New Update: Healthcare Costs Increasing by Over 60% in Some States. Will you be impacted?

Crafting Your Ideal Retirement Income Plan: A Guide for Sonoco Products Employees

Healthcare Provider Update: Healthcare Provider for Sonoco Products Sonoco Products, a global packaging solutions company, collaborates with various healthcare providers to manage the health benefits of its employees. While specific providers may vary by location and plan selections, many large employers like Sonoco typically partner with prominent insurance carriers such as UnitedHealthcare, Anthem, and Cigna. Potential Healthcare Cost Increases in 2026 In 2026, healthcare costs for employees of Sonoco Products may experience significant increases due to anticipated premium hikes related to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). With projections indicating that premiums could rise by as much as 18% to 66% in certain states, many employees may face sharp out-of-pocket costs, particularly if enhanced federal subsidies expire. These increases will be driven by soaring medical costs and insurers' need to adjust for both economic inflation and the potential loss of critical financial support, raising concerns about accessibility and affordability for many subscribers. Click here to learn more

It's important for you to be involved in the retirement income planning process even

if you're married. While you may plan to be married forever, many women

end up single at some point in their lives due to divorce or death of a spouse.

More women are working and taking charge of their own retirement planning than ever before. What does retirement from Sonoco Products mean to you? Do you dream of traveling? Pursuing a hobby? Volunteering your time, or starting a new career or business? Simply enjoying more time with your grandchildren? Whatever your goal, you'll need a retirement income plan that's designed to support the retirement lifestyle that you envision, and minimize the risk that you'll outlive your savings.

When Will You Retire From Sonoco Products?

Establishing a target age is important because the time at which you retire from Sonoco Products will significantly affect how much you need to save. For example, if you retire from Sonoco Products early at age 55 as opposed to waiting until age 67, you'll shorten the time you have to accumulate funds by 12 years, and you'll increase the number of years that you'll be living off of your retirement savings. We'd also like our Sonoco Products clients to consider:

The longer you delay your retirement from Sonoco Products, the longer you can build up tax-deferred funds in your IRAs and Sonoco Products-sponsored plans such as 401(k)s, or accrue benefits in a traditional pension plan if you're lucky enough to be covered by one.
Medicare generally doesn't start until you're 65. Does Sonoco Products provide post-retirement medical benefits? Are you eligible for coverage if you retire early from Sonoco Products? Do you have health insurance coverage through your spouse's employer? If not, you may have to look into COBRA or a private individual policy — which could be expensive.
You can begin receiving your Social Security retirement benefit as early as age 62. However, your benefit may be 25% to 30% less than if you waited until full retirement age. Conversely, if you delay your Sonoco Products retirement past full retirement age, you may be able to increase your Social Security retirement benefit.
If you work part-time during retirement, you'll be earning money and relying less on your retirement savings, leaving more of your savings to potentially grow for the future (and you may also have access to affordable health care).
For our Sonoco Products clients who are married, and you and your spouse are both employed and nearing retirement age, think about staggering your retirements. If one spouse is earning significantly more than the other, then it usually makes sense for that spouse to continue to work in order to maximize current income and ease the financial transition into retirement.

How Long Will Retirement Last When You Leave Sonoco Products?

We all hope to live to old age, but a longer life means that you'll have even more years of retirement to fund. The problem is particularly acute for women, who generally live longer than men. To guard against the risk of outliving your savings, you'll need to estimate your life expectancy. You can use government statistics, life insurance tables, or life expectancy calculators to get a reasonable estimate of how long you'll live. Experts base these estimates on your age, gender, race, health, lifestyle, occupation, and family history. But it's important for these Sonoco Products clients to remember that these are just estimates. There's no way to predict how long you'll actually live, but with life expectancies on the rise, it's probably best to assume you'll live longer than you expect.

Project Your Retirement Expenses

Once you know when your retirement from Sonoco Products will likely start, how long it may last, and the type of retirement lifestyle you want, it's time to estimate the amount of money you'll need to make it all happen. One of the biggest retirement planning mistakes you can make is to underestimate the amount you'll need to save by the time you retire from Sonoco Products. It's often repeated that you'll need 70% to 80% of your pre-retirement income after you retire. However, the problem with this approach is that it doesn't account for your specific situation.

