant to lower the possibility of running out of money in retirement. The monthly payment is calculated based on actuarial assumptions that don’t factor in your individual health or family history of longevity.
It’s essential to carefully consider your alternatives and balance the benefits and drawbacks of each, whether you decide to take your lump sum or choose the monthly installments. A financial advisor can help you make a well-informed decision.
It’s a Guarantee
Unlike defined benefit pension payments, lump-sum distributions are not guaranteed. Depending on how you invest your lump-sum distribution, there is a risk that it will not last through retirement. Fluctuations in the market or rising interest rates may reduce your spending power.
Traditional pensions offer a set monthly income for life (and, in some cases, for the surviving spouse’s lifetime). Some companies now offer retirees the option to receive a one-time payment instead of these lifetime benefits. While each person’s circumstances are unique, the CFPB suggests considering factors like investment skills, money protection, and whether you have other income and assets to draw upon during retirement when deciding whether to take a lump-sum payout from a pension plan.
Then, you can make an informed decision. Choosing a lump-sum distribution shifts the responsibility for managing your funds from your employer to you, increasing the risk that you will run out of money in retirement and exposing you to the risk of losing the money due to insufficient investment advice or fraud.
It’s a Flexible Spending Account
Traditional pensions usually provide a lifetime stream of monthly payments, but many companies also allow employees to receive all or part of their retirement benefits as a lump sum payment. That shift puts more responsibility on retirees to manage their money, and a few bad decisions (like spending the whole thing or investing in a single stock) can significantly reduce a lump-sum payout.
As an added complication, interest rates play a significant role in the actuarial calculations of lump-sum payouts, and the Federal Reserve has been raising them to combat inflation. That means near-retirees could see their one-time payouts shrink if they take a lump sum when interest rates are rising, as they are now.
Fortunately, this risk is primarily mitigated because most pensions are guaranteed payments. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be considered when making this decision. Especially if you’re in a volatile industry or have a history of longevity in your family, the fear that your employer might go bankrupt and fail to meet their financial obligations should be weighed carefully.
