[CAUT] Looming Retirement

Avery Todd atodd@uh.edu
Fri, 11 Mar 2005 12:14:56 -0600


List,

Just wondering how many of you have started thinking about retirement. I 
know there's at least 2-3 out there who are close to that age! :-)

Yesterday, I did the paperwork to start collecting my full SS benefits. I 
reached full retirement age as of this month, so I can make as much extra 
as I want without and penalties on my SS check. I'll receive my March check 
the 3rd Wed. of April.

I also found out that I could retire now from the university, if I wanted 
to, although I wouldn't get as much in retirement pay as if I worked a few 
more years. It's a "being 65 & having completed 10 yrs. service" thing that 
makes me eligible. But they base your retirement on an average of the 
highest three years' salary and figure it on a percentage which goes up the 
more years you work.

The other possibility is what's called the "rule of 80". Your age plus your 
yrs. of service have to total 80. That will happen for me in 2 more yrs. 
More than likely, that's when I'll retire from the university, depending on 
what the retirement pay will be. The more years I work, of course, the 
higher the pay. But I'm 65 + 4 mo. now and I don't really want to work 
full-time for many more years than those two. :-) I'll still do outside 
work but just not full-time.

Just musing in amazement that I actually made it this long. I guess I'm 
officially an old fart now! :-)

Regards,
Avery

_______________________
Avery Todd, RPT
Moores School of Music
University of Houston
Houston, TX 77204-4017 



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