| Company Name | For plan years beginning in | Year | Month | First Segment | Second Segment | Third Segment | Plan Type |
| Lockheed Martin | All | 2025 | January | 4.74% | 5.55% | 5.92% | |
| Lockheed Martin | All | 2024 | January | 4.89% | 5.14% | 5.29% |
Interest rates are heading in the wrong direction for Lockheed Martin employees who are considering the lump sum option on their pension payment. Interest rates hit a record low for individuals that commence their benefits in October of 2020 but have ticked up for those commencing their benefits in November. Over the last year, interest rates have dropped dramatically which has greatly increased many lump sum payments. However, if interest rates begin to climb many people's lump-sum payments could decrease. Should you desire to take your pension as a lump sum, Lockheed Martin will use interest rates and your age to calculate your lump sum payment. When interest rates move up or down, your pension lump sum amount will move in an inverse relationship.
Your pension is calculated based on your last date of employment and benefit start date. The benefit calculation is a defined benefit based on your years of service and final average pay. These are used to determine your single life annuity. All other forms of pension payments are based on this figure.
Lockheed Martin Pension Lump Sum Calculation:
When Lockheed Martin employees elect the month they would like to begin their pension, Lockheed Martin looks back two months to calculate the rate used for the pension disbursement.
For example, if you are planning to retire and start your pension in November 2020, Lockheed Martin would use the rates available in September 2020 (two months prior to your month of retirement). This table shows each month and their rates as they stand today:
Lockheed Martin Segment Rates for December 2020:
September-20
0.51
For a December 2020 pension commencement date, you will use the October segmented rates.
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For lump-sum conversions, the annuity is discounted to a present value using the first segment rate for the first five years of expected payments, the second segment rate for the next 15 years of expected payments and the third segment rate for all years of expected payments over 20.
Because the annuity is discounted based on mortality as well as interest rates, the present value of each monthly payment reduces as the probability of living to receive each payment reduces. The older you are when you commence your pension benefit, the fewer the number of years that will be valued using the third segment rate (20+ years) and, conversely, the younger you are, the greater the number of years that will be valued using the third segment rate.
This methodology essentially means that there will be a unique monthly interest rate (lump-sum
conversion factor) for each year and month of birth.
How Do Rate Changes Affect Your Lockheed Martin Pension?
Because pension pricing is based on interest calculations, making a slight adjustment in your retirement date may have a significant financial impact on your pension due to changing rates each month.
Everything else held equal, a lower interest rate will produce a higher lump sum. The exact changes depend on your specific age, but on average a 1% change in rates can equate to an 8% to 12% change in lump sums. So, on average, a 1% change could increase or decrease your pension lump sum by roughly 10%.
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The changes from just June 2020 to September 2020 may account for a 1% - 3% increase in lump sums. However, if you look at where rates were in September 2019, they have come down quite a bit. For September 2019, the blended rates were 2.13 / 3.07 / 3.65. That is a drop of 0.76% in the 2nd segment which tends to have the strongest effect. A drop of 0.76% from September 2019 to September 2020 may have caused your pension to rise by 7% - 9%. For someone with a $500,000 lump sum, that could mean a move of as much as $45,000. For a $1,000,000 lump sum, it would be roughly $70,000 to $90,000. Going forward, if rates start to move back up, you could see your pension lump sum start to drop. The rates are updated monthly, so you have month to month options to commence your pension once you have retired. You do not have to commence your pension as soon as you retire. You have the option to defer it. That may be beneficial if rates are dropping and/or you are under 60 years old. If you take your pension prior to age 60 there are age penalties and you will not receive 100% of your pension benefit.
Given the current interest rate environment, it is highly suggested you discuss your options with
The Retirement Group and allow us to monitor the rates and keep you up to date on the monthly
changes. We can provide a complimentary cash flow analysis to show you how various retirement
dates may play out.
It is important to remember the pension annuity may be a better fit no matter how attractive the
pension lump sum may be. Every situation is unique, and a cash flow analysis will allow you to
compare all pension options.
How does Lockheed Martin determine the monthly pension benefit for employees nearing retirement, and what factors should employees consider when planning their retirement based on this calculation? Specifically, how do the concepts of "Final Average Pay" and "Credited Years of Service" interact in the pension calculation under Lockheed Martin’s retirement plan?
Lockheed Martin Pension Calculation: Lockheed Martin calculates monthly pension benefits using the "Final Average Pay" (FAP) and "Credited Years of Service" (CYS). The FAP is determined by averaging the three highest annual compensations prior to 2016, while CYS counts the years from employment start to December 31, 2019, when the pension was frozen. The benefit per year of service is calculated based on whether the FAP is less than or exceeds the Social Security Covered Compensation, with specific formulas applied for each scenario. These calculations directly affect the monthly pension benefit, which may also be reduced if retirement commences before a certain age due to early retirement penalties.
