LEOFF 2 Pension Scenario Modeling — Understanding Your Real Options
The DRS estimator tells you what your baseline pension will be. It cannot show you what your retirement actually looks like across different scenarios — survivor option vs. pension maximization, COLA compounding, or private protection. This page walks through the four scenarios every LEOFF 2 member approaching retirement should understand.
The Four Scenarios
Scenario 1 — Both You and Your Spouse Live Long Lives
Survivor option result: Reduced income and smaller COLA for decades. Every year you both live, the permanent reduction compounds.
Pension Shield result: Maximum income and full COLA while alive. Protection remains in place. Cash value grows tax-deferred with tax-free access.
Scenario 2 — You Die Before Your Spouse
Survivor option result: Your spouse receives a reduced, taxable monthly check with no flexibility.
Pension Shield result: Your spouse receives a tax-free benefit and can choose a lump sum, lifetime income, or a combination — on their terms.
Scenario 3 — Your Spouse Dies Before You
Survivor option result: You remain locked into the reduced benefit for the rest of your life. The pension fund keeps the difference.
Pension Shield result: You keep the full pension. You can reduce, repurpose, or surrender the coverage. You are not stuck.
Scenario 4 — You Both Die Early
Survivor option result: Payments stop. Your heirs receive nothing from the pension.
Pension Shield result: Your heirs inherit the tax-free death benefit. Your decades of service leave a legacy.
The Numbers Behind the Decision
These are illustrative figures. Your actual numbers depend on your pension, age, health, and specific plan design. A personalized analysis is required.
What a Personalized Analysis Includes
Your maximum LEOFF 2 benefit vs. survivor option reduction percentages
Side-by-side 25-year income comparison across all four scenarios
Insurance qualification assessment (preliminary, no commitment required)
COLA impact modeling over 20 and 30 year time horizons
Tax bucket analysis (taxable pension vs. tax-free Shield benefit)
This analysis is complimentary for LEOFF 2 members. No obligation. Complete the form to request yours.
Simple Self-Assessment — Is the Pension Shield Right for You?
Answer these five questions:
Are you in good health with no major uninsured medical conditions? (Yes / No)
Does your pension include a COLA adjustment? (Yes / No)
Are you within 10 years of your planned retirement date? (Yes / No)
Do you want your family to inherit something if you and your spouse both pass away? (Yes / No)
Would higher monthly income during retirement matter to your family's quality of life? (Yes / No)
If you answered Yes to 3 or more of these questions, a Pension Shield analysis is worth running. Request yours below.
This content is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice and should not be relied upon as such. No advisor-client relationship is created by accessing this content. Consult a qualified financial advisor before making any pension decisions.