07/29/2026
Your annual pension statement isn't just a formality. It's worth ten minutes of your time, every year.
Start with years of service. This number drives your benefit calculation, so confirm it lines up with your actual work history. A gap or an error here can throw off everything downstream.
Next, look at your final average salary. This is the window of years your pension uses to calculate your benefit. Make sure the years listed are what you expect, since an outdated or incorrect record here directly affects your monthly number.
Last, check your beneficiary designation. Life changes, marriages, divorces, new dependents, and pension paperwork does not update itself. If this section is outdated, it may not reflect who you actually want receiving your benefit.
Pull out your most recent statement and check all three. If anything looks off, contact your plan administrator before it becomes a bigger issue at retirement.
Have you checked your statement this year? Let us know what you found.
