Till Death Do Us Part... Or Not: Financial Planning for Unmarried Couples

July 26, 2024

Jennifer and David had been together for eight years. They owned a house, shared a dog, and were talking about starting a family. To all their friends and family, they were as good as married. But legally? They were just two individuals sharing a life.


One day, David was in a severe car accident. As he lay unconscious in the hospital, Jennifer was shocked to discover she had no legal right to make medical decisions for him. Their shared house? It was in David’s name only. Many of their utilities and credit cards were also in David’s name, so the companies wouldn't speak with Jennifer when she called them about their bills.


These are just a few examples of the unique challenges unmarried couples face. While love may not need a marriage certificate, your finances might appreciate one. You're not alone if you're in a committed relationship without plans to tie the knot. According to the Pew Research Center, the number of U.S. adults in cohabiting relationships has steadily increased in recent years. 


Without the automatic legal benefits that come with marriage, unmarried couples need to be proactive in protecting their financial interests and ensuring their future together is secure.


The "What If" Conversation: Preparing for the Unexpected


It's not the most romantic topic, but it's crucial. Sit down with your partner and discuss what would happen if one of you became incapacitated or passed away. Who would make medical decisions? Who would inherit your assets? Without legal protections, your partner could be left out in the cold.


Being prepared for the unexpected starts with: 

  • Creating a durable power of attorney for healthcare decisions. 
  • Drafting a living will outlining your end-of-life care preferences. 
  • Determining a regular power of attorney for financial decisions. 
  • Signing HIPAA authorization forms to allow the release of medical information to your partner.


Joint Finances: Financial Planning for Unmarried Couples


Navigating financial life as an unmarried couple presents unique challenges and opportunities. From buying a home together to planning for retirement, every decision requires careful consideration and clear communication. 


Below are some tips on how to protect your assets, increase your communication, manage your estate, plan for retirement, and understand the implications of taxes and insurance. 


Protect Your Home Sweet Home


If you're buying a home together, think carefully about how you'll hold the title. Options include:

  • Tenants in Common: You each own a specific percentage of the property. If one partner dies, their share goes to their estate, not automatically to the other partner.
  • Joint Tenants with Right of Survivorship: You both own the entire property. If one partner dies, the other automatically inherits their share.


Consider a cohabitation agreement that outlines how you'll handle the property if you split up. It's like a prenup but for unmarried couples.


Have the Money Talk


How will you handle your finances? Some couples keep everything separate, while others combine everything. Many find a middle ground works best. You might consider:

  • A joint account for shared expenses, with individual accounts for personal spending. 
  • A detailed budget outlining who pays for what. 
  • Regular "money dates" to discuss your financial goals and progress. 


Remember, without the legal protections of marriage, it's crucial to keep clear records of who contributes what to shared assets.


Plan for Retirement 


Unmarried couples miss out on some of the retirement perks that come with marriage. For example, you cannot claim Social Security benefits based on your partner's work record. But there are still ways to plan for a comfortable retirement together:

  • Max out your individual retirement accounts.
  • If one partner earns significantly more, consider gifting money to the other to invest (up to the annual gift tax exclusion limit).
  • Look into domestic partner benefits offered by your employers.


Review Insurance Matters


Review your insurance policies to make sure your partner is protected:

  • Health insurance: Explore options for domestic partner health insurance coverage, which some employers offer.
  • Life insurance: Name your partner as the beneficiary to provide financial protection if something happens to you.
  • Disability insurance: This can replace a portion of your income if you're unable to work due to illness or injury.


Plan Your Estate


You might think estate planning is just for the wealthy, but it's crucial for unmarried couples. Without a will, your assets will be distributed according to state law, which often favors blood relatives over unmarried partners.

Consider creating:

  • A will that clearly outlines your wishes.
  • A living trust to avoid probate and provide more control over asset distribution.
  • Beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance policies.


