For many Northwest Ohio STRS, PERS, and SERS members, retirement planning becomes an endless search for certainty. Should I pick Option 1 or Option 2? Should I take a PLOP? Should I invest more aggressively? Should I delay retirement another year? The problem is that retirement doesn't offer certainty. It offers confidence. And confidence comes from recognizing what you've already accomplished. You've shown up for work for decades. You've contributed to your retirement

Most public employees don't wake up wondering whether they need an annuity. They want answers to questions like: Will my pension be enough? Should I take a PLOP? How do survivor benefits affect my decision? How do possible Social Security benefits fit in? Can additional guaranteed income improve my retirement plan? Over the years, I noticed that many STRS, SERS, and OPERS members were being asked to evaluate annuities before first evaluating how their pension benefits fit in