Originally Posted by
tsquare
I had planned on being able to retire at 55 when we had the DB plan. Since I did not trust DAL to manage my money when times were good, I set up my own supplemental retirement plans. I have no kids.. the same wife I started with and no toys (although I would really really like to have a big sailboat.. and if anybody is interested in a partnership.. send me a PM ) so being able to go when I want is still somewhat doable. Under the current situation, (of course this all depends on what happens post SOC) I'd like to fly this seat for a few years, then maybe downbid to something where I am really senior. Maybe I'll throw gear for you at some point.
OK.. again, how do you protect it thru a third party? Sorry to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but I don't trust anybody to run my money.. ESPECIALLY if they are not of my choosing. Been there... got the shirt.
At any rate, I do not plan on hanging around here
full time till 65. I'll probably go fly a trip or two when the wife is sick of seeing me around the house. (Unless I get that sailboat) And to address one of your other points. I don't see pilots retiring early with a DB plan. Actually I think the opposite would occur. (Let's see how many of the over 60 NWA captains
really go early...) Not flaming here... And I don't see sick calls dramatically reducing, because we will still be older in the more senior positions. Actually.. I don't think any of your three points are correct. JMHO. again.. not flaming.. I just don't agree with your premise. And your last statement.. I do agree. But I think the only realistic way to get us out the door early is to make it financially punative to stay longer. We are all *****s, and as long as we can make more money by staying longer, we will (I am speaking of the group) Make the pay drop by 10% for anybody over the age of 60, and they'll be gone tomorrow. (good luck with that one
)
Ts,
Let me see if I can catch you before you go to your game...
If you think you will ever pull gear for me, you must anticipate some kind of seniority list re-rack. I'm barely approaching 50% of the list and you are an er captain. I'm not even in your ballpark. Even if you downbid, you would have to go pretty far to get to me.
I understand that you don't trust anyone to manage your money. I have other retirement plans, too. So, I am not really worried about having enough money to retire on. I am worried about knowing when to stop. I'm bugging check and slow because they seem to be the experts, but I think a 3rd party handling the plan would be much safer because the plan wouldn't necessarily be tied to their shaky airline business. One think I have learned is that you can contract around anything (unless it's illegal).
I disagree about the DB plan and what it does for pilots retiring early. I don't know the exact terms, but I know I've heard guys talk about their streams crossing like light sabers in Star Wars, to indicate to them when they were working for free. When that occurs, its time for them to retire. One of our -400 FO's should be able to explain it well. I think the guys around here who sitll have a sizeable DB coming, can leave anytime they want to, and are one missed commute, call into the chief pilots office, or long de-icing event in DTW, away from turning their paperwork. You know it's coming when you hear them say, "I don't have to put up with this (crap)."
We agree on the last point. As long as it's financially better for us to stay longer, we will stay longer. I don't blame a guy for staying past 65 if all he's working with is a DC plan. I'm only trying to think of a legal way to push us out the door so we don't want to stay.
Have fun at the game. GO Gators!!!
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