Focus on your actual expenses today and think about whether they'll stay the same, increase, decrease, or even disappear by the time you retire from Sonoco Products. While some expenses may disappear, like a mortgage or costs for commuting to and from work, other expenses, such as health care and insurance, may increase as you age. If travel or hobby activities are going to be part of your retirement, be sure to factor in these costs as well. And don't forget to take into account the potential impact of inflation and taxes.

Identify Your Sources of Income

Once you have an idea of your retirement income needs, your next step is to assess how prepared you (or you and your spouse) are to meet those needs. In other words, what sources of retirement income will be available to you? Sonoco Products may offer a traditional pension that will pay you monthly benefits. In addition, you can likely count on Social Security to provide a portion of your retirement income. Other sources of retirement income may include a 401(k) or other retirement plan, IRAs, annuities, and other investments.

The amount of income you receive from those sources will depend on the amount you invest, the rate of investment return, and other factors. Finally, if you plan to work during your retirement from Sonoco Products, your earnings will be another source of income. When you compare your projected expenses to your anticipated sources of retirement income, you may find that you won't have enough income to meet your needs and goals. Closing this difference, or 'gap,' is an important part of your retirement income plan. In general, if you face a shortfall, you'll have five options: save more now, delay your Sonoco Products retirement or work during retirement, try to increase the earnings on your retirement assets, find new sources of retirement income, or plan to spend less during retirement.

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Transitioning Into Retirement

Even after that special day comes, you'll still have work to do. You'll need to carefully manage your assets so that your retirement savings will last as long as you need them to.

We suggest that our Sonoco Products clients review their portfolios regularly. Traditional wisdom holds that retirees should value the safety of their principal above all else. For this reason, some people shift their investment portfolio to fixed-income investments, such as bonds and money market accounts, as they enter retirement. The problem with this approach is that you'll effectively lose purchasing power if the return on your investments doesn't keep up with inflation. While it generally makes sense for your portfolio to become progressively more conservative as you grow older, it may be wise to consider maintaining at least a portion in growth investments.
Spend wisely. You want to be careful not to spend too much too soon. This can be a great temptation, particularly early in retirement. A good guideline is to make sure your annual withdrawal rate isn't greater than 4% to 6% of your portfolio. (The appropriate percentage for you will depend on a number of factors, including the length of your payout period and your portfolio's asset allocation.) Remember that if you whittle away your principal too quickly, you may not be able to earn enough on the remaining principal to carry you through the later years.
Understand your retirement plan distribution options. Most pension plans pay benefits in the form of an annuity. For our Sonoco Products clients who are married, you generally must choose between a higher retirement benefit that ends when your spouse dies or a smaller benefit that continues in whole or in part to the surviving spouse. A financial professional can help you with this difficult, but important, decision.
Consider which assets to use first. For many retirees, the answer is simple in theory: withdraw money from taxable accounts first, then tax-deferred accounts, and lastly, tax-free accounts. By using your tax-favored accounts last and avoiding taxes as long as possible, you'll keep more of your retirement dollars working for you. However, we'd like to remind our Sonoco Products clients that this approach isn't right for everyone. And don't forget to plan for required distributions. You must generally begin taking minimum distributions from Sonoco Products retirement plans and traditional IRAs when you reach age 72, whether you need them or not. Plan to spend these dollars first in retirement.*
Consider purchasing an immediate annuity. Annuities are able to offer something unique — a guaranteed income stream for the rest of your life or for the combined lives of you and your spouse (although that guarantee is subject to the claims-paying ability and financial strength of the issuer). The obvious advantage in the context of retirement income planning is that you can use an annuity to lock in a predictable annual income stream, not subject to investment risk, that you can't outlive.** Unfortunately, there's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to retirement income planning. A financial professional can review your circumstances, help you sort through your options, and help develop a plan that's right for you.

According to the Society of Actuaries, in 2019, a 65-year-old woman in excellent health has a 53% chance of living to age 90, compared to a 42% chance for a similarly healthy man. *Due to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, required minimum distributions (RMDs) are waived in 2020. **Generally, annuity contracts have fees and expenses, limitations, exclusions, holding periods, termination provisions, and terms for keeping the annuity in force. Most annuities have surrender charges that are assessed if the contract owner surrenders the annuity.

In the context of the retirement benefits provided by Sonoco Products Company, what are the different scenarios that could lead an employee to choose either the Normal Retirement Benefit or the Early Retirement Benefit, and what factors should be considered in making this decision? Additionally, how do these benefits interact with the vesting service and benefit service calculations specified by Sonoco Products Company?