Explore Tax Implications


When it comes to taxes, unmarried couples face a different landscape than their married counterparts. While you might miss out on some benefits, there can also be advantages. Let's break it down:

  • Filing Status: As an unmarried couple, you'll each file as single or, if you have dependents, possibly as head of household. This means you can't take advantage of the married filing jointly status, which often results in a lower tax bill.
  • Income Thresholds: On the flip side, staying single for tax purposes can be beneficial if you both have high incomes. Married couples sometimes face a "marriage penalty" where their combined income pushes them into a higher tax bracket.
  • Deductions and Credits: You cannot both claim the same child as a dependent, but you might alternate years if you're co-parenting. Only one can claim mortgage interest and property tax deductions if you own a home together. Education credits, like the American Opportunity Credit, can only be claimed by one person for each student.
  • Gift Tax Considerations: Unmarried couples must be aware of the annual gift tax exclusion (currently $18,000 in 2024) when transferring money between partners. Exceeding this amount could require filing a gift tax return.
  • Health Insurance: If one partner covers the other on their employer-provided health insurance, the value of that coverage is often taxable income for the covered partner. Married couples don't face this issue.
  • Selling a Home: If you sell your primary residence, each unmarried partner can exclude up to $250,000 of gain, potentially allowing for a $500,000 exclusion — the same as a married couple.
  • Retirement Account Contributions: You can't contribute to an IRA for your partner like married couples can. However, this also means you're not limited by a non-working spouse's income regarding Roth IRA contributions.
  • Estate Taxes: Unmarried partners can't take advantage of the unlimited marital deduction for estate taxes. However, with proper planning, you can still transfer significant assets to your partner tax-free.
  • State Taxes: Remember to consider state taxes, which can vary significantly. Some states recognize domestic partnerships or civil unions, which might affect your state tax situation.


Remember, tax laws are complex and change frequently. Working with a qualified tax professional who can help you find the most advantageous approach for your situation is crucial. They can help you identify opportunities to minimize your tax burden while ensuring you're fully compliant with all relevant laws.


At Five Pine Wealth Management, we work to ensure our clients' financial plans are tax-efficient. We can help you understand the tax implications of your financial decisions and develop strategies to optimize your tax situation as an unmarried couple.


Protect Your Business


Written agreements are crucial if you and your partner run a business together. Consider creating:

  • A partnership agreement outlining roles, responsibilities, and profit-sharing. 
  • Buy-sell agreements in case one partner wants to leave the business. 
  • Succession plans for what happens to the business if one partner dies or becomes incapacitated. 


Take the Next Step Together With Five Pine Wealth Management


Remember Jennifer and David from our opening story? After David’s accident, they realized how unprepared they were. They worked with a financial advisor to create a comprehensive plan that protected them both. Now, they know that they're financially prepared no matter what life throws their way.


Financial planning requires careful consideration and proactive steps for unmarried couples. You can build a secure and prosperous future together by addressing the unique challenges and leveraging the opportunities.


If you and your partner are navigating financial planning without the legal framework of marriage, we’re here to help. At Five Pine Wealth Management, we specialize in helping couples — married or not — build strong financial foundations for their future together. We understand that every relationship is unique, and we're here to help you create a plan that works for you.


Ready to take the next step in securing your financial future together? We'd love to chat. Visit us at Five Pine Wealth Management, call 877.333.1015, or email us at info@fivepinewealth.com.


Remember, love may not need a piece of paper, but your finances might appreciate some documentation. Let's work together to ensure your partnership is emotionally and financially protected.


