Rising interest rates also play a large role in the decision of whether American Airlines Group employees should take their pension as an annuity or a one-time lump sum payment. As inflation continues to rise, the Fed has responded by gradually increasing interest rates, which decreases the value of future pension payments as well as the lump sum value. This is because the future pension payments are worth less today as the dollar devalues and the higher investment return drives the total present value of the payments down. To show this mathematically, imagine an individual with pension payments of $48,000 annually ($4,000 monthly), a 20-year time horizon, and a 5% interest rate

The present value of all of these payments is worth $598,186, which should roughly be the value of the lump sum payment. With a single percentage increase in interest rates from 5% to 6%, the new present value of the payments is reduced to $550,556, just under an 8% decrease over the old present value. Evidently, rising interest rates negatively affect the present value of future payments so given Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's mention of 2-3 more interest rate hikes this year, the decision of whether to take a lump sum now or later could have a big impact on your retirement from American Airlines Group.

In practicality, taking your pension as a lump sum and knowing how to manage your funds to last for your years of retirement from American Airlines Group requires hard work. Figuring out how much to withdraw, when to withdraw, and how much you can spend each year are just a few of the many decisions that are needed to be thought out in order to maximize the benefit of taking your pension as a lump sum. If you don't take the time to think out these decisions, you could find yourself running out of funds during your years of retirement from American Airlines Group.

For our American Airlines Group clients who would prefer the safety of a guaranteed stream of income for the rest of their lives, taking the annuity over the lump sum may be the better option for you. With taking your pension as an annuity though, there is no certainty that the company paying your pension will remain in business for the duration of your retirement so you run the risk of receiving smaller pension payments from the PBGC (Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation) in the event that American Airlines Group goes under. Both options have their pros and cons and in the end up to you to decide which suits your personal financial situation and lifestyle.

If you are interested in more information about this topic, view our e-book here: https://retirekit.theretirementgroup.com/effects-of-inflation-e-brochure

As you plan your transition from American Airlines Group into retirement, it is worth understanding the company's specific benefit structure. According to publicly available information, American Airlines Group maintains a defined benefit pension plan that has been frozen to new benefit accruals -- meaning the plan no longer accumulates future benefits for most employees, but those who were already vested may still be entitled to receive the pension benefit they accrued prior to the freeze, subject to the vesting requirements described in their plan documents. American Airlines Group also offers retiree healthcare benefits to eligible employees, which can provide meaningful coverage for those who retire before reaching Medicare eligibility at age 65. Because the specifics of your pension benefit, retiree healthcare eligibility, and any matching contributions depend on your individual employment history and plan documents, We encourage you to review your Summary Plan Description (SPD) or speak with American Airlines Group's HR or benefits team for the most current details.