Bell Retirement Strategies

📢 Verizon Associates
Rising pension rates for the upcoming July through September period are reducing lump sum pension calculations.

📈 For the first time since 2006, the GATT rate has moved above 5%.

GATT Rate
• Q2 4.76% until the end of June 2026
• Q3 5.03% in July, August, and September 2026

PBGC Rate (120% rate)
• Q2 2.7% until the end of June 2026
• Q3 3.0% in July, August, and September 2026

☝️ Remember, higher rates correspond to a lower lump sum value, so these quarterly changes can have a significant impact on your pension cashout.

The following example illustrates the difference in the final lump sum value for a 55-year-old employee with a $2,000 per month annuity pension benefit:
Using the GATT Rate

• Q2 2026 GATT rate at 4.76% = $368,057 pension lump sum
• Q3 2026 GATT rate at 5.03% = $357,503 pension lump sum

Using the PBGC Rate
• Q2 2026 PBGC rate at 2.7% = $406,977 pension lump sum
• Q3 2026 PBGC rate at 3.0% = $394,767 pension lump sum

Verizon uses the formula that produces the highest benefit. In this example, the PBGC calculation at 3.0% produces the larger lump sum of $394,767 in Q3 and would be the winning rate. Individual results will vary.

📺 To understand how interest rates affect the value of your lump sum pension, watch this 7-minute video where I break it all down:
https://youtu.be/iFuWKtHmZIs

Sources: Treasury Yield 30 Years (^TYX) Yahoo Finance 05/29/2026 PBGC 05/29/2026

Wishing everyone a meaningful and reflective Memorial Day as we remember and honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

Behind every powered home and every lit street is a lineman who made it possible.

We are proud to serve the utility community and grateful for everything you do.

Happy Lineman Appreciation Day.

More than half of Americans don’t have an estate plan, an oversight that could cost their families significantly. Here are 3 moves to protect what you’ve built:

➡️Name Decision-Makers: Set up health care and financial powers of attorney in case you’re unable to act.

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See the 5 essential estate planning steps to put in place now:

5 estate planning things you need to do now, from a financial planner Completing these five essential tasks right away can protect your family and their inheritance from potential high taxes and the probate process.

Think that call or text from the IRS is real? It probably isn’t. The IRS will typically contact clients by mail delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. Here’s what the IRS will not do:

➡️The IRS will NOT reach out through social media.

➡️The IRS will NOT take payment in the form of gift cards or prepaid cards.

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Learn how to protect yourself: https://bit.ly/4t86huC

How to know it's the IRS | Internal Revenue Service Know the difference between impersonators and the IRS to protect yourself from scams.