Why Would PG&E Professionals Withdraw from their 401(k)s and Delay Social Security Benefits?

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PG&E employees should delay Social Security claims and use their 401(k) as a bridge to maximize their monthly benefits amid volatile economic times, 'he said.

'For PG&E employees approaching retirement, delaying Social Security benefits and using a phased withdrawal from 401(k) plans can provide long-term retirement income optimization.'

In this article we will discuss:

• 1. Use of a 'Social Security bridge strategy' to maximize retirement income.

• 2. Delayed Social Security benefits affect monthly payments.

• 3. Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) in retirement planning for PG&E professionals.

Volatile markets, high inflation, and complicated financials require many PG&E personnel to make strategic judgments about their retirement savings. One major determination involves the start of Social Security benefits. It is generally advised to delay these benefits until one reaches Full Retirement Age (FRA) to optimize the monthly disbursement. Yet this is not always consistent with the more concrete financial realities or strategic considerations that many face when approaching retirement from PG&E.

This 'Social Security bridge' strategy is becoming popular with PG&E employees nearing retirement age. Utilizing a phased retirement income plan utilizing assets from 401(k) plans or analogous retirement savings, this methodology allows people to delay filing for Social Security benefits until they reach their FRA - 70 years old - whichever comes first.

Conventionally, the strategy involves starting withdrawals from 401(k) plans when you can without penalty - which is around 59 and a half years old. That is, withdrawals cannot exceed Social Security benefits beginning at age 62, when they become payable.

New studies from the Boston College Center for Retirement Research show how such an approach might benefit some people. It says some might use their 401(k) assets to bridge the gap until they can qualify for Social Security benefits and increase their ultimate monthly income. This work concludes that participants become more interested in a workplace-sponsored bridging program when they learn more about it. Rather than delay filing claims, a Social Security bridge might provide a steady income at or above the expected benefit levels for life while increasing those benefits.

As of September 2022, the Investment Company Institute estimates more than 71 million active participants had 401(k) accounts. Together their assets reached more than USD 6.3 trillion. This huge retirement resource affects the current discourse on retirement strategies.

Delayed Social Security benefits certainly have financial rewards. Now, the regulations require that any delayed Social Security claim equal 8% of the final monthly benefit for each year from the FRA to age 70. Thus, at 67, if someone deferred benefit filing until 70, their monthly contributions would increase by 24%.

An example:

the highest monthly benefits for claims submitted in 2023 are listed as follows:

• Age 62 Claims: USD 3,627 claims at full retirement age (66 years and four months for 1956 born people and 66 years and six months for 1957 born people) are eligible for USD 3,627.$4,555 for age 70 claims.

Rather, as of March 2023, the mean Social Security benefit was estimated at USD 1,833 monthly. In addition, Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disbursements are to be adjusted by 3.2% to reflect rising living costs beginning in January 2024.

And despite these monetary incentives, postponing benefits is not without psychological and strategic complexities. One notable cognitive obstacle to early withdrawal is that many people use 401(k) accounts as their primary way to save for retirement. Prominent financial analysts like Suze Orman have long cautioned against prematurely withdrawing from 401(k) plans before beginning to retire.

But 401(k) savings are limited by the permanent nature of Social Security benefits. While long-term problems with the Social Security program are legitimate, a 401(k) bridge might be a smart move to secure a larger Social Security benefit. Taking a claim at age 70 instead of 62 can boost monthly benefits to a level comparable to what can be expected from 401(k) investments - which are generally administered more cautiously as people age.

Social Security is unusually stable compared to 401(k) plans in that the benefit amount is set by the age of the claimant and does not change. Yet such a bridging strategy has its risks too. At least 38 states tax retirement distributions, which creates tricky circumstances for people looking to use 401(k) assets for estate planning.

Anxieties that projections show will likely wipe out the Social Security program by 2035 also explain why some people choose to file claims deferred. However, such claims should generally not be prematurely asserted because legislative steps are expected to protect the program's viability.

Another factor PG&E personnel approaching retirement should be aware of:

Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) on 401(k) plans. The IRS requires that people start receiving RMDs from their retirement accounts at age 72 by 2020. This regulation may affect how 401(k) savings are used to bridge Social Security gaps. The increased tax classification of retirees under RMDs could impact overall financial planning (IRS, June 2021). This makes RMDs important to consider when deciding to postpone Social Security benefits.

A financial advisor may be of help because these decisions are often quite complex. Data from the Federal Reserve Board show that only 40% of non-retirees feel confident about their retirement assets. This finding suggests that many PG&E professionals might profit from seeking out professional help with retirement planning issues.

Potential problems with economic recessions and high inflation call for retirement planning. Communications with a financial advisor through online tools such as WiserAdvisor may provide specialized guidance toward achieving a desired retirement age, investing wisely, and making sound decisions. Starting such planning early can be worthwhile, as it gives assurance and a course for the future.

The act of strategically planting a tree is like waiting to receive Social Security benefits by taking money from a 401(k). In the same way, a sapling gains strength and height with age to provide more shade and value, the extent to which you can maintain them before harvesting adds to your retirement benefits. It's like pruning a branch to help the tree grow - early withdrawal from a 401(k) is a sacrifice for future profits. Patience and foresight create this strong, fully-canopied tree (retirement fund) in this ecosystem for your autumn days of solace and protection.

Added Fact:

Changing tax law may add new considerations for 401(k) and Social Security strategies for PG&E professionals approaching retirement. The SECURE Act of 2019 raises the age for Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from 70 1/2 to 72, giving retirement funds extra time to grow tax-deferred. This could affect when to start Social Security benefits, since the delayed RMD start might fit a strategy of deferring Social Security claims in exchange for higher monthly benefits. The SECURE Act requires people approaching retirement to rethink their withdrawal strategies to maximize retirement income.

Added Analogy:

Retirement planning for PG&E professionals is like a captain making a long voyage. 401(k) is the ship, filled with provisions for the trip, and Social Security benefits are the trade winds that can push the vessel forward faster. Choosing to withdraw early from 401(k) reserves is like the captain using stored sails to catch early, weaker breezes to save for the stronger, later winds that make the journey more efficient in the long haul.

By delaying Social Security drawdown until full retirement age or later, the captain makes sure that when the sails are unrolled, they catch the strongest winds, which makes for a more steady and abundant ride through retirement years. Having this strategic patience allows the journey to stretch more easily, because the stronger trade winds of later-life Social Security benefits will provide more robust support than the early gusts that were tempting but not as fruitful.

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Sources:

1. Center for Retirement Research at Boston College.  'A Social Security Bridge Option Would Help Reduce Early-Claiming Penalties for Those with Retirement Savings.'  Center for Retirement Research at Boston College ,  economicpolicyresearch.org . Accessed 28 Feb. 2025.

2. Kiplinger.  'How the Social Security Bridge Strategy Works.'  Kiplinger ,  kiplinger.com . Accessed 28 Feb. 2025.

3. ASPPA.  'Is There Interest in a Social Security Bridge?'  ASPPA ,  asppa-net.org . Accessed 28 Feb. 2025.

4. Kiplinger.  'Increase Your Social Security Payments up to $2,187 per Month.'  Kiplinger ,  kiplinger.com . Accessed 28 Feb. 2025.

5. Morningstar.  'Maybe You Shouldn't Delay Taking Your Social Security Benefits After All.'  Morningstar ,  morningstar.com . Accessed 28 Feb. 2025.