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Guide to Retirement

Plan now for Retirement

If you’re like most of us, you probably believe that retirement planning is something that you start thinking about when the end of your career is in sight. Nothing could be further from the truth. The secret to a successful retirement is getting started early: it’s never too early to start planning and saving for your retirement. 

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1. The Road to Service Retirement

F. At 20 Years of Service

LEOFF Plan 2 members are eligible to retire at age 53 if they have at least five years of service credit. Options to retire earlier are available, but your annual retirement benefits will be reduced because you’ll receive them over a longer-than-planned period.

Twenty years of service is a great time to assess whether there’s a significant gap between the retirement of your dreams and the retirement you’re on track to afford. Why? There’s still time to bridge the gap if there is one. Celebrate your 20 years of service, then take some time to look ahead and plan.

  • Re-evaluate your retirement plan and goals.
  • Visit the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) website to find and attend a retirement seminar.
  • Use the tools on the DRS website to calculate your Final Average Salary (FAS).
  • Confirm your current service credits with the DRS.
  • If there’s a gap between the retirement you want and the one you’re on track to afford, consider working with a qualified financial advisor or retirement planning specialist to review your current benefits and savings, retirement plans, and options for closing the gap.
F 20 Years of Service roadmap graphic