Work with me: https://farerfinancial.com/get-started

Every Social Security video on YouTube was built for someone without a pension. This one isn't.

If you're a teacher, firefighter, administrator, or any state or local government employee with a defined benefit pension, the standard Social Security timing advice doesn't apply to your situation — and following it without understanding the difference could cost you.

When you layer Social Security on top of a pension and a large pre-tax 403(b) or 457, the decision isn't just "do I get more if I wait?" It becomes a tax question. And most people never see it that way until it's too late to do much about it.

In this episode, Cole breaks down the Social Security timing decision specifically for pension holders — why the conventional framework gets it wrong for your situation, how pension income changes the math, and what questions are actually worth asking before you file.

Topics covered:

• Why standard Social Security timing advice doesn't apply to pension holders
• How pension income interacts with Social Security taxation
• The tax implications of stacking pension, Social Security, and RMDs
• A framework for thinking about filing timing when your income doesn't stop at retirement

This episode is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute personalized investment, tax, legal, or insurance advice. Viewing this content does not create an advisory relationship. The strategies and examples discussed are hypothetical and for illustrative purposes only. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.Farer Financial LLC is a Registered Investment Adviser registered with the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions.

Work with me: https://farerfinancial.com/get-started

If you have a pension and you keep telling yourself "just one more year" — this episode breaks down exactly what that decision is actually costing you.

Most public employees think retiring early is the financial risk. But for pension holders, staying past the point of financial readiness has its own costs — and most people never run the numbers to see what they are.

In this episode, Cole walks through six reasons pension holders should stop waiting: the time you can never get back, the health toll of a long public service career, the relationships taking a hit, the energy window that doesn't last forever, the Roth conversion opportunity most people miss entirely, and why pension holders consistently underestimate how financially ready they already are.

The pension changes the math more than most people realize. This episode is about understanding exactly how — and what questions are worth asking about your own situation.

Topics covered:

• Why your retirement date is a tax decision, not just a lifestyle decision
• The Roth conversion window between retirement and RMDs at 73
• Why pension holders compare themselves to the wrong benchmark
• The "one more year" syndrome and what it actually costs

This episode is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute personalized investment, tax, legal, or insurance advice. Viewing this content does not create an advisory relationship. The strategies and examples discussed are hypothetical and for illustrative purposes only. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.Farer Financial LLC is a Registered Investment Adviser registered with the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions.

Work with me: https://farerfinancial.com/get-started

If you're a public employee with a pension, the generic retirement advice — "don't worry about Roth conversions, you'll be in a lower tax bracket" — may not apply to you. In this episode, Cole Krilich of Farer Financial LLC breaks down five reasons why pension holders need to take a closer look at Roth conversions than most financial content suggests.

Topics covered:

• Why your pension may keep you in a higher tax bracket than you expect
• How required minimum distributions (RMDs) stack on top of pension income and create a tax problem
• The widow's tax penalty and why it hits pension holders especially hard
• How your predictable pension income is actually a powerful planning tool for Roth conversions
• Why your conversion window may be shorter than you think — and how Social Security, RMD age, and IRMAA all factor in

This episode is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute personalized investment, tax, legal, or insurance advice. Viewing this content does not create an advisory relationship. The strategies and examples discussed are hypothetical and for illustrative purposes only. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.

Farer Financial LLC is a Registered Investment Adviser registered with the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions.