Our Experience Working with Southwest Pilots, Employees, and Families
Smith Anglin Financial is proud to work side by side with Southwest pilots to provide retirement benefits planning. We’re specialists in Southwest Airlines’ 401k investment options and the performance of those options within the employer-provided retirement benefits plan. We’re also specialists in managing the tax issues for your deferred compensation components.
What You Should Know About Your Southwest Pilot Retirement Plan
- Southwest Airlines’ Personal Choice Retirement Account (PCRA) is a managed brokerage account that resides within your 401(k) plan. It enables you to contribute retirement plan savings into an expanded range of investment choices. If managed properly, it can give you an incredible advantage when it comes to saving for retirement.
- A qualified plan is an employer-sponsored retirement plan that satisfies requirements I the Internal Revenue Code for receiving tax-deferred treatment. These plans provided by Southwest are: your 401(k), Profit Sharing, and Market Based Cash Balance Plan.
- A non-qualified plan is a type of tax-deferred, employer-sponsored retirement plan that falls outside of Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) guidelines. These plans allow Southwest to defer a greater amount for retirement than is permitted inside a qualified plan: 401(a)(17), Excess 415 Benefit, and Top Hat Plan.
- When you enroll in these plans, you must elect how to receive the funds (as a lump sum or spread out over several years in installments). This decision is irrevocable, so you must plan wisely to avoid unnecessarily high tax payments.
- Southwest has a variety of retirement accounts that receive contributions from you and the company. Our team has a clear understanding of these accounts and will provide insight on how to maximize the contributions that flow into them.
- See the illustration below for more information.
Financial Highlights of the 2024 Contract
Follow the link below to view the financial summary.
Your Southwest Retirement Specialists
(214) 616-2664 Mobile
(972) 267-1244 Office
(972) 730-4047 Mobile
(972) 267-1244 Office
Helping Co-Pilot Your Financial Journey, No Matter Where You Are
Whether you’re nearing retirement or early in your career, we can help you better prepare for the path ahead.
I’m Nearing Retirement
I’m Early in Retirement Planning
I’m Nearing Retirement
Request Your Complimentary Retirement Plan Analysis
For pilots who are nearing retirement. We can help maximize your company-provided benefits, assess the pros and cons of each major decision as it relates to your specific circumstances, and most importantly, create a plan to accomplish what matters most to you – enjoying the retirement you have worked so hard for.
What you can expect to see in your personalized Retirement Plan Analysis:
- Retirement Cash Flow Projection
- Tax Impact Analysis
- Investment Strategy Evaluation
- Specific Scenarios for Your Situation
To get started, please complete the simple form below
I’m Early in Retirement Planning
401K AutoPilot℠ Program
For pilots who are ready to optimize their financial future. If you are a pilot with a 401k balance under $500k, our 401K Autopilot Program is the solution we’ve created to help optimize your financial future. Our team of financial experts will help you navigate the ever-changing capital markets landscape and set up a financially savvy flight plan to accomplish what matters most to you – building a more secure financial picture for all the years ahead.
To get started, please complete the simple form below
Are You Ready For Retirement? [1:47]
Qualified vs. Non-Qualified Plans [3:19]
Learn About Your PCRA [2:32]
Southwest Pilots, You Took the Early Out. What Happens Now? [2:53]
Request Your 401k AutopilotSM Program Digital Brochure
If you are a pilot with a 401k balance under $500k, our 401K AutopilotSM Program is the solution we’ve created to help optimize your financial future. Our team of experts will help you navigate the ever-changing capital markets landscape and set up a financially savvy flight plan to accomplish what matters most to you – building a more secure financial picture for all the years ahead. To learn more, request your digital brochure today!