Are you an Oregon PERS member?
Get expert insights from financial advisors who specialize in helping Oregon PERS members make the most of their compensation package and benefits.
Looking for a financial advisor who specializes in working with Oregon PERS members? You’re in the right place. Below, you’ll find advisors who understand Oregon PERS benefits and compensation — along with their answers to common financial questions from Oregon PERS members.
Whether you’re early in your public service career or approaching retirement, making smart decisions about your income and Oregon PERS benefits can have a lasting impact on your financial future. For example:
✅ Do you know the right moves to get the greatest value from the Oregon PERS benefits available to you?
✅ If you’re thinking about leaving public service for another job or planning to retire in a few years, are you taking the right steps today to receive all the retirement benefits you’ve earned?
Key Takeaways
The OSGP Three-Year Catch-Up Is an Underused Oregon PERS Benefit
For three years before normal retirement age, employees who didn’t maximize past deferrals can contribute extra to the Oregon Savings Growth Plan, beyond the standard age-50 catch-up.
Coordinate PERS, IAP, and OSGP Payouts for Tax Efficiency
A personal retirement budget and a spend-down strategy across all three accounts help keep taxes manageable in retirement.
Using IAP Funds to Buy Back Service Can Increase Your PERS Pension
A service buyback funded from the IAP can be a tax-efficient way to raise the monthly pension.
Why Oregon PERS Members Work with a Specialist Financial Advisor
Oregon’s Public Employees Retirement System provides members with a pension through PERS and the Individual Account Program (IAP), and eligible members can also save in the Oregon Savings Growth Plan (OSGP), a 457(b) deferred compensation plan — along with access to retiree health insurance. While PERS offers many useful resources and access to knowledgeable staff who can assist with questions, you’ll also find financial professionals not affiliated with Oregon PERS who specialize in helping members make the most of their retirement benefits.
Oregon PERS is headquartered in Tigard, Oregon, and serves employees and retirees of the state, school districts, and hundreds of cities, counties, and other public employers across Oregon. Wherever you work in the state, you may have questions about your retirement benefits better suited for a financial professional who can offer unbiased advice and guidance.
Sensitive topics — like the steps you should take before leaving a PERS-covered job, choosing among pension payout and survivor options, or deciding when you should plan to retire — are all conversations that may be more comfortable with a trusted financial advisor.
Should You Hire an Oregon PERS Specialist or a Local Financial Advisor?
You’ll likely find dozens of nearby financial advisors well-suited to help you reach your money goals with a personalized plan. But it can be harder to find a financial advisor who specializes in serving Oregon PERS members. Fortunately, many financial advisors offer virtual services, so you can meet online no matter where you (or they) live — which means you can hire a specialist financial advisor who lives hundreds of miles away if their knowledge and experience working with Oregon PERS members is the better fit for your unique needs.
💡 In the Q&A below, you’ll gain insights from financial advisors who work with Oregon PERS members to help them make smart decisions, get the most value from their compensation and benefits, reduce their money stress, and prepare for a comfortable retirement.
🙋♀️ Have a question not yet answered? Use the form below to submit your question. You can also contact financial advisors directly to set up an introductory call or contact them with your questions.
Q&A: Financial Planning Tips for Oregon PERS Members
In this section, you’ll learn how you can make the most of your Oregon PERS benefits and gain valuable tips from financial advisors who specialize in working with Oregon PERS members.
Financial Advisor Q&A · Oregon PERS Members
Steven Jamison, CFP®, CPA
Jamison Hanson · Salem, OR · Serves clients nationwide
Save Time. Build Wealth. Live Life.Steven Jamison is a financial advisor based in Salem, Oregon who specializes in offering financial planning services to State of Oregon Public Employees (PERS) employees. Steven helps his clients get the most value from their State of Oregon Public Employees (PERS) benefits and compensation package so they can enjoy life and feel confident about their financial future.
QAs a financial advisor with experience helping State of Oregon Public Employees (PERS) employees save for their retirement, how do you help them make the most of their employee benefits?
We help navigate decisions regarding tax deferred retirement savings, life insurance, long term care insurance, retiree health insurance, and other benefits, including tax and financial implications during an employee’s employment. We then help with decision making regarding PERS, IAP and OSGP payouts at retirement.
QWhen you first speak with a State of Oregon Public Employees (PERS) employee, what questions do you like to ask to better understand their unique circumstances and determine how you can best help them achieve their goals?
When were you first hired? When do you plan to retire? What benefits are you currently using? Do you have a spouse you would like to provide for in case of death? What insurance do you have outside of your employee benefits?
QIs there a particular benefit available to State of Oregon Public Employees (PERS) employees you feel isn’t as well utilized or understood by employees as it should be?
The Oregon Savings Growth Plan (OSGP) allows for a 3 year catchup (PDF) beyond the catch up contributions permitted for savers over age 50. For three years prior to the employee’s defined full retirement age the employee can contribute extra amounts if they did not historically maximize their deferrals. I’ve attached a document about this.
QBeyond State of Oregon Public Employees (PERS) employee benefits for retirement savings, are there other types of benefits offered by the company that you find valuable to discuss with your clients (e.g., stock, education savings, health savings)?
Long term care insurance. Life insurance. Retiree health insurance.
QFor State of Oregon Public Employees (PERS) employees thinking about leaving the company to accept a job elsewhere, what actions do you recommend they take before resigning and shortly thereafter?
Maximizing available retirement contributions, cash flow permitting.
QFor State of Oregon Public Employees (PERS) employees approaching retirement age, how do you recommend they prepare to make the transition from living off their salary to relying upon other sources of income?
Prepare a personal budget for retirement. Evaluate available PERS, OSGP, IAP and other retirement benefits to assess the best spend down strategy, especially for tax efficiency. Consider service buy back options using IAP funds as a potentially tax efficient way to increase the PERS pension payout.
QIs there a particularly memorable experience or a moment you recall with a client who worked at State of Oregon Public Employees (PERS) when you realized they have unique opportunities and circumstances when it comes to their financial planning needs?
We had a client who had been unable to save for retirement for a number of years but found himself inheriting wealth. With the newly available cash he was able to take advantage of the tax benefits associated with the 3 year catchup contributions and make significant progress towards his retirement goals.
Considering a financial advisor who specializes in working with Oregon PERS Members?
Are you a financial advisor who specializes in working with Oregon PERS members or other public employees?
✅ Join Wealthtender and get featured as a specialist financial advisor based on your knowledge and experience working with Oregon PERS members or other public employees. (Subject to availability and terms.)
✅ Sign up today and join financial advisors attracting their ideal clients on Wealthtender
Ask a Financial Advisor Your Oregon PERS Benefits & Career Questions
Are you ready to enjoy life more with less money stress?
Sign up to receive weekly insights from Wealthtender with useful money tips and fresh ideas to help you achieve your financial goals.
About the Author
Brian Thorp
Founder & CEO, Wealthtender · Editor-in-Chief
Brian Thorp is the founder and CEO of Wealthtender and serves as Editor-in-Chief. With over 25 years in the financial services industry — including nearly 22 years at Invesco, where he led strategic partnerships with wealth management firms representing more than $100 billion in assets — Brian founded Wealthtender to help people find financial advisors they can trust and make more informed money decisions.
A member of the National Society of Compliance Professionals and its SEC Marketing Rule Working Group, Brian was recognized by WealthManagement.com as one of its “Ten to Watch in 2024” for his work reshaping how financial advisors market their services. He holds a B.B.A. in Finance from The University of Texas at Austin.
Brian and his wife live in Austin, Texas.