'PepsiCo employees who take time to build a structured exit readiness strategy—well before retirement—often gain greater flexibility, improved confidence, and clearer decision-making around benefits, income planning, and career transition opportunities,' — Michael Corgiat, a representative of The Retirement Group, a division of Wealth Enhancement. 

'PepsiCo employees who proactively evaluate their career transition timeline, benefits, and long-term income strategy are often better positioned to navigate retirement decisions with greater clarity and adaptability as workplace and economic conditions evolve,' — Brent Wolf, a representative of The Retirement Group, a division of Wealth Enhancement.

In this article, we will discuss:

1. The importance of exit readiness for long-tenured professionals.

2. The key factors that may influence your transition readiness.

3. Practical steps to prepare for a successful career transition.

Introduction:

Today's Silent Transition for Experienced Professionals

You've spent decades building your career. Missed weekends, long rotations, extended travel, and demanding timelines. You've navigated commodity cycles, operational shifts, reorganizations, and industry changes. In many respects, your experience and accumulated benefits may represent one of the most valuable financial assets you possess.

For many PepsiCo employees, the next phase—retirement, transition, or scaling back—can be just as important as the years spent building a career.

However, data shows a surprising trend when it comes to preparing for what comes next, such as retirement, early exit opportunities, or transitioning into consulting or part-time roles.

Many long-tenured professionals expect to reach retirement age within the next ten years. ¹  However, only 22% have a formal, written retirement or transition strategy. ²  

When there is a gap between intention and preparation, opportunities may be missed, tax considerations overlooked, and individuals may feel unprepared for one of the most significant transitions of their lives.

The good news? That doesn't have to be the case. This guide will walk you step-by-step through exit readiness for employees—what it is, why it matters, how to measure it, and how to build it.

Exit Readiness: What It Means for PepsiCo Employees

Exit readiness isn't just about leaving the workforce. Instead, it's a comprehensive strategy that prepares employees for career transitions under favorable conditions. Many professionals mistakenly believe exit readiness only means preparing for retirement.

For PepsiCo employees, exit readiness includes:

Career Readiness

Are your skills transferable? Have you documented institutional knowledge? Are you prepared for consulting, part-time roles, or advisory opportunities?

Financial Readiness

Do you understand your pension options, 401(k) savings, deferred compensation, and stock-based compensation? Do you know whether your retirement income aligns with your future needs?

Personal Readiness

Have you considered what life might look like after leaving a structured career? Do you have goals, purpose, and lifestyle planning in place?

Tax and Benefit Readiness

Are you aware of timing decisions regarding pension elections, stock strategies, deferred compensation, and health care transitions?

Even if retirement is years away, exit readiness remains a smart strategy. Employees who prepare early often gain more flexibility, stronger positioning, and greater confidence about the future.

Why Exit Readiness Matters More Than Ever

The Retirement Wave

Across many industries, a significant number of experienced professionals are approaching retirement age. This shift is creating one of the largest workforce transitions in decades.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers aged 55 and older are projected to represent nearly 25% of the labor force, ³  highlighting the scale of upcoming retirements.

PepsiCo employees who began their careers during earlier growth cycles are now evaluating retirement timelines, pension decisions, and benefit elections.

Many professionals intend to transition within the next decade—but far fewer have structured plans.

The Post-Retirement Regret Problem

Research across industries shows many retirees wish they had planned differently. Recent research by the Nationwide Retirement Institute found that 55% of recent retirees have regrets about how they saved for retirement. ⁴

Common reasons include:

• - Not planning early enough

• - Not considering tax efficiency

• - Underestimating the emotional shift of retirement

• - Not defining post-career goals

• - Misunderstanding benefit timing decisions

• - Being surprised by health care costs

These outcomes are often preventable with structured planning.

The Macro Environment Still Matters

Even as inflation moderates and interest rates shift, several factors influence retirement decisions:

• - Market volatility's impact on portfolio values

• - Changes in health care costs and coverage

• - Pension timing considerations

• - Stock compensation tax implications

Employees planning transitions today benefit from preparing for these variables in advance.

The 5-Factor Exit Readiness Assessment for PepsiCo Employees

Factor 1: Career Independence

Could you step away from your current role and still maintain income flexibility?

This includes:

• - Transferable skills

• - Consulting potential

• - Leadership mentoring roles

• - Advisory opportunities

Professionals who diversify career options often experience smoother transitions.

Factor 2: Financial Readiness

Do you understand your retirement income sources?

This may include:

• - 401(k) savings

• - Pension benefits

• - Deferred compensation

• - Stock compensation

• - Personal investments

Understanding these components helps clarify retirement readiness.

Factor 3: Market Position

Are your skills valuable outside your current role?

Professionals who maintain industry relevance often create:

• - Consulting opportunities

• - Board roles

• - Advisory positions

• - Short-term engagement work

This flexibility can significantly enhance retirement planning.

Factor 4: Income Diversification

Do you rely solely on salary income?

