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Healthcare Provider Update: Verizon collaborates with Aetna as its primary healthcare provider, offering a range of health plans and services to its employees and their families. Looking ahead to 2026, the healthcare landscape is poised for significant change, as record hikes in Affordable Care Act (ACA) premiums are anticipated. With some states facing increases exceeding 60%, many individuals could see their out-of-pocket premiums rise by more than 75%, particularly if enhanced federal premium subsidies are not extended. This scenario could create an additional burden for Verizon employees, emphasizing the importance of strategic planning for healthcare coverage amidst such dramatic shifts in costs. Click here to learn more
Verizon 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 Verizon 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:
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1. Use of a 'Social Security bridge strategy' to maximize retirement income.
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2. Delayed Social Security benefits affect monthly payments.
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3. Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) in retirement planning for Verizon professionals.
Volatile markets, high inflation, and complicated financials require many Verizon 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 Verizon.
This 'Social Security bridge' strategy is becoming popular with Verizon 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:
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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 Verizon 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 Verizon 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 Verizon 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 Verizon 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.
Articles you may find interesting:
- Corporate Employees: 8 Factors When Choosing a Mutual Fund
- Use of Escrow Accounts: Divorce
- Medicare Open Enrollment for Corporate Employees: Cost Changes in 2024!
- Stages of Retirement for Corporate Employees
- 7 Things to Consider Before Leaving Your Company
- How Are Workers Impacted by Inflation & Rising Interest Rates?
- Lump-Sum vs Annuity and Rising Interest Rates
- Internal Revenue Code Section 409A (Governing Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans)
- Corporate Employees: Do NOT Believe These 6 Retirement Myths!
- 401K, Social Security, Pension – How to Maximize Your Options
- Have You Looked at Your 401(k) Plan Recently?
- 11 Questions You Should Ask Yourself When Planning for Retirement
- Worst Month of Layoffs In Over a Year!
- Corporate Employees: 8 Factors When Choosing a Mutual Fund
- Use of Escrow Accounts: Divorce
- Medicare Open Enrollment for Corporate Employees: Cost Changes in 2024!
- Stages of Retirement for Corporate Employees
- 7 Things to Consider Before Leaving Your Company
- How Are Workers Impacted by Inflation & Rising Interest Rates?
- Lump-Sum vs Annuity and Rising Interest Rates
- Internal Revenue Code Section 409A (Governing Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans)
- Corporate Employees: Do NOT Believe These 6 Retirement Myths!
- 401K, Social Security, Pension – How to Maximize Your Options
- Have You Looked at Your 401(k) Plan Recently?
- 11 Questions You Should Ask Yourself When Planning for Retirement
- Worst Month of Layoffs In Over a Year!
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.
How does the Verizon Pension Plan facilitate retirement income for long-term employees, and what specific benefits can employees expect when enrolling in the retirement program provided by Verizon? What unique features does the Verizon Pension Plan offer compared to other retirement plans an employee might have encountered, and how can employees maximize the benefits of these features throughout their career at Verizon?
Verizon Pension Plan Benefits: Verizon's Pension Plan offers substantial benefits aimed at facilitating a secure retirement for long-term employees. Upon enrolling in the retirement program, employees can expect defined benefits that are based on their salary and years of service, ensuring a predictable and stable income after retirement. Unique to Verizon, compared to some other plans, may include options for early retirement under certain conditions and a choice between annuity payments or a lump-sum distribution upon retirement. Employees can maximize these features by planning for long-term service and considering their retirement income needs early in their careers.
In what ways can employees at Verizon strategize their rollover decisions when transitioning from the Verizon Pension Plan to other retirement savings plans upon leaving the company? What factors should be considered by Verizon employees to ensure they are making informed choices regarding rolling over funds to a traditional IRA or another qualified employer plan?
Rollover Strategies: When transitioning from the Verizon Pension Plan to other retirement savings options upon leaving the company, employees should strategize their rollover decisions carefully. Factors to consider include the tax implications, the investment options available in the rollover destination, and the timing of the transfer to avoid penalties. Verizon employees should evaluate the benefits of rolling over to a traditional IRA or another employer's plan, considering their future financial needs and retirement goals.
What are the implications of the recent IRS limits for 2024 concerning contributions to retirement plans for Verizon employees, and how does Verizon align its offerings with these federal regulations? Additionally, how can Verizon employees best take advantage of these limits to enhance their retirement savings while adhering to tax regulations?