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“Which Account Do I Pull From First?” A Guide to Smarter Retirement Withdrawals

March 26, 2026
Key Takeaways Your retirement withdrawal order affects your taxes, Medicare premiums, and how long your money lasts. The traditional sequence (taxable → tax-deferred → Roth) is a useful starting point, but it isn't right for everyone. Drawing from multiple account types at the same time can help you manage your tax bracket year to year. Roth conversions in the early years of retirement can reduce your future RMD burden. If you're approaching retirement, there's a good chance you've spent decades doing everything right. You saved consistently, maxed out your accounts, and built a solid nest egg across multiple account types. But once retirement arrives, the question shifts. It's no longer "How do I save more?" It's "Which account do I pull from first?" It's a question most people haven't thought much about — and understandably so. You've spent years focused on building. But how you draw down your accounts matters just as much as how you built them up. Why Your Retirement Withdrawal Order Matters It's tempting to assume you can just pull from whichever account is most convenient. And honestly, in the short term, that works fine. Over a 20- or 30-year retirement, though, the sequence of your withdrawals shapes your tax bracket every single year, your Medicare premiums, the growth potential of your remaining accounts, and what you eventually leave behind for your family. Your retirement accounts aren’t taxed the same way: Traditional 401(k) or IRA : Tax-deferred, owing ordinary income tax on withdrawals Roth IRA : Tax-free, no taxes on qualified withdrawals Taxable brokerage account : More favorable long-term capital gains rate when holding investments for a year or more A thoughtful withdrawal strategy draws from each bucket in a way that keeps your taxable income as smooth and low as possible throughout retirement. The Traditional Withdrawal Order (and When It Makes Sense) For many retirees, the conventional wisdom goes like this: 1. Start with taxable accounts. Brokerage accounts and savings are often tapped first because the growth in these accounts is taxed annually anyway, and using them first lets your tax-advantaged accounts continue to grow undisturbed. 2. Move to tax-deferred accounts next. Your traditional IRA, 401(k), or 403(b) accounts are next in line. Withdrawals here are taxed as ordinary income, so drawing on them in a thoughtful, measured way helps you avoid unnecessary jumps into higher tax brackets. 3. Preserve Roth accounts for last. Roth IRAs aren't subject to Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) during your lifetime, and withdrawals are tax-free. Letting your Roth sit and grow as long as possible tends to pay off, both for you and for any heirs who may inherit it. This framework is a reasonable starting point, and for some retirees, it works well. But it's not a universal rule. Where the Traditional Order Falls Short Here's a scenario we see fairly often. A client retires at 63 with most of their savings in a traditional IRA. They draw from their taxable accounts first — totally reasonable. But by the time they hit 73, their IRA has grown large enough that the required distributions push them into a higher tax bracket than they were in at the start of retirement. Throw in Medicare surcharges (called IRMAA), and what felt like a smart, conservative strategy in their 60s has quietly created a real tax burden a decade later. That's why we often recommend a more nuanced approach — one that considers what your tax picture looks like across your entire retirement, not just in the first year or two. Tax Diversification and the Case for Blending A blended decumulation strategy, rather than a strict withdrawal sequence, often serves retirees better than following one account type at a time. The goal is to keep your taxable income in