Have You Reviewed Your Tennessee ORP Recently?

Your retirement account has worked hard for years.

But have you reviewed what it may actually provide in retirement?

If you participate in Tennessee's Optional Retirement Program (ORP), you've likely spent years contributing to retirement accounts with providers such as TIAA, Corebridge, or Voya.

Your account statement tells you how much you've accumulated.

But it doesn't necessarily answer the questions that become most important as retirement gets closer.

  • How much retirement income could these accounts actually provide?

  • When is the best time to begin taking income?

  • Should you leave everything where it is?

  • Are there other retirement income strategies worth comparing?

  • How does your ORP fit together with Social Security and other retirement accounts?

Those are the questions an independent retirement review is designed to answer.

Your ORP Is Different Than a Traditional Pension

One of the biggest misconceptions I hear from higher education employees is:

"I thought I had a pension."

Many employees are familiar with pension formulas based on years of service and salary.

However, participants in Tennessee's Optional Retirement Program (ORP) generally do not receive a traditional pension calculated using that formula.

Instead, your retirement income depends largely on:

  • The retirement accounts you've accumulated

  • How those accounts are invested

  • The income strategy you choose when you retire

  • Social Security

  • Any additional retirement savings you've built

That's why understanding your options before retirement is so important.

Your Retirement May Include More Than One Account

Many higher education employees have retirement savings spread across several places.

Your retirement picture may include:

✔ Tennessee ORP

✔ 401(k)

✔ 403(b)

✔ 457 Plan

✔ Retirement accounts from previous employers

✔ Roth IRA or Traditional IRA

✔ Social Security

Sometimes people are surprised to discover retirement accounts they had forgotten about—or simply hadn't included in their retirement planning.

Looking at everything together often provides a much clearer picture.

Have You Ever Compared Your Current Provider With Other Options?

If your retirement savings are currently invested with one provider, such as TIAA, Corebridge, or Voya, it's natural that most of the retirement options you see come from that provider.

That doesn't necessarily mean those options aren't appropriate.

It simply means you may not have seen what else is available.

An independent retirement income review allows you to compare retirement income strategies from more than 15 highly rated insurance companies so you can better understand how different approaches work.

Sometimes your current plan remains the best choice.

Sometimes another strategy may better align with your retirement goals.

The objective isn't to replace what you have—it's to help you make informed decisions based on a broader understanding of your options.

Questions Worth Asking Before You Retire

During your ORP review, we can discuss questions like:

  • What could my ORP realistically provide as retirement income?

  • How do guaranteed lifetime income strategies compare with systematic withdrawals?

  • What happens if the market declines after I retire?

  • Should I begin taking income immediately or wait?

  • How does Social Security fit into my overall retirement plan?

  • Are there retirement accounts from previous employers that should be included?

A Retirement Review Can Provide Clarity

Whether retirement is five years away or just around the corner, understanding your options today can help you make more confident decisions tomorrow.

Many people tell me they simply wanted an independent second opinion before making one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives.

That's exactly what this review is designed to provide.

Schedule Your Complimentary Tennessee ORP Retirement Review

There is no cost and no obligation.

Together, we'll:

✔ Review your ORP and other retirement accounts

✔ Estimate potential retirement income options

✔ Compare different retirement income strategies

✔ Discuss how Social Security fits into your retirement

✔ Answer your retirement planning questions

[Schedule My Complimentary ORP Review]

Don't see an appointment time that works? Email me directly at aaron@apretirement.com and I'll be happy to work with you to find a convenient time. Evening and weekend appointments may be available upon request.

Why Work With Me?

I'm Aaron Payne, MBA, an independent Retirement Income Specialist who works with Tennessee higher education employees and retirees.

Because I'm independent, my goal is to help you understand your retirement options—not simply explain the products offered by a single provider.

Every retirement is different.

Sometimes the best decision is to keep everything exactly where it is.

Other times, reviewing additional options provides valuable insight that helps you retire with greater confidence.

Important Disclosure

This information is provided for educational purposes only and should not be considered investment, tax, or legal advice. Guarantees discussed during a retirement income review are backed solely by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. Results vary based on age, account value, product selection, and individual circumstances.