Normal Retirement Benefit: Available at age 65, provides full monthly pension calculated by a predetermined formula. Early Retirement Benefit: Available from age 55 with 15 years of service, but monthly payments are reduced to account for the longer payment period. Employees must weigh the reduction in monthly benefits against the potential need or desire to retire early. Considerations: The choice largely depends on personal financial needs, health status, and employment circumstances. Early retirement reduces monthly benefits, which could impact long-term financial stability.

Considering the details about tax implications in the Sonoco Pension Plan, what steps should employees take to ensure they understand the taxation of both monthly annuity payments and lump sum payments when they retire from Sonoco Products Company? What resources does Sonoco offer to assist employees in navigating these tax obligations effectively?

Monthly Annuity Payments: Subject to federal income tax; state and local taxes may also apply. Employees can choose whether or not to have taxes withheld. Lump Sum Payments: Subject to mandatory 20% federal withholding if not rolled over into another qualified plan. Employees must consult with tax professionals to understand the taxation and potential penalties, especially if under age 59½. Resources: Sonoco provides access to benefits specialists through their Benefits Center and recommends consultation with tax advisors to manage tax obligations effectively.

How does Sonoco Products Company define and calculate the "Maximum Plan Benefit," and what impact do IRS limits have on the benefits that employees may receive upon retirement? Furthermore, how does this ensure that employees understand their entitlements under the plan?

Defined by IRS limits, which cap the annual benefits an employee can receive. For 2018, the limit was $220,000. Impact: Ensures high earners are aware of the maximum pension they can draw annually, and helps in planning additional retirement savings if necessary.

For employees at Sonoco Products Company who may be considering reemployment after retirement, what are the potential impacts on their pension benefits, and what guidelines does the company provide regarding how these benefits are recalculated upon re-entering the workforce?

Pension benefits cease during reemployment and resume upon re-retirement, recalculated based on additional service. This could affect decisions on returning to work post-retirement. Guidelines: Sonoco outlines how benefits are recalculated and emphasizes consulting with the Benefits Center to understand the specific impacts.

In what ways can employees of Sonoco Products Company calculate their required service years to determine pension eligibility, and what nuances exist in the vesting and benefit service calculations? How do these calculations affect the retirement planning process for long-term employees?

Vesting Service: Determines eligibility for a pension. A minimum of five years is required for a vested pension benefit. Benefit Service: Used to calculate the amount of pension. It includes periods of employment but may exclude certain leaves or breaks in service. Implications: Understanding these definitions helps employees plan their career and retirement timing to maximize benefits.

Employees at Sonoco Products Company are often curious about the various forms of payment they can choose for their pension. What are the available options, and how do these options differ in terms of financial implications for the retiree and their beneficiaries?

Options: Single life annuity, joint and survivor annuities (50%, 75%, 100% survivor benefits). Financial Implications: Each option impacts the monthly benefit amount and the security it provides to beneficiaries, necessitating careful consideration based on marital status and financial needs.

Understanding the process of applying for plan benefits can be complex for many employees. What are the specific steps that Sonoco Products Company employees need to follow to apply for their pension benefits, and what resources are available to help streamline this process?

Process: Initiated via Sonoco Benefits Center, involving choosing a retirement date, understanding benefit options, and completing necessary paperwork. Resources: Detailed support through retirement specialists aids in navigating the process smoothly.

Many employees may not be aware of their rights under ERISA as participants in the Sonoco Pension Plan. What specific rights and protections do employees have, and how can they assert these rights if there are disputes or issues regarding their pension benefits at Sonoco Products Company?

Provides specific rights regarding plan information, appeal processes for denied claims, and protections against plan abuses. Asserting Rights: Outlines steps to take if there are disputes over pension benefits, including the right to sue after exhausting administrative remedies.

If a Sonoco Products Company employee experiences a significant life change, such as divorce or a domestic relations order, what procedures must they follow regarding their pension benefits, and how does Sonoco manage such situations under the guidelines laid out in the plan documentation?

Procedures: Employees must follow specific procedures for dividing pension benefits in the event of divorce, under a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO). Management: Sonoco’s Benefits Center provides guidance and necessary documentation to ensure compliance with legal requirements.

For employees looking to learn more about their retirement options and benefits at Sonoco Products Company, what contact information is available for them to reach out for assistance? How can employees utilize these resources effectively to gain a clearer understanding of their retirement planning?

Available through the Sonoco Benefits Center, offering comprehensive support for retirement planning and benefit queries, essential for effective retirement planning.