a range that helps you stay below the thresholds that trigger higher tax brackets, IRMAA surcharges, and heavier taxation on Social Security benefits. Here's a practical example: if your expenses can be covered by a mix of Social Security and modest IRA withdrawals that keep you in the 12% tax bracket, you might also consider doing some Roth conversions that same year. You'd move money from your traditional IRA to your Roth while your tax rate is still low. Yes, you pay the tax now. But from that point on, your Roth grows tax-free — and your future RMDs shrink. It takes careful planning and realistic income projections, but for many retirees, it's one of the most effective tools available. The Behavioral Side of Withdrawal Strategy We've covered the math. But there's a human side to this that doesn't get talked about enough. A lot of retirees feel hesitant to touch certain accounts, especially ones they spent decades carefully building. We've worked with clients who had more than enough saved but were pulling too little — simply because spending down their IRA felt uncomfortable. That emotional hesitation sometimes led them to draw from the wrong accounts for the wrong reasons. Having a clear, written withdrawal plan takes a lot of that pressure off. When you know which account you're pulling from and why, you're far less likely to second-guess yourself when markets get bumpy or make reactive moves that throw off an otherwise solid plan. Think of it as guardrails: a defined spending amount, a clear account order, and a scheduled check-in to revisit when things change. There’s No One-Size-Fits-All Answer The right withdrawal sequence depends on things specific to you: how much you have and where it's held, your expected income in retirement, when you plan to take Social Security, whether you have a pension, how your state treats retirement income, and what you'd like to leave behind. A strategy that's a perfect fit for one person can create real headaches for another. That's why this is one of the first things we talk through with clients who are getting close to retirement — and one we revisit as things change. If you're within five to ten years of retirement and haven't mapped out a withdrawal plan yet, now is a good time to start. Before RMDs kick in is often when you have the most flexibility to plan. We'd love to walk through what this looks like for your specific situation. Reach out anytime at info@fivepinewealth.com or call 877.333.1015. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Q: Does my withdrawal order change if I have a pension? A: Yes, it can. A pension provides guaranteed income, so you may already be covering a good chunk of your expenses before touching your investment accounts. That changes how aggressively you need to draw from tax-deferred accounts — and may create more room for Roth conversions early in retirement. Q: How does Social Security timing affect my withdrawal strategy? A: If you delay Social Security to boost your monthly benefit, you'll need to cover living expenses from your portfolio in the meantime. That gap period is often a smart time to draw down traditional IRA balances at a lower tax rate, before Social Security income pushes your taxable income higher. Q: Can my withdrawal order affect my Medicare premiums?  A: It can. Medicare uses your income from two years prior to set your Part B and Part D premiums. A large IRA withdrawal that bumps your income above certain thresholds could mean higher premiums (IRMAA surcharges) two years down the road. Keeping those thresholds in mind when planning withdrawals can help you avoid some unwelcome surprises. Five Pine Wealth Management is a fee-only, fiduciary financial planning firm based in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. We work with individuals and families across the country who want thoughtful, personalized guidance — without the conflicts of interest that come with commission-based advice.

