GATT at 4.75% Today

It's now obvious that the GATT Rate is going to be substantially higher for the 2nd Quarter 2010. We still have a few more weeks to go until we know how much higher it will be, but it is starting to look like the PBGC calculations will produce the highest lump sum amounts. As we posted on Tuesday, the PBGC Rate has also gone up. If you have questions about how your lump sum might project in the 2nd Quarter of this year, please call Harris Financial Group at (800) 281-3980.

We're sure you are hearing lots of rumors in the mid-Atlantic about enhanced ISP offers, but so far we have not received any official confirmation. Please remember, we are in no way affiliated with Verizon, but we are happy to discuss your retirement with you if you have any questions.

Please call Harris Financial Group at (800) 281-3980. We would respectfully ask that other financial advisers refrain from calling us for information, as we would prefer to focus on helping our own clients and prospective clients.

PBGC Also Rises...

...and this is bad news. The PBGC Rate has gone from 2.50% to 2.75% this month. Between this increase in the PBGC Rate and what appears to be a pretty healthy increase in the GATT Rate, it looks very much like lump sum amounts for the 2nd Quarter of 2010 will be lower. How much lower remains to be seen, but if you have questions about your own retirement, please call Harris Financial Group at (800) 281-3980.

GATT Rate Rises Again

The GATT is now hovering around 4.68% today. This is a pretty big one-day move, and it's going in the wrong direction as far as your lump sum pensions are concerned! We'll continue to watch the GATT Rate and provide updates on the PBGC rate as soon as it is available.

GATT Rate Still Pretty High

Nothing good to report on the GATT Rate yet this month. It is looking more and more like the next quarter's GATT will NOT help lump sum amounts. We'll know in about a week what the PBGC rate looks like, and it may be that the PBGC will be the winning rate for the next quarter.

If you are a current employee of the phone company, please call Harris Financial Group to discuss your retirement, (800) 281-3980.

Thursday's GATT Watch

After closing at 4.63% yesterday, the GATT Rate is close to 4.55% today. Although this is an improvement, it's still a lot higher than we'd like it to be for purposes of calculating your lump sums. We'll continue to keep an eye on the rates throughout the next few weeks...

February is Here!

We're watching the GATT Rate closely again, as the all-important month of February is here for VZ associates. The February GATT Rate will be used in calculations for April-May-June 2010, and so far, we're off to a bad start with yesterday's GATT at 4.57%. So far, the first day represents a big jump from the previous quarter's rate of 4.31%, but remember, it's the monthly average that we're interested in. We'll need to watch the PBGC Rate as well, as it could provide the higher lump sum.

Please continue to monitor our website, and if you are a retiree in need of assistance, please feel free to call Harris Financial Group at (800) 281-3980.

GATT Rate is in the System!!

Please note that we have no affiliation with Verizon or the Verizon Benefits Center (Hewitt).

With the above disclaimer out of the way, we are happy to report that the new GATT Rate for the 1st Quarter of 2010 has been updated at the benefits center. The "official" rate appears to be 4.31%, which is very good news.

If you need our assistance with your retirement, please call Harris Financial Group at (800) 281-3980. We provide a wide variety of financial services and we know your retirement plan!

November GATT Rate -- Verizon

The all-important GATT Rate for the month of November 2009 will be between 4.31 and 4.33, depending on whether the number is rounded up. Please note that this figure is based on our unofficial calculations, and that you should always rely on information you receive from the benefits center. We are providing this information now because it may be a few weeks until the official number is updated in the benefits center computer system. We feel very confident that the rate used will be either 4.32 or 4.33.

Either way, it represents a small drop from the previous quarter's GATT Rate of 4.37%. This is good news, although you will likely not notice much of a difference from the 4th Quarter 2009 to the 1st Quarter 2010.

For our friends in West Virginia, this rate is especially good news, as it should provide you with the ability to work into early 2010. Please contact Jamie, Carl or Steve at (800) 281-3980 to discuss your personal situation in more depth.

Something to be Thankful for: November PBGC Rate!!

Although the focus of this website is usually on the GATT Rate, we can't forget about our good friend the PBGC Rate either. And wow, the PBGC delivered very good news with the most recent rate!

For more on how this could have a positive impact on your retirement, please contact Harris Financial Group at (800) 281-3980.

Monday's GATT Closes Around 4.287%

This will help bring down the monthly average ever-so-slightly. The GATT is starting to look pretty harmless this month for those of you hoping to wait until next quarter to retire.