Pilot Retirement Planning

Overview

Airline retirement is fundamentally different from retirement in any other profession. You face a mandatory retirement age, complex pension calculations, benefit windows that open and close on specific timelines, and decisions that are often irreversible once made.

I help pilots cut through the complexity and build a retirement strategy that accounts for everything — from your airline’s specific benefit structure to your personal goals and family situation.

What’s Included

• Retirement timeline analysis — When can you retire? When should you retire? What does “ready” actually look like for your situation?
• Pension optimization — Lump sum vs. annuity modeling, survivor benefit analysis, and integration with Social Security
• Income replacement planning — Building a retirement paycheck from multiple sources: pension, 401(k), investments, Social Security
• Healthcare bridge strategy — Covering the gap between retirement and Medicare eligibility
• Tax-efficient drawdown — Which accounts to tap first, Roth conversion windows, and bracket management

My Process

1. Discovery — I learn about your airline, your benefits, your family, and your goals
2. Analysis — I model your complete retirement picture using your actual numbers
3. Strategy — I present a clear plan with specific actions and timelines
4. Implementation — We execute together, step by step
5. Monitoring — I adjust the plan as markets, benefits, and life evolve

Why Work with Me

I don’t give generic retirement advice. I understand the difference between a Delta pilot’s retirement package and a FedEx pilot’s. I know how PBGC pensions work, when profit-sharing vests, and what happens to your benefits if you retire at 60 vs. 65. This specificity is what makes my guidance different — and more valuable.