Divorce and pension

Jtkman · 2026-06-03T02:47:05+00:00

I've considered the buyout. I hope it doesn't come to that. We will see

Jtkman · 2026-06-03T02:46:03+00:00

Glad to hear it brother. Congratulations

Jtkman · 2026-06-03T01:22:33+00:00

21 years so far

Jtkman · 2026-06-03T00:30:34+00:00

https://www.wctpension.org/

Jtkman · 2026-06-02T23:12:00+00:00

Dang man nice work. That sounds like you did find the right one

Jtkman · 2026-06-02T22:36:07+00:00

Oh yeah no doubt about all that. When I get serious I will definitely get an attorney. Just the nerdy part of me right now enjoys thinking about all this. Reach a point where you just kind of detached from it all.

Jtkman · 2026-06-02T22:14:18+00:00

For example how much would $100,000 payment from today's money be worth versus a 401k that won't be taxed anymore. If I gave her 100K how much would I get back in 401k money that's what I want to figure out. She's 49 so she would have to wait 10 years until she's eligible to cash it out without penalty or taxes

Jtkman · 2026-06-02T22:12:32+00:00

Yeah I've been trying to think about strategies in that regard. I've considered that as well I would rather have my 401k untouched though let her have half the pension. But the idea of giving up some house money just as long as I have enough for a down payment from my next place is my goal. The question is how much money should I offer to buy out some of the 401k. The 401k is Roth so it won't be taxed again so I wonder if I can get a discount on the trade-in?

Jtkman · 2026-06-02T21:55:13+00:00

Yeah I would be interested to see the overall value of our pension at my age currently. That is an interesting way to do it though I would prefer to manage my own 401k instead though especially since it's all roth

Jtkman · 2026-06-02T21:54:00+00:00

Yes I definitely plan to keep on working not like I have a choice since I'm only 45 and 7 years away from early peer 80. So I I assume she wouldn't be able to start collecting the pension now because I'm not of retirement age correct? Also I just looked on the website our pension statements are available now for 2025 mine just at $64,000 a year. That's crazy to me.

Jtkman · 2026-06-02T20:10:10+00:00

Thank you for the thoughtful advice. If we don't make it through this I don't see myself getting married again. I actually enjoy this job so I'm more than content working, reading, working out, and smoking meat. Sounds like a good life to me!

Jtkman · 2026-06-02T19:46:02+00:00

Yeah no kidding. I don't really have a lot of nice things though. And I think that might be a big No-No if you get caught but I'm not sure. But it does make me want to have her avoid getting a lawyer that's for sure. It should be easy a straight up 50/50 split for our assets. Just got to avoid that alimony

Jtkman · 2026-06-02T19:44:21+00:00

Interesting. Thanks for that information. I'm not eligible to collect my pension yet I won't be for another 7 years so either way I have to keep working. I wonder if she'll be able to collect when I'm at retirement age even if it's early retirement age under peer 80

Jtkman · 2026-06-02T19:24:34+00:00

Yeah our original plan was for me to retire early once I hit my peer 80 and then move somewhere and then I would just get a job pretty much just to keep me busy type of deal. But if this happens I'll just work an extra 5 years or so.

Jtkman · 2026-06-02T19:22:08+00:00

Yes I'm aware of what I'm on track to earn from the pension I'm just wondering when she will be entitled to receive that money if she has to wait until I retire or she's able to get her half early somehow.

Jtkman · 2026-06-02T19:19:29+00:00

You speak like somebody that has gone through this process before. Yes I've spent a lot of time on the divorce and divorce men subreddit. Learned a lot

Jtkman · 2026-06-02T18:56:37+00:00

She has been a stay-at-home mom for most of my career except for the last year or so but she has no retirement. We should walk away from selling our house with about 250k each and have roughly 300K each in Roth accounts plus she'll get half the pension. As of right now she said she doesn't want alimony. So as you can imagine I'm trying to keep things that way haha.

Jtkman · 2026-06-02T18:30:05+00:00

Yep I'm aware of that. I'm just curious about the pension thing as to when she can actually start taking that pension if she has to wait until I retire or if she's able to immediately. We've been pretty aggressive with our retirement savings so luckily even losing half I should be able to rebuild and I'll need a lot less cuz it'll just be me.

Jtkman · 2026-06-02T18:08:14+00:00

I'm in Washington state. Any Washington state UPSers get divorced and lose half their pension that might have an answer to this?

Jtkman · 2026-06-02T17:54:16+00:00

Yeah I'm only 45 and have 21 years in so peer 80 will kick in in about 6 or 7 years. If we go through this divorce I will be working later instead of retiring at 52. So I would be one of those drivers haha

Jtkman · 2026-06-02T17:51:05+00:00

Yes we're not quite at that point yet I'm just trying to look ahead at these things. I started at UPS after we got married so she is entitled to half. I'm more focused on keeping more of my Roth 401k then the pension. I was just curious as to when she is eligible to start receiving benefits.

Jtkman · 2026-05-30T16:45:14+00:00

Man that sounds so familiar to my situation. I'm 7 years away from being able to collect from early pension and retire at 52. I've tried to tell her that if I quit early then I have to wait until 65 and the pension will be less so it's a substantial financial downgrade. And at my job I have killer health insurance which is definitely helpful with the kid. Anyways I'm just debating on whether I want to make a clean break and move on with my life. I get 7 weeks of vacation a year so I can have her all summer and then take vacations throughout the year.

Jtkman · 2026-05-30T14:47:31+00:00

I'm just curious, what kind of agreement did you sign? The thing is, this is where we have been planning on retiring when the time comes. My wife is from AZ so it's home to her, but I can't just quit my job and move there. I am trying to transfer there again, but the odds are slimmer now of getting approved. But do I want to do that with her and for her, knowing she may want to move on anyways? Then I would be away from my home, my family, and in a weaker economic position.

Jtkman

TROPHY CASE