Optimizing Your Retirement

Overview

There are several factors that may optimize your monthly retirement benefit.

Your Birthday

Retiring on your birthday, or immediately following your birthday, or at any three month interval after your birthday is an optimal time to retire because your age is counted in quarter years for the calculation of your benefit (up to 60 for general members and 50 for safety members).
 

Cost of Living Increase (COLA)

For Tier 1 members only, an annual cost of living increase is effective on April 1st of each year, as approved by the Board of Retirement.
 

Selling Any Vacation or Sick Leave in the 25th Pay Period

If you are a member and plan to retire within the next year (for Tier I) or next three years (Tiers 2 and 3) selling any vacation or sick leave during the 25th pay period will increase your final average compensation.  Please note that Terminal Pay is no longer allowed to be used in the calculation of MercedCERA’s benefits.