IRS Contribution Limits: The implications of IRS limits for 2024 are critical for Verizon employees as these limits dictate how much can be contributed tax-deferred into retirement plans. Verizon aligns its offerings with these federal regulations by adjusting contribution limits in their plans accordingly. Employees are encouraged to maximize their contributions to take full advantage of tax-deferred growth, especially when IRS limits increase, thereby enhancing their retirement savings while adhering to tax regulations.
How does the special tax treatment for lump sum distributions from the Verizon Pension Plan affect employees who receive their benefits early or have specific circumstances, such as being born before 1936? What options do these employees have to manage their tax burden effectively, and how can they best navigate these complicated rules while planning for their retirement?
Tax Treatment of Lump Sum Distributions: The special tax treatment for lump sum distributions from the Verizon Pension Plan can significantly affect employees who opt to receive their benefits early or under specific circumstances like being born before 1936. These employees have options to manage their tax burden effectively by opting for ten-year averaging or capital gain treatment on eligible distributions, allowing for a potentially lower tax rate on their pension benefits.
For surviving spouses and alternate payees of Verizon employees, what are the specific benefits available under the Verizon Pension Plan? How do these benefits compare to those available to employees, and what steps must surviving spouses or alternate payees take to ensure they receive their entitled benefits without delays or complications?
Benefits for Surviving Spouses and Alternate Payees: For surviving spouses and alternate payees, the Verizon Pension Plan offers benefits similar to those available to employees, such as annuity payments or lump-sum options. These beneficiaries must take certain steps to ensure they receive their benefits without delays, such as providing necessary documentation and adhering to plan rules. The plan details and processes for claiming benefits should be clearly understood to avoid complications.
How can Verizon employees utilize the resources available through the Verizon Benefits Center to better understand and manage their retirement benefits? What specific tools and services does the Benefits Center provide, and how can these resources assist employees in making informed decisions regarding their pension plan options?
Utilizing Resources at the Verizon Benefits Center: Verizon employees can utilize various tools and services provided by the Verizon Benefits Center to manage and understand their retirement benefits. The Benefits Center offers personalized consultations, detailed plan documentation, and tools for estimating pension benefits and planning retirement income, assisting employees in making informed decisions about their pension plan options.
What challenges might Verizon employees face regarding eligibility and tax withholding when receiving their pension payments, and how can they mitigate these issues? It's crucial for employees to understand the mechanics of eligibility regarding rollovers and payment processing; what key pieces of information should they be aware of to avoid unexpected taxes?
Challenges in Eligibility and Tax Withholding: Verizon employees might face challenges regarding eligibility and tax withholding when receiving pension payments. Understanding the plan's criteria for eligibility, the implications of rollovers, and the impact of mandatory withholding on distributions is crucial. Employees can mitigate these issues by consulting with the Verizon Benefits Center or a tax advisor to ensure compliance and avoid unexpected taxes.
What is the process for Verizon employees wishing to initiate a direct rollover from the Verizon Pension Plan, and what documentation will they need to prepare? Can employees receive assistance from the Verizon Benefits Center during this process, and how does using a direct rollover benefit them compared to other forms of payment?
Direct Rollover Process: The process for initiating a direct rollover involves deciding the destination of the rollover (traditional IRA or another employer plan), completing necessary documentation, and potentially seeking assistance from the Verizon Benefits Center. A direct rollover helps in avoiding immediate taxes and maintaining the tax-deferred status of retirement savings.
In terms of retirement preparedness, how does the pension plan at Verizon accommodate employees’ needs for financial security in their senior years? What additional education or resources does Verizon provide to assure that employees fully understand their retirement options and the importance of planning ahead?
Retirement Preparedness: Verizon's pension plan is designed to accommodate the financial security needs of employees in their senior years. In addition to the pension benefits, Verizon provides educational resources and planning tools to ensure employees understand their retirement options and the importance of early and consistent retirement planning.
How can employees reach out to the Verizon Benefits Center for further information about the pension plan and other retirement benefits? What specific contact methods are available to employees, and how can these interactions enhance their understanding and management of retirement benefits provided by Verizon?
Contacting the Verizon Benefits Center: Verizon employees seeking more information about their pension plan and other retirement benefits can reach out to the Verizon Benefits Center through various contact methods such as phone, email, or online portals. These interactions are crucial for enhancing understanding and effective management of retirement benefits, ensuring employees make the most of the benefits available to them.
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