Following are the steps you will want to take three to five years before your planned retirement date, and links to help you get started.
Create a Retirement Benefit Estimate
Log in to your account at My LACERA and click on the Estimates tab at the top of the page. Follow the prompts to create numerous allowance estimates by entering different retirement ages, salaries, and/or years of service credit under the six different options. If you prefer, you can contact us to request a retirement benefit estimate.
Attend a Pre-Retirement Workshop
LACERA and Empower Retirement subject matter experts will present information about the retirement process, retiree healthcare, and maximizing your retirement benefit. It is the perfect opportunity to speak with a LACERA Retirement Benefits Specialist, receive a retirement benefit estimate with your most recent information, and target a possible retirement date. Check the Workshops page for more details.
Maximize your contributions
Boost your retirement income by maximizing contributions to your deferred compensation and savings plans and/or maximizing your pensionable earnings.
- Contact Empower Retirement at 800-947-0845 or visit their website for more details about increasing contributions to your 401(k) and 457(b) plans.
- Attend a Pre-Retirement Workshop or contact LACERA to learn more about how to maximize your final compensation.
Purchase service credit before retiring
Service credit is one of the factors that affects your retirement allowance. Review our Service Credit section or use the retirement benefit estimate tool on My LACERA to see how purchasing service credit will affect your retirement allowance. When you are ready, you can initiate a service credit purchase on My LACERA.