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
Discover Your Financial Journey
Financial Assessment and Planning
Investment and Portfolio Management
Retirement and 401k Services
Designated Advisor Support & Superior Standard of Care
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
A long history of providing honest, compassionate, and informative service. Read what our clients are saying.
"I don't know what you can do to improve. For us, Smith Anglin has been wonderful. Best of all is our rapport with our advisor. My wife and I feel comfortable bringing anything to his attention and though we’ve never met him face-to-face, we think of him as not only an advisor but a personal friend. Everyone else we’ve had contact with at Smith Anglin has also been wonderful."
Tim T.Retired Pilot
Client since 2019
"Personal service from my advisor is GREAT! I'm VERY happy with our experience and have nothing I would change."
Jeff E.Active Pilot
Client since 2019
"The quality, experience, character and integrity of the Smith Anglin team is outstanding. I have every confidence in their ability to manage my portfolio and anytime I have a question or concern I can always reach them in a moment’s notice."
Ben S.Active Pilot
Client since 2015
"My advisor is always available to answer my questions and keeps me in the loop on our retirement goals. Never any pressure to take on more than what we’re comfortable with. I truly feel our advisor has our best interests/goals in mind and I feel very confident and comfortable with his financial expertise and recommendations."
Mark C. Active Pilot
Client since 2018
"I value the personal care of an expert watching my financial investments while I am overseas at work and unable to notice and react to market volatility."
Tom M.Retired Pilot
Client since 2013
All testimonials are provided by current clients of Smith Anglin Financial. Clients were not compensated for testimonials, direct or otherwise. To our knowledge, no other conflicts of interest exist regarding these testimonials. For more information, click this link
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!