Starting Purchasing Power
What your initial check buys on Day 1 of retirement.
PENSION & PURCHASING POWER
Will your pension buy the same lifestyle 20 years into retirement?
A pension check stays steady, but prices don't. See how inflation quietly impacts your long-term purchasing power—and why a 403(b) account serves as your inflation defense.
THE LONG-TERM PICTURE
Your first pension check isn't your final cost of living.
Over a 20- to 30-year retirement, even modest inflation cuts the real value of a fixed paycheck in half.
Explore the pension income gapCost-of-Living Caps
How state COLA limits or delays restrict how much your benefit can grow.
Compounding Expenses
Healthcare and daily essentials outpace standard inflation growth.
The Growth Gap
Why fixed income needs a growth-oriented companion like a 403(b) account.
Explore pension plus savingsPlan rules matter
Not all COLAs keep pace with real inflation.
Many public pensions cap COLAs at 1%–3%, require multi-year waiting periods, or rely on legislative approval and state funding levels—leaving members to absorb the rest.
The question isn't whether your plan has a COLA. It’s how much purchasing power you stand to lose over time—and how you’ll protect it.
Three steps to audit your inflation vulnerability.
Uncover your COLA rules
Check whether your plan's adjustment is guaranteed, capped, or subject to state approval
Map a 25-year horizon
Compare fixed income streams against accelerating healthcare and housing costs.
Build a 403(b) strategy
Create a dedicated inflation buffer alongside your pension to ensure your purchasing power holds up over 20+ years.
See how pension and savings work togetherTEST YOUR NUMBERS
How resilient is your retirement income?
Map your pension’s COLA rules against projected inflation to see where your purchasing power stands in 10, 20, and 30 years.
Audit Your Inflation Risk