Originally Posted by
kronan
For right now, FedEx's Retirement is still better than UPS, IMO. Especially if you're going to be a career FO.
Pension Values, FedEx, UPS Captain, UPS FO. Using 2023 FDA values of $4,400 and $3,520
20 years. $104k\$88k\$70.4k
23 years. $119.6k\$101.2k\$80.96k
25 years. $130k\$110k\$88k
28 years. $130k\$127.6k\$98.56k
30 years. $130k\$132k\$105.6k
The additional B fund contribution doesn't make as big of a difference as people assume, since we are both Capped at the same income level. But it is the Volume of earnings that drives the end value of our B plans, and, IMO, the opportunity to upgrade to Captain occurs earlier at FedEx than UPS. Haven't checked recently, but last year there were almost as many Captains at FedEx as there were pilots at UPS. And there are a LOT of "young" FO's on the 777 earning International Pay as well as the extra BKO.
One thing that FedEx has is the ability for excess sick leave to be contributed to our "B" plan. (It's part of our Defined Contribution pot of money, not truly the B plan. And it's Cash over Cap so those who max out Aft Tax Contributions receive it as taxable income).
Not sure if UPS has that, or how UPS treats unused Sick Leave.
Nor do I know if UPS allows Aft-Tax contributions into their 401k, which allows the Mega Backdoor Roth.
Nor do I know if UPS has an Advance Notice of Planned Retirement bonus, for those lucky enough to be healthy (rumor is that's roughly 60% of us)...it's a big, big chunk of money.
Nor do I know if UPS allows a Retired Pilot to Defer collecting their FDA calculated pension for a year to bump up the value. (For FedEx, deferring 1 year roughly changes your $130k pension into a $143k pension)
My perception of FedEx vs UPS retirement is that FedEx retirement is more favorable for those who are hired later in life (retired mil, etc) due to the shorter timeframe required to max out the pension and less time for the time value of money to leverage UPS’ larger B plan. While UPS retirement is a better deal for the guy who is hired younger who will be able to get the slightly larger UPS max pension while also taking advantage of the better B plan. FedEx’s Advanced Notice of Retirement benefit is significant, but only really matches what a UPS pilot selling back their sick pay at retirement gets. UPS pilots can sell back sick bank over 148 hours or 218 (pilot choice) each year and contribute it to either their traditional or Roth 401k. We do not have the ability to do the Mega Backdoor Roth.
My conclusion, while both plans are better than pax peers, neither have kept up with inflationary pressures and we both need to make some big gains on the next round of contract negotiations. Both pilot groups are able to comfortably max out their B plans and 401ks, the only sizable tax advantaged retirement gains will have to come from increased pension benefits.