Is Your PERSI Pension Enough? How to Fill the Retirement Income Gap

February 26, 2026
Key Takeaways PERSI provides guaranteed lifetime income, with most retirees recovering their entire contribution within 3.5 years of retirement. PERSI by itself usually isn't enough. The most secure retirement comes from combining your pension with Social Security, IRAs, and your own savings. Your distribution option choice is permanent and irrevocable — choosing the right survivor benefit can protect your spouse or maximize your monthly payment. If you’re a teacher, first responder, or public employee in Idaho, you’ve heard about PERSI, the Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho. You contribute to it with every paycheck, often before you even notice the money is gone. But do you actually understand how it works and what it means for your retirement? You're not alone if the answer is "not really." Most public employees know they have PERSI, but they're fuzzy on the details. How much will you actually get? When can you retire? What's this "Rule of 90" everyone mentions? And most importantly, how does your PERSI pension fit together with your 401(k), IRA, and Social Security? Let's break it down so you can make informed decisions about your retirement future. What is PERSI? PERSI is Idaho's defined benefit pension plan for public employees. If you work 20 hours or more per week for a qualifying public employer — school districts, fire departments, state agencies, and more — you're automatically enrolled in the PERSI Base Plan. What makes it different from your 401(k) or IRA is that it is a defined benefit plan (pension), not just a retirement savings account. This difference is important. With a 401(k) or IRA, you contribute money, it grows (or doesn't, depending on the market), and eventually you withdraw it. You bear all the investment risk, and you're responsible for making your money last through retirement. With PERSI, you're earning a guaranteed monthly payment for life once you retire. The state invests your contributions and your employer's contributions, manages the investment risk, and promises you a specific benefit based on a formula tied to your salary and years of service. You can think of it as a mix between the old pension plans your grandparents may have had and today’s 401(k) system. You contribute, unlike traditional pensions, where only the employer paid in, but you also get guaranteed lifetime income, unlike 401(k)s, where you might outlive your savings. PERSI Contribution Rates With every paycheck, a portion of your gross salary automatically goes to your PERSI Base Plan. You don't get a choice about this. It’s required if you qualify for PERSI. Your employer also adds a percentage of your salary. The current contribution rates are: Public Safety School Employee General Member Employee rate 10.83% 8.08% 7.18% Employer rate 14.65% 13.48% 11.96% Let's say you earn $60,000 a year as a teacher. You're contributing $4,848 annually to PERSI, and your district is adding another $8,088. That's $12,936 going into the system on your behalf every single year. Unlike a 401(k), where you choose your investments, PERSI puts these contributions into a professionally managed fund. You do not pick stocks or bonds. Investment professionals handle that to make sure the fund can meet its future promises to retirees. Using the PERSI Retirement Calculator The PERSI retirement calculator, available at persi.idaho.gov , lets you model different retirement scenarios based on your age, salary, and years of service. The calculator shows what your monthly benefit would be if you retire at different ages. It's worth spending 15 minutes playing with the numbers. You might be surprised at how much your monthly payment changes based on when you retire. Many public employees in their 50s are surprised when they use the calculator and see their pension might be smaller than expected, or sometimes better than they feared. Either way, it is better to find out now than just a few years before you want to retire. The Retirement Age Rules You Need to Know About PERSI has very specific rules on retirement age. You must understand these rules because they determine when you can retire. Option 1: Age 65 (Age 60 for Public Safety) You can retire with full PERSI benefits at age 65 (or age 60 for public safety employees), regardless of how long you've worked. Even if you have only 5 years of credited service, you're eligible at 65. Option 2: The Rule of 90/80 This is the rule most public employees bank on for early retirement. To qualify, you need to meet all three of these requirements: You're at least 55 years old (50 for public safety employees) You have at least 60 months (5 years) of credited service Your age plus years of service equals 90 or more (80 for public safety employees) If you retire before meeting the service age requirement or the Rule of 90/80, your retirement benefit will be reduced. Here are some examples: Jennifer is a teacher and is 58 years old. She has 32 years of service. 