The Pension Shield Option

The Pension Shield Option™: Protecting Your Pension, Your Spouse, and Your Legacy by George McReynolds, CFP® and Jim Lusk, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CLF®, M.Ed. Your pension is more than a paycheck, it's the foundation of your family’s future. For police officers, firefighters, and EMTs, choosing how to structure a pension is one of the most permanent financial decisions you will ever make. A single checkbox in your retirement packet can shape decades of retirement income planning, determine your spouse’s security, and influence your long-term retirement savings and legacy. The Pension Shield Option™ reveals a smarter way to protect your spouse and preserve your income without sacrificing control of what you’ve earned. Drawing on decades of specialized experience in personal finance and public finance, financial planners George McReynolds and Jim Lusk break down the hidden costs of the traditional “survivor option” and present a proven, flexible alternative designed specifically for public safety professionals. You’ll learn how to: Maintain your maximum pension income while still safeguarding your spouse. Replace the standard survivor option with tax-free, customizable coverage you own and control. Avoid permanent pay cuts and shrinking COLAs that quietly erode your retirement. Coordinate your pension with DROP, deferred compensation, and tax-efficient legacy strategies. Transform your pension into a protective shield that supports both income and inheritance. Filled with real-world case files, tactical comparisons, and practical checklists, The Pension Shield Option™ equips first responders and their families to make their most important retirement decision with clarity and confidence. Whether you’re optimizing retirement investing, strengthening family protection, or focusing on long-term risk mitigation, this guide gives you the tools to take control of your financial future. Your pension should be a shield not a gamble. Before signing your retirement papers, learn how to protect what you’ve earned and secure the future you’ve worked for. About the Authors George McReynolds, CFP®, a decorated U.S. Army veteran, former paramedic and police officer, is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional who specializes in helping public safety professionals retire with confidence. He is the author of Retire Abundantly, Prosperity By Design, Uncle Joe's Gems, and Stop, DROP and Roll, a retirement guide for first responders. Jim Lusk, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CLF®, M.Ed., is a nationally recognized retirement planner, author of Die Neatly: Money Machines for Life, and creator of the Private Protection Plan (PPP). For more than thirty years, he has helped retirees protect income, preserve families, and build lasting legacies. Jim is also a former mathematics and physics educator.