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pension lump sum vs annuity

Q&A: Should I cash out my pension to pay off my home?

July 28, 2025 By Liz Weston Leave a Comment

Dear Liz: I was recently and unexpectedly laid off. Money will be tight on Social Security alone. If I take the lump sum of my pension, the amount would be almost enough to pay off my home. Should I do that?

Answer: Pension payments typically continue for life and you can’t lose the money to fraud, bad investments or stock market downturns. If you had plenty of other assets and the pension was small, you might be fine cashing it out. Under the circumstances, though, consider hanging on to this valuable asset.

In general, you should be extremely wary about tying up a large sum in any one investment. That includes paying off a mortgage. You won’t have monthly loan payments anymore but you may have trouble accessing that cash again in an emergency.

Also be cautious about taking Social Security too early. Your benefits will be permanently reduced, which can have a huge effect on your future quality of life. While finding another full-time job can be extremely tough late in life, even a part-time job might be enough to help you delay filing.

You could benefit enormously from individualized financial advice. Consider reaching out to free or low-cost services, such as Advisers Give Back.

Filed Under: Q&A, Retirement Tagged With: delaying Social Security, lump sum vs annuity, maximizing Social Security, paying off a mortgage, Paying Off Debt, pension lump sum vs annuity, pension payout, prepaying a mortgage, Social Security

Q&A: Pension: to lump or not to lump

April 19, 2021 By Liz Weston

Dear Liz: I’m 67 and I’m going to retire later this year. My wife is already retired, and our kids are grown and on their own. I have a 401(k) that I’ve contributed to for most of my working years, and a small traditional IRA. I also have a grandfathered pension plan through my employer. I’m leaning toward taking the pension benefits as a lump sum and rolling it directly to either my 401(k), which my company allows, or my IRA. Would you recommend using the 401(k) to receive the pension rollover? Or would the IRA be the better choice?

Answer: Before you decide where to put the lump sum, please reconsider taking a lump sum in the first place.

Pensions are normally taken as a stream of monthly payments that last for the rest of your lives. (You may be offered a “single life only” option that ends when you die, but that could leave your wife without enough to live on, so the “joint and survivor” option is typically better.) You can’t outlive this money, fraudsters can’t steal it and you won’t lose it to bad markets or bad investment decisions. Most pensions are protected by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp., so even if the plan goes broke, your payments will continue.

Contrast that with the lump sum. Theoretically, you may be able to invest the money and get a better return than what you would get from the annuity option (the monthly payments). But that’s far from guaranteed, and one misstep could leave you far worse off.

There are a few situations where taking a lump sum may be smart. If the pension plan is woefully underfunded, and your benefit would not be entirely protected by the PBGC, you could take the lump sum and either invest it or buy an immediate annuity that would replicate those guaranteed monthly payments.

Filed Under: Q&A, Retirement Tagged With: Pension, pension lump sum vs annuity, q&a

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

June 19, 2019 By Liz Weston

Today’s top story: Pension lump sum or annuity? How to decide. Also in the news: 7 things college freshmen don’t need – and 10 they do, how to get your credit card’s annual fee waived, and exactly how much it will cost to retire well in every state in America.

Pension Lump Sum or Annuity? How to Decide
The health of your fiscal plan is key.

7 Things College Freshmen Don’t Need — and 10 They Do
Skip the big TV.

How to Get Your Credit Card’s Annual Fee Waived
Get ready to spend some time on the phone.

This is exactly how much it will cost to retire well in every state in America
Planning ahead.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: annual fee, college freshmen, Credit Cards, packing for college, pension lump sum vs annuity, retirement costs per state

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