Specialized help for CalPERS & CalSTRS members — and diligent savers everywhere.
California’s public employees face unique retirement choices. I translate the paperwork, model the options, and help you coordinate your pension with everything else you’ve saved.
Who this is for
CalPERS pension optimization
We’ll walk through service credit, final compensation, and option elections — so you understand every lever that shapes your benefit.
- Service retirement option review (Option 1, 2, 2W, 3, 3W, 4)
- Service credit purchase analysis
- Special power-of-attorney for benefits considerations
CalSTRS option analysis
Comparing Member-Only vs. Option 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 can feel overwhelming. We’ll line them up side by side with your spouse in mind.
- Member-Only vs. Option elections
- 100%, 75%, 50% survivor modeling
- CalSTRS Pension2 coordination
403(b), 457(b) & IRA coordination
Your pension is only part of the picture. We’ll integrate your supplemental savings so every dollar has a job.
- Contribution catch-up strategies
- Roth vs. pre-tax decisions
- Consolidation & simplification
Rollovers & account consolidation
Old 401(k)s, scattered IRAs, forgotten 403(b)s — we’ll clean it up so the next ten years are simpler than the last.
- Pros & cons of rolling over
- Keeping in-plan where it makes sense
- Tax-aware transition planning
Estate coordination
A complete plan makes life easier for the people you love. We’ll coordinate wills, trusts, and beneficiaries with your planning team.
- Beneficiary & titling audit
- Coordination with your attorney/CPA
- Legacy conversations made simple
Household & spouse planning
Your plan is stronger when everyone is on the same page — especially the person who would rely on it after you.
- Joint income modeling
- Survivor scenario planning
- Simple summaries the family can read
Common questions
Things people ask me.
I’m a CalSTRS member — should I pick Member-Only or an Option?
It depends on your spouse’s income, health, and other savings. We’ll model both so you can see the lifetime trade-off clearly.
Can I roll my 403(b) to an IRA at retirement?
Usually yes, but not always — and not always wisely. We’ll weigh the benefits of keeping vs. rolling.
Do you work with non-California clients?
Absolutely. CalPERS & CalSTRS is a specialty, but I help savers and pre-retirees across the country.
Can you coordinate with my attorney and CPA?
Yes — with your permission, I’m happy to be the quarterback so your whole plan stays aligned.
Ready for a calm, clear plan?
Most first conversations are 30 minutes. No obligation, no pressure — just real answers.