Yellow | To retire or not???

I retired August 2017 and never looked back. FIRST OF ALL....have all your financial affairs in order and be debt free. I am holding off until age 70 on my SS. CS Retire insurance is $100 a month and the coverage is equal to what we had as an active member. I drive for our Local High School and work 33 hours a week and is permissible under CSPF. The IBT has some great retiree plans on their website, go check it out before buying any others. Main ingredient in this, is to be debt free and don't spend your time worrying about something you have no control over!
And don't dwell on the past. ( My enlistment in the USMC ended forty-five years ago¿¿¿)
 
When I'm driving 16 hours and there's nothing much to do I think about ::shit:: like:

I'm 52/27 in CSPF. What if I just cashed out and became an expat in a 3rd world country? Somewhere that has a low cost of living, fairly good infrastructure, and a relatively large English speaking expat community? Live like Jimmy Buffett (the poor man version) for a decade or so until the money or health failed and then came back to the US and live off SS (and whatever is left of my frozen CS pension) until I shuffle off this mortal coil?

I have no kids to leave my "fortune" to. It would be a shame to die with it in the bank. A 100k USD would last a long time in Thailand. One Night in Bangkok cost about 60 bucks. In Vegas you're looking at over $500. Man cannot live by bread alone. And Viagra just came off of patent.

Some guys are happy to coast into their 80s with an automatic and satellite radio. Nothing wrong with that. I enjoy it myself. But I've seen drivers carried out of motel rooms dead. 500 miles away from home. Makes a man think. Do I want to go out like Elvis? Get fat and die on a toilet? While straining at stool? Or like John Entwistle. Partying in a Las Vegas penthouse with a mountain of coke, three hookers, and a jar of Viagra.

Ah, dreams of my youth. There's been a lot of compromisin' on the road to my horizon.

"Cowboys are special with their own brand of misery,
From being alone too long.
You could die from the cold, in the arms of a nightmare,
Knowin' well that your best days are gone.

Pickin' up hookers instead of my pen,
I let the words of my youth fade away."

Sing it Willie!
 
When I'm driving 16 hours and there's nothing much to do I think about :::shit::: like:

I'm 52/27 in CSPF. What if I just cashed out and became an expat in a 3rd world country? Somewhere that has a low cost of living, fairly good infrastructure, and a relatively large English speaking expat community? Live like Jimmy Buffett (the poor man version) for a decade or so until the money or health failed and then came back to the US and live off SS (and whatever is left of my frozen CS pension) until I shuffle off this mortal coil?

If you are CSPF there is no lump sum payout. I believe those were made illegal under MEPRA for critically underfunded plans.

Also, CSPF deducts a huge penalty for each year before 65. At 52, I doubt you’d even get a check.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) | Central States Pension Fund
/QDRO How much is my pension worth? Can I get a lump sum? Upon your request, we will advise you of your accrued benefit as of your normal retirement age (age 65) or any other age you request. The amount provided is your monthly accrued benefit payable per month. We are not able to provide a lump sum
 
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If you are CSPF there is no lump sum payout. I believe those were made illegal under MEPRA for critically underfunded plans.

Also, CSPF deducts a huge penalty for each year before 65. At 52, I doubt you’d even get a check.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) | Central States Pension Fund
/QDRO How much is my pension worth? Can I get a lump sum? Upon your request, we will advise you of your accrued benefit as of your normal retirement age (age 65) or any other age you request. The amount provided is your monthly accrued benefit payable per month. We are not able to provide a lump sum
Used to be 6 percent for every year below 65. It is now 10 percent. Just talked to them a few weeks ago...
 
Point to consider is nobody knows how long they will live and these 60 plus hour weeks are killing us quicker and so maybe think of the big pic and make a plan . Good Luck to all
 
Question- I’ve just got to know: how is working a possible/ voluntary 20 more hours killing you quicker?????
Ok , ASK your Doctor at age 60 years is it better to keep working 60 plus stressful hours a week till 65 years old or work 40 hours a week & less stress ??? Look around at your barn , because look at barns where guys die on the job and guys die with in 2- 3 years of retiring , because as we old get older our bodies can't do 60 plus hours a week. But IF YOU CAN then excuse me and more power to you and keep up the long hours . And CSPF wants all of us to die young so they don't have to pay out ! think about it, you die and then they keep all or most of that money paid in on your behalf , maybe your old lady might get some ,BUT your kids won't , unlike a 401-K where you can give to your kids . think about it that's a lot of money they have kept over the years .........................
 
Ok , ASK your Doctor at age 60 years is it better to keep working 60 plus stressful hours a week till 65 years old or work 40 hours a week & less stress ??? Look around at your barn , because look at barns where guys die on the job and guys die with in 2- 3 years of retiring , because as we old get older our bodies can't do 60 plus hours a week. But IF YOU CAN then excuse me and more power to you and keep up the long hours . And CSPF wants all of us to die young so they don't have to pay out ! think about it, you die and then they keep all or most of that money paid in on your behalf , maybe your old lady might get some ,BUT your kids won't , unlike a 401-K where you can give to your kids . think about it that's a lot of money they have kept over the years .........................
I can.... I actually enjoy it.
 
Used to be 6 percent for every year below 65. It is now 10 percent. Just talked to them a few weeks ago...
Are you sure? I check online pretty often and my amount at age 62 has increased a little instead of decreasing. Also I've not seen any literature on this.
 
Are you sure? I check online pretty often and my amount at age 62 has increased a little instead of decreasing. Also I've not seen any literature on this.
Call CSPF in Des Plaines and ask them directly. The lady I spoke with told me. I am not sure, but think the amount calculated by your age, and years maybe does not include this penalty until you actually file for it. But I have been Wong before.
 
You know that would probably be just like something they would try to pull. I knew about the penalty, though for sure it was figured in. Thanks for enlightening me on this. This is why I started this tread.
 
You know that would probably be just like something they would try to pull. I knew about the penalty, though for sure it was figured in. Thanks for enlightening me on this. This is why I started this tread.
It will probably be a minimum of 18% to a maximum of 30% if you're 62. Phone # 800-323-5000 Monday- Friday 8-4 cst.
 
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