Retiring: What questions do I ask my employer?

by bob
(massachussetts)

don't know where to start. i am ready to retire and don't know what questions to ask my employer.. ie do i have extended insurance plan..how long. if not what do i do.

Wendy: It's kinda sad that you have no clue on your retirement benefits, if any. It seems that either your employer has done a poor job communicating benefits to their employees -- or there may be no benefits.

Any question like this is impossible to answer without details...

I guess, at the simplest, you'd ask:

Is there any retirement benefit?

Any pension at all? What are the options there -- is your spouse covered at your death?

If you have a 401K or something like that, can you begin to withdraw it immediately? (I don't know your age)

Any health care insurances? If not, are you covered by COBRA law and what does it cost to keep your insurances each month?

Any optical? Dental?

Any life insurances?

Sorry I can't answer more thoroughly -- details matter!