Given the recent changes in Lockheed Martin's pension policy, what implications could this have for employees who are planning to retire in the near future? How should these employees navigate their expectations regarding retirement income given that the pension has been frozen since 2020?
Implications of Pension Freeze: Since Lockheed Martin froze its pension plan in 2020, no future earnings or years of service will increase pension benefits. This freeze shifts the emphasis towards maximizing contributions to 401(k) plans, where Lockheed Martin increased its maximum contribution to 10% for non-represented employees. Employees planning for imminent retirement should recalibrate their financial planning to account for this change, prioritizing 401(k) growth and other retirement savings vehicles to compensate for the pension freeze.
What options does Lockheed Martin provide for employees regarding healthcare insurance as they approach retirement age? How do these options compare in terms of coverage and cost, particularly for those who will transition to Medicare upon reaching age 65?
Healthcare Options Near Retirement: As Lockheed Martin employees approach retirement, they can choose from several health insurance options. Before Medicare eligibility, they may use COBRA, a Lockheed Martin retiree plan, or the ACA's private marketplace. Post-65, they transition to Medicare, with the possibility of additional coverage through Medicare Advantage or Medigap plans. Lockheed Martin supports this transition with a Health Reimbursement Arrangement, providing an annual credit to help cover medical expenses.
Understanding the complex nature of Lockheed Martin's pension and retirement benefits, what resources are available to employees to help them navigate their choices regarding pension claiming options? In what ways can the insights from these resources aid employees in making informed decisions about their financial future?
Resources for Navigating Retirement Benefits: Lockheed Martin employees have access to resources like the LM Employee Service Center intranet, which includes robust tools such as a pension estimator. This tool allows for modeling different retirement scenarios and understanding the impacts of various pension claiming options. Additional support is provided through HR consultations and detailed plan descriptions to ensure employees make informed decisions about their retirement strategies.
For employees with varying years of service at Lockheed Martin, how can their employment history impact their pension benefits? What strategies should individuals explore to maximize their benefits given the different legacy systems that might influence their retirement payout?
Impact of Employment History on Pension Benefits: The length and nature of an employee’s service at Lockheed Martin significantly influence pension calculations. Historical changes in pension policies, particularly the transition points of the pension freeze, play critical roles in determining the final pension benefits. Employees must consider their entire career timeline, including any represented or non-represented periods, to understand and maximize their eligible pension benefits fully.
How does the Lockheed Martin retirement plan ensure that benefits are preserved for spouses or dependents after an employee's passing? How do different claiming options affect the long-term financial security of the employee's family post-retirement?
Benefit Preservation for Dependents: Lockheed Martin's pension plan includes options that consider the welfare of spouses or dependents after an employee's passing. Options like "Joint and Survivor" ensure ongoing benefits for surviving spouses, while choices like "Life with X-Year guarantee" provide continued payments for a defined period after the employee’s death. Understanding these options helps secure long-term financial stability for beneficiaries.
What steps can Lockheed Martin employees take to prepare financially for retirement, especially if they have outstanding loans or financial obligations? How crucial is it for employees to understand the conditions under which these loans must be settled before retirement?
Financial Preparation for Retirement: Employees approaching retirement should focus on clearing any outstanding loans and maximizing their contributions to tax-advantaged accounts like 401(k)s and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). These steps are crucial for ensuring a smooth financial transition to retirement, minimizing potential tax impacts, and maximizing available retirement income streams.
With the evolution of Lockheed Martin's retirement initiatives, particularly the shift toward higher 401(k) contributions, how should employees balance contributions to their 401(k) with their overall retirement savings strategy? What factors should they consider in optimizing their investment choices post-retirement?
Balancing 401(k) Contributions: With the pension freeze, Lockheed Martin employees should increasingly rely on 401(k) plans, where the company has increased its contribution cap. Employees must balance these contributions with other savings strategies and consider their investment choices carefully to ensure a robust retirement fund that can support their post-retirement life.
How does Lockheed Martin's approach to retirement planning include the management of health savings accounts (HSAs) for retirees? What are the tax advantages of HSAs, and how can employees effectively utilize this resource when planning for healthcare expenses in retirement?
Management of HSAs for Retirees: Lockheed Martin encourages maximizing contributions to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), which offer significant tax advantages. These accounts not only provide funds for current medical expenses but can also be used tax-free for healthcare costs in retirement, making them a critical component of retirement health expense planning.
What is the best way for employees to contact Lockheed Martin regarding specifics or questions about their retirement benefits? What channels of communication are available, and how can they access the most current and relevant information regarding their retirement planning? These questions aim to encourage thoughtful consideration and discussion about retirement planning within Lockheed Martin, addressing various aspects of the company's benefits while promoting engagement with internal resources.
Contacting Lockheed Martin for Retirement Benefit Queries: Employees should direct specific inquiries about their retirement benefits to Lockheed Martin's HR department or consult the benefits Summary Plan Descriptions available through company resources. These channels ensure employees receive accurate and comprehensive information tailored to their individual circumstances.