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Know Your Pension Elections

If you’re a Merck employee approaching retirement, one of the most important decisions you’ll face is whether to take your pension as a lump sum or an annuity. This is not just a paperwork decision. Your choice can affect your retirement income flexibility, tax strategy, and what happens to your pension if something happens to you or your spouse. In this video, we walk through how to think about the Merck pension lump sum vs annuity decision, using publicly available Merck plan features, realistic planning assumptions, and a step-by-step framework many employees overlook. What you’ll learn in this video: -How the Merck lump sum pension works vs lifetime annuity options -The key pros and cons of lump sum vs annuity -How joint & survivor options affect married couples. -How tax-efficient withdrawal strategies impact long-term outcomes -A realistic case study using Merck benefit structures modeled in retirement planning software Who this video is for: -Merck employees within 5–10 years of retirement -Employees actively modeling retirement dates between ages 55–65 -Anyone weighing pension income vs flexibility and long-term planning trade-offs Important disclosures: Meschel Wealth Management is not affiliated with or endorsed by Merck. This video is for general educational purposes only and is not a recommendation to choose a lump sum or an annuity. This material is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute personalized advice or a recommendation to engage in any strategy. All investments involve risks, including the risk of loss. Investors should evaluate their own financial circumstances and consult with their financial, legal, and tax professionals before making any decisions. Hypothetical performance shown is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent actual client results. The scenarios are based on assumptions that may not reflect real-world market conditions, economic events, or investment outcomes. Actual results will vary from those illustrated. The illustrations rely on certain assumptions regarding returns, withdrawal rates, taxes, inflation, fees, and market conditions. These assumptions are subject to change and may not be reasonable for all investors. Changes to any assumption may have a significant impact on the results shown. Want a second set of eyes on your pension decision? If you’re a Merck employee approaching retirement and want help reviewing your pension options, healthcare strategy, or retirement income plan, you can schedule an introductory call using the link below. There’s no obligation — just a chance to walk through your situation and see whether working together makes sense. Schedule an Introductory Call: https://calendly.com/allen-meschelwm Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction 01:42 – Lump sum vs annuity: how the options work 02:47 – Married vs single participant considerations 03:13 – Quantifying the trade-offs 5:20 – Healthcare costs before Medicare 5:42 – Tax-efficient retirement withdrawals overview 6:05 – Merck pension case study walkthrough 14:17 – Key takeaways & next steps Data Sources Referenced: • Financial Planning Association® Journal (April 2011), “Portfolio Success Rates: Where to Draw the Line” Analysis of historical withdrawal rates and portfolio success using U.S. market data from 1926–2009 https://www.financialplanningassociat...