As I understand, too, usually defined employer pensions are reduced if the employee chooses to include their spouse as a recipient upon their death. Some defined employer pensions may have limitations on how long they continue paying retirement benefits to a surviving spouse.
In the option that I chose, my Wife will get 1/2 of what I am drawing for the rest of Her life. It dropped what I get considerably because She is 10 years younger than me. Because She has no retirement except Social Security, I felt that is the way to go. It would be better if I did not have to start drawing out some monies when I hit 70 1/2 (which is near), that is drawing more interest than anywhere I can put it at this time. But the Government wants the tax off of that money. miles