Diversified income sources may include:

• - Retirement accounts

• - Investment income

• - Consulting income

• - Real estate income

Income diversification can create greater flexibility.

Factor 5: Personal Transition Readiness

Have you planned what retirement looks like?

Consider:

• - Lifestyle planning

• - Travel goals

• - Family priorities

• - Volunteer work

• - Part-time engagement

Planning purpose is just as important as planning finances.

Timeline for Exit Planning

10+ Years Before Transition

• - Define long-term goals

• - Begin financial planning

• - Increase retirement savings contributions

• - Consider career flexibility

Five Years Before Transition

• - Evaluate retirement income

• - Review investment strategy

• - Assess pension timing

• - Reduce financial risk exposure

Three Years Before Transition

• - Create retirement timeline

• - Review tax strategies

• - Evaluate health care options

One Year Before Transition

• - Finalize retirement elections

• - Adjust asset allocation

• - Confirm income strategy

Beginning retirement planning approximately three to five years before leaving the workforce may give you the right amount of time to evaluate income sources, health care decisions, and tax considerations.

Exit Path Options for PepsiCo Employees

Full Retirement

Transition fully into retirement with income planning.

Phased Retirement

Reduce workload gradually.

Consulting or Advisory Roles

Leverage experience after retirement.

Career Transition

Move into a new industry or role.

Passive Income Focus

Transition toward investment-based income.

The Five Drivers of Retirement Confidence

• - Diversified Income Sources

• - Strong Financial Planning

• - Documented Retirement Strategy

• - Tax-Efficient Withdrawals

• - Clear Lifestyle Planning

According to LIMRA, individuals with written retirement strategies reported significantly higher confidence levels compared to those without documented plans. ⁵

Building Your Advisory Team

Successful transitions often involve:

• - Financial advisor

• - Tax professional

• - Estate planning attorney

• - Retirement planning specialist

PepsiCo employees often benefit from coordinated planning.

Creating a Transition-Ready Mindset

Key steps include:

• - Moving from accumulation to preservation

• - Planning health care coverage

• - Structuring withdrawal strategies

• - Aligning investments with retirement timeline

How The Retirement Group Can Help PepsiCo Employees

Preparing for retirement involves more than leaving the workforce. The transition into retirement income planning is equally important.

The Retirement Group assists professionals with:

• - Retirement income modeling

• - Pension decision analysis

• - Tax-efficient withdrawal planning

• - Health care cost planning

• - Investment allocation

The team helps align career transition timing with retirement goals.

Call The Retirement Group at (800) 900-5867 to speak with a retirement planning professional.

Common Questions

How long should I prepare before transitioning into retirement?

Most professionals benefit from three to five years of planning.

Does exit readiness mean I must retire soon?

No. It simply creates flexibility.

Will preparation help even if retirement is far away?

Yes. Early planning often improves outcomes.

Conclusion: Build Flexibility, Confidence, and Opportunity

Exit readiness isn't just about retirement. It's about creating flexibility, confidence, and options.

PepsiCo employees who begin planning early often:

- Experience smoother transitions

- Reduce unexpected financial changes

- Gain more control over timing

- Improve retirement confidence

Start by evaluating your readiness today. Identify gaps. Work with advisors. Build your strategy.

Your future self will appreciate the preparation.

Resources for Your Next Steps

• - Exit planning checklists

• - Retirement planning templates

• - Benefit decision guides

• - Income planning resources

For personalized retirement transition planning, contact The Retirement Group at (800) 900-5867.

That same shift from building assets to drawing them down applies directly to the decisions in front of you at PepsiCo. Getting retirement planning right depends on knowing exactly what your employer's plan offers and how the pieces fit together.

What PepsiCo provides on the retirement side matters: PepsiCo provides a 401(k) with a 50% match on the first 8% of eligible pay (4% max match), plus an Automatic Retirement Contribution (ARC) of 2-9% of pay based on age plus service points. Legacy pension plans have been frozen, with all participants transitioning to ARC. Your health benefits matter too. Decisions about HSA contributions, health plan tiers, and whether dental and vision coverage carries into retirement all affect how much income you'll need and how your retirement planning strategy should work.

A financial advisor who understands PepsiCo's plan structure can help you model how these benefits coordinate with your other income sources, so your retirement planning decisions reflect your actual numbers rather than rules of thumb.

Sources:

1. AARP International. ' Aging Readiness & Competitiveness: United States .' 2025.

2. Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies.  Retirement Realities Survey . Dec. 2025.

3. United States Census Bureau. ' U.S. Workforce is Aging, Especially in Some Firms ,' by Martha Stinson and Sean Wang. Dec. 2, 2025. 

4. Nationwide Retirement Institute. ' More than Half of Recent Retirees Have Regrets About How They Saved for Retirement ,' Feb. 3, 2026. 

5. LIMRA. ' Just 1 in 5 Retirees Have a Formal Written Retirement Plan .' Oct. 11, 2023.