58 + 32 = 90 → full retirement Martin is a firefighter with 30 years of service. He is 50 years old. 50 + 30 = 80 → full retirement Both Jennifer and Martin are eligible for full retirement based on the Rule of 90/80. If you meet the Rule of 90/80, you may be able to retire earlier than age 65 or 60. This can have a big impact on: Your lifetime benefit Your bridge strategy to Social Security How much you need to draw from other accounts How Your PERSI Benefit Is Calculated Your monthly PERSI payment isn't a guess. It's based on a specific formula: Average Monthly Salary × 2% (2.3% for public safety) × Months of Credited Service Let's break down each piece: Average Monthly Salary: PERSI looks at your highest consecutive 42 months of salary (that's 3.5 years). This is usually your final years of work when you're earning the most. If your highest 42 months averaged $5,000 per month, that's the number used in the formula. The 2% (or 2.3%) Multiplier: This is fixed. For each month of service, you earn 2% (or 2.3%) of your average monthly salary. Months of Credited Service: Every month you work and contribute to PERSI counts. Thirty years equals 360 months. If you took a few years off and came back to public service, only the months you actually contributed count. Now let’s look at a real example: Let's say you're a teacher whose highest 42 months averaged $6,250 per month, and you have 30 years (360 months) of service: $6,250 × 0.02 × 360 = $45,000 per year, or $3,750 per month That's your guaranteed monthly payment for life, starting when you retire. It will also receive cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) over time to help keep pace with inflation. Here's an interesting fact: based on historical data, most retirees make back every dollar they personally contributed to PERSI within approximately 3.5 years of receiving benefits. After that, all payments come from the investment returns on contributions and your employer's contributions. If you retire at 60 and live to 90, you will get 30 years of monthly payments. Even if you only contributed for 25 years, you would still receive benefits for more than 30 years. This shows the value of a defined benefit pension. PERSI Distribution Options: A Critical Decision When you retire, you'll need to choose how to receive your PERSI benefit. This decision is permanent and irrevocable, so you need to understand your options: Regular Retirement (Full Benefit) You receive the full monthly benefit under the formula discussed above, and payments continue for your lifetime. When you die, payments stop. Nothing goes to a spouse or beneficiary. This option gives you the highest monthly payment, but it offers no protection for your spouse if you die first. Option 1: 100% Survivor Benefit You receive a reduced monthly benefit, but when you die, your contingent annuitant (usually your spouse) continues receiving 100% of that same reduced benefit for the rest of their life. This option typically reduces your benefit by about 10-15% from the full amount, but provides maximum protection for your spouse. Example : Instead of $4,000 per month under Regular Retirement, you might receive $3,400 per month. If you die, your spouse continues receiving $3,400 per month for life. Option 2: 50% Survivor Benefit You receive a smaller reduction to your monthly benefit, and when you die, your contingent annuitant receives 50% of your reduced benefit for their lifetime. This is a middle option. It reduces your payment less than Option 1, but also gives your spouse less protection. Example : Instead of $4,000 per month, you might receive $3,640 per month. If you die, your spouse receives $1,832 per month for life. Lump Sum Distribution You can take all of your employee contributions plus interest as a lump sum and forgo the monthly pension entirely. This is almost always a bad idea. You would lose the employer contributions, which are usually 60% or more of the total, and the guaranteed lifetime income. Most financial advisors would tell you to avoid this option unless you have a very unusual situation. Which Option Is Right for You? This depends heavily on your personal situation: Are you married? If so, you should seriously consider Option 1 or Option 2 to protect your spouse. If you're single with no dependents, Regular Retirement makes sense. What's your spouse's financial situation? If they have their own substantial pension or retirement savings, they may not need 100% of your benefit. If they'll depend on your pension as their primary income source, Option 1 is crucial. What's your health status? If you have serious health issues and don't expect to live long in retirement, that changes the calculation. But be careful about betting against yourself living longer than expected. Do you have life insurance? Some retirees take the full benefit (Regular Retirement) and use a portion of it to pay for life insurance that would provide a death benefit to their spouse. This can work, but requires careful analysis. This decision is complex enough that it's worth sitting down with a financial advisor who understands pension planning. The right choice could mean tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars difference over your combined lifetimes. How PERSI Fits Into Your Complete Retirement Picture PERSI alone probably won't fund the retirement you're dreaming about. According to retirement research , the average retiree's income comes from multiple sources: Social Security, pension income, and personal savings (401(k)s, IRAs, and other investments). Very few people retire comfortably on a single income source. Your Retirement Income Streams Think of retirement income as a three- or four-legged stool: Leg 1: PERSI Pension – Your guaranteed monthly payment for life based on your years of service and salary. Leg 2: Social Security – Another guaranteed monthly payment based on your lifetime earnings. Most teachers and public employees also earn Social Security credits unless they're in a position that doesn't pay into Social Security. Leg 3: Personal Savings – Your PERSI Choice 401(k), traditional IRA, Roth IRA, or other retirement accounts you've funded over the years. Leg 4: Other Assets – Rental properties, taxable brokerage accounts, a business you might sell, or other investments. The best retirement plans have at least three of these sources, and ideally all four. PERSI gives you a strong base, but it shouldn't be your only plan. Why You Still Need to Save Outside of PERSI Let's say