Too many retirees make one pension decision they can’t undo and it reshapes their entire financial future. We break down the real trade-offs hiding behind payout options, survivor benefits, and the lure of a lump sum, then show you how to weave your pension together with Social Security and investments to build a calm, resilient retirement plan.

We start by reframing the pension as a supercharged bond; steady, predictable income that can cover the must-haves and free your portfolio to fund the fun stuff. You’ll learn a simple two-column method to map fixed expenses against guaranteed income, why 80 to 100 percent coverage is a powerful target, and how that floor helps you sleep at night when markets get rough. From there, we unpack the key payout choices: single life for maximum income, joint-and-survivor to protect both lives, and variations with different survivor percentages. We explain how to stress test each option against age, health, tax implications, and timing your Social Security benefits.

A candid case study shows the cost of chasing the biggest monthly number and leaving a spouse with too little income. We also walk through when a lump sum can work; low fixed expenses, solid guaranteed coverage, strong legacy goals, and the discipline to manage market risk after rolling to an IRA. To keep you out of trouble, we highlight common mistakes like ignoring inflation, misreading the pension’s bond-like role, and making decisions in silos instead of as a system. By the end, you’ll have a clear framework: cover essentials with guarantees, fund goals with growth, and choose a payout that protects the person you love most.

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🗓️ Meet with me: https://paradigmwealthpartners.com/begin-your-journey/#calendly
↔️ Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbednarii/
🌐 Paradigm Wealth Partners (website) – Financial planning for career professionals who want to retire and stay retired: https://paradigmwealthpartners.com/
🌐 What the Wealth (website) – Adding clarity to difficult financial topics: https://whatthewealth.com/
▶️ YouTube: Paradigm Wealth Partners

If you or someone you care about could use the help of a financial advisor and sees the value in establishing a financial plan, please reach out to me.

Thanks for Listening!

Jonathan