The Southern Company employees: IRA Rollovers

Healthcare Provider Update: The Southern Company's healthcare provider is generally managed through an employer-sponsored health plan, which typically relies on insurers such as Aetna or Cigna, although specific arrangements can vary. As we approach 2026, significant healthcare cost increases are anticipated due to a multitude of factors affecting the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace. With some states projecting premium hikes of over 60%, the expiration of enhanced federal subsidies is expected to push monthly costs for many enrollees up by more than 75%. This unprecedented rise in premiums combined with ongoing inflation in medical costs, driven by higher hospital and drug prices, creates a complex financial landscape for consumers navigating their health insurance options in the coming year. Employers like The Southern Company may need to strategize effectively to mitigate the impact of these escalating costs on their employees' healthcare coverage and overall well-being. Click here to learn more

For The Southern Company employees considering a lump sum pension distribution, rolling over those funds into an IRA provides tax-deferred growth and is a great way to hedge against inflation and achieve long-term financial security, 'says Paul Bergeron, a representative of The Retirement Group, a division of Wealth Enhancement Group.

With a rollover, you avoid the immediate tax hit and take control of your investment strategy so your retirement funds can grow without being eaten away by inflation, 'says Tyson Mavar, a representative of The Retirement Group, a division of Wealth Enhancement Group.

In this article:

1. Advantages of rolling a lump sum pension distribution into an IRA.

2. Leaving a lump sum in a bank account or cashing it out.

3. Why roll over your pension for tax-deferred growth and investment flexibility.

IRA ROLLOVERS FOR LUMP SUM PENSION PAYOUTS.

And give those dollars more room for tax-deferred growth.

A big payout begs a big question. So what happens to the money if you take a lump sum pension distribution from The Southern Company (if offered by your company)? It will be necessary for your retirement. How can it best serve you?

Perhaps rolling it over was the right move. Not having much saved for retirement? Your The Southern Company lump sum option - if offered by your employer - may be just what you need. But plan for expansion. All this money should not sit idle.

Even modest inflation eventually devalues money. Many of the corporate pension payments are not indexed to inflation, so these monthly payments lose purchasing power with inflation. Even lump amounts are subject to inflation: If you receive USD 100,000 today, it will be worth 50% less in 2028 under the assumption of consistent inflation of 3% - that is very optimistic!

You may feel pain putting it in the bank. If you deposit your The Southern Company single sum payment (if offered by your company) the IRS will treat the entire amount as taxable income. Exceptions to this norm are rare. You also will not get the full amount: Your employer must withhold 20%, according to IRS regulations.

Want to put off tax on those assets? By transferring the lump-sum distribution into a traditional IRA, you defer tax on those funds. Taxes on a distribution that has already been paid out may be postponed if the taxable portion is rolled into an IRA within 60 days of the distribution.

You're keeping these assets in a tax-deferred account. The funds can be invested however and will not be taxed until withdrawn. A lump-sum distribution from a company pension plan can only be made into a traditional IRA; it cannot be transferred to a Roth IRA.

Consider a lump-sum distribution if you want to position the money for tax-deferred growth. Seek out a financial expert for assistance with the documentation and start your IRA rollover.

Citations.

2 - money.cnn.com / 2012 / 09 / 01 / pf / expert / pension-payments.moneymag / index.html (9 / 1 / 12)

2 -  http://www.kiplinger.com  / article / retirement / T037-C000-S002-pensions-take-a-lump-sum-or-not.html [9 / 11]

3 -  http://www.irs.gov  / taxtopics / tc412.html [1 / 4 / 13]

4 -  www.fool.com  / retirement / manageretirement / manageretirement2.htm [1 / 21 / 13].

Added Fact:

One study by Fidelity Investments found that many The Southern Company employees choose to roll over their lump sum pension distributions into an individual retirement account (IRA) upon retirement. The study found that of The Southern Company employees who left their company and were offered a lump sum distribution, 69% opted to roll it over into an IRA instead of receiving cash. This demonstrates a trend among retirees to take advantage of tax-deferred growth and investment flexibility offered by IRAs. By rolling over the lump sum into an IRA, The Southern Company employees keep control of their retirement funds and could even maximize their long-term financial security. (Source: Fidelity Investments, '69 Percent of Retiring The Southern Company Employees Roll Over Lump Sum Pension Distributions to an IRA,' June 2021).

Added Analogy:

Think about yourself as a chef who makes a gourmet meal. You find a special spice mix as you gather your ingredients. You have two options: Give each dish a small dollop or whisk all together for a masterful seasoning. Just like that chef, employees at The Southern Company must make a similar decision about their retirement funds. They receive a lump sum pension distribution which may be treated as individual ingredients susceptible to inflation and taxation or combined into an individual retirement account (IRA) for a strong tax-efficient strategy. By rolling over their pension into an IRA, The Southern Company employees pool their retirement savings into one mature pot that can grow and be managed more efficiently - and enjoy a retirement feast for years to come.'

Articles you may find interesting:

Sources:

1. SmartAsset.  'How to Roll Over a Pension Into an IRA.'  SmartAsset , 2025,  https://smartasset.com/retirement/pension-rollover-to-ira?utm_source=chatgpt.com .

2. Thrivent.  'Pension Rollover to a Roth IRA: How It Works & When to Consider It.'  Thrivent , 2024,  https://www.thrivent.com/insights/retirement-planning/pension-rollover-to-a-roth-ira-how-it-works-when-to-consider-it?utm_source=chatgpt.com .

3. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.  'Pension Lump-Sum Payouts and Your Retirement Security.'  Consumer Financial Protection Bureau , 2016,  https://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/201601_cfpb_pension-lump-sum-payouts-and-your-retirement-security.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com .

4. Fidelity Investments.  'Lump Sum Payment or Monthly Pension?'  Fidelity Investments ,  https://www.fidelity.com/learning-center/personal-finance/retirement/lump-sum-monthly-pension?utm_source=chatgpt.com .

5. Investopedia.  'Pros and Cons of Rolling Your Pension Into a Roth IRA.'  Investopedia , 2022,  https://www.investopedia.com/rolling-pension-into-roth-ira-5221469?utm_source=chatgpt.com .