your PERSI benefit will be $4,000 per month, and your Social Security will add another $2,500. That's $6,500 per month, or $78,000 per year. Is that enough? Maybe. But: What if you want to travel extensively in your early retirement years? What about healthcare costs before Medicare kicks in at 65? What if you need long-term care later in life? What about leaving something to your children or grandchildren? What if inflation erodes your purchasing power more than the COLAs can keep up with? This is why financial advisors suggest having personal savings in addition to your pension. Even if your PERSI benefit is generous, having $500,000 or $1 million in a 401(k) or IRA gives you more flexibility and security than a pension alone. The PERSI Choice 401(k): Should You Contribute? In addition to the mandatory PERSI Base Plan, you have access to the PERSI Choice 401(k) — a voluntary defined contribution plan where you can contribute additional money for retirement. For 2026, you can contribute up to $24,500 annually ($32,500 if you're 50 or older with catch-up contributions). These contributions are tax-deferred, meaning they reduce your taxable income now and grow tax-free until withdrawal. Should You Use It? The PERSI Choice 401(k) can be valuable: Pros: Higher contribution limits than an IRA ($24,500 vs. $7,500 for 2026) Automatic payroll deduction makes saving easier Tax-deferred growth Loans may be available if you need emergency access Keeps your retirement savings in one place alongside your pension Cons: No employer match Limited investment options compared to an IRA Fees may be higher than low-cost IRA options Early withdrawal penalties before age 59½ Traditional IRA vs. Roth IRA: Which Is Better for PERSI Members? Beyond your PERSI plans, you should consider opening an IRA to supplement your retirement savings. The choice between traditional and Roth depends on your situation. Traditional IRA Contributions may be tax-deductible (depending on your income) Money grows tax-deferred Withdrawals in retirement are taxed as ordinary income 2026 contribution limit: $7,500 ($8,600 if 50+) Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) start at age 73 Roth IRA Contributions are made with after-tax dollars (no deduction) Money grows tax-free Withdrawals in retirement are completely tax-free 2026 contribution limit: $7,500 ($8,600 if 50+) No RMDs during your lifetime Income limits apply (phase-out begins at $153,000 for single filers, $242,000 for married filing jointly in 2026) Which Makes Sense for You? Here's our thinking for PERSI members specifically: Consider a Roth IRA if: You're earlier in your career and currently in a lower tax bracket You expect your pension + Social Security to push you into a higher bracket in retirement You want tax-free income to supplement your taxable pension payments You want flexibility (Roth contributions can be withdrawn anytime without penalty) Consider a Traditional IRA if: You want the tax deduction now to reduce current taxes You expect to be in a lower tax bracket in retirement You're maxing out other retirement accounts and want additional tax-deferred space For many teachers and public employees, a Roth IRA is a smart choice because their PERSI pension already gives them a base of taxable income. Having tax-free money in a Roth IRA gives you more control over your taxes in retirement. Imagine being able to take $20,000 from your Roth IRA for a special trip without bumping yourself into a higher tax bracket or triggering taxation on more of your Social Security benefits. That's the power of tax diversification. How Five Pine Wealth Management Helps PERSI is a valuable benefit and is often one of the best parts of working in public service in Idaho. The guaranteed lifetime income it provides is becoming rare in today’s retirement world. But PERSI by itself is not a complete retirement plan. It is a critical foundation, but still just one part of the bigger picture. Understanding how PERSI works, when you can retire, how your benefit is calculated, and what distribution option makes sense for your family puts you in control of your retirement future. Combining your PERSI pension with smart use of Social Security, continued savings in IRAs and 401(k)s, and strategic planning around taxes and healthcare gives you the best chance of living the retirement you've earned. You've spent 20, 30, or more years serving your community as a teacher, first responder, or public employee. You've earned this retirement. Take the time now to understand your benefits, make informed decisions, and build a plan that works for you and your family. At Five Pine Wealth Management , we specialize in helping Idaho public employees navigate their retirement planning, including understanding how PERSI fits into your complete financial picture. You've put in the years. Now let's make sure your retirement plan reflects that. If you have questions about your PERSI options, want to run the numbers together, or just want a second set of eyes on your plan, we'd love to chat. Reach out at info@fivepinewealth.com or give us a call at 877.333.1015. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Q: Can I rely on PERSI alone for retirement? A: PERSI provides a strong lifetime income, but most retirees still need other savings to cover taxes, inflation, and discretionary spending. Q: What’s the difference between the PERSI Base Plan and the PERSI Choice 401(k)? A: The Base Plan is a pension that pays income for life, while the Choice 401(k) is an optional account you control and invest yourself. Q: What happens to my PERSI if I change jobs within Idaho public service?  A: Nothing. Your service credit automatically carries over between PERSI employers as long as you don’t withdraw your funds.