Commuted Pension Infographic

When it comes to retiring with a defined benefit pension, you may have options. This Pension Considerations infographic illustrates some of the many pros and cons of each option.  Deciding to take regular payments of monthly income or a lump sum commuted value from the plan requires careful consideration.

“Specific pension details should be carefully reviewed to ensure the best personal option is made.”

Receiving a regular monthly pension has both advantages and disadvantages including:

  • While the pension payments are fully taxable, you will receive dependable monthly income, indexed to inflation for as long as you live.
  • You won’t have to worry about market fluctuations with a monthly pension amount, however, there is no flexibility in your payments.
  • The pension will end upon your (or your spouse’s) death, leaving nothing for an inheritance.

Taking the commuted value lump sum has both advantages and disadvantages including:

  • You will receive a large cash payout, subject to tax rules, flexible enough to use however you wish now. However, you may be tempted to use this money for your short term needs, depleting funds set aside for your retirement.
  • There are no payment guarantees, so careful asset management is needed to ensure market risk does not adversely affect your funds.
  • When you die, any remaining balance can be passed on as part of your estate.

Other Considerations

The Commuted Pension infographic outlines just some of the many factors to consider before making a decision. Other considerations would include:

  • Other retirement income sources
  • Health insurance or other benefits that may be tied to the pension
  • Overall health
  • Short term and long term needs
  • Retirement Readiness
  • and more

The infographic is meant to help start the conversation about pension choices.

Companion Calculator

This infographic works well with the Commuted Pension calculator in FreshPlan and compares taking the commuted value of a defined benefit pension to taking a lifetime pension. The calculator considers taxable income, age, Canadian Income Tax Act present value factor, rate of return, amounts that can be transferred to a locked in account, RRSP room and more. Find this and other retirement calculators in FreshPlan.

Infographic Features

  • Communicate complex concepts with vibrant, sharable, easy-to-understand infographics
  • Personalized for individual Advisors
  • Current and timely for client communications
  • One of many infographics included in FreshPlan software

Calculate. Educate. Plan.

Communicate complex concepts from all areas of financial planning with current, visual infographics.

FreshPlan combines 75 calculators with powerful infographics and planners to provide advisors with a visual, easy-to-use, time saving planning and education tool and can be accessed anywhere, anytime using any device – phone, tablet, iPad, laptop or desktop.