As mentioned in the November issue, our mailbag experiment — where we answer actual questions from actual humans — seems to have taken on a life of its own. It’s not exactly a Christmas miracle; more like that mysterious fruitcake that keeps showing up every year. No one’s quite sure who started it, but it’s become tradition — slightly odd, vaguely sticky, filled with good intentions, and very much an acquired taste.
Now, whether this turns out to be the administrative equivalent of setting off New Year’s fireworks indoors is anyone’s guess. But honestly, isn’t that half the fun? Most worthwhile ideas begin somewhere between “brilliant insight” and “this may have been a terrible decision — better call maintenance.”
Still, that’s what the New Year is all about: a cheerful optimism, the belief that a spark of madness might, with a little luck and tinsel, turn into something worth celebrating. And let’s not forget - history is full of questionable ideas that somehow became beloved traditions. So, here’s to ours. May it keep crackling, fizzing, and lighting up the year ahead.
Speaking of sparks… this month, a few questions landed in our mailbox — plus a statement sneaking in at number three, bold enough to make the Grinch grin. The second question feels especially timely, given the recent bump in the Pension accrual rate. Questions one and four, along with that “cheeky” statement, are a little saucy — a bit like Aunt Edna’s Christmas cranberry and jalapeño sauce: tangy, slightly unexpected, and oddly satisfying if you let it sit with the rest of the feast.
Still, in the spirit of goodwill to all, we’ve decided to lean in, answer them, and see where the sleigh ride takes us. Think of it as me wrangling their questions, giving them a polite reality check, and sending them back out with a festive wink. Strap in — it’s part holiday cheer, part practical wisdom, and all pleasingly unexpected — at least it was to us.
Q: I miss the one line reminders that the Fund Office included in the newsletters ten or so years ago. What happened to them and when will they come back?
A: Thanks for your question. I wasn’t here ten years ago, so I can’t say exactly what those one-line reminders looked like. I checked, and didn’t find any. That said, I believe your memory.
Will one-line reminders return? The answer is not anytime soon — probably never. Why? Two reasons. First, because attention isn’t a gift, it’s a choice – yours to make. Second, one-line reminders never really helped anyone who wasn’t already paying attention.
The best approach is simple: if you want to stay informed, make it a habit to check the details yourself. It’s a bit like investing: there are no magic bullets, only consistent choices over time.
Q: The accrual rate increase in the Pension Plan is good news. One thing I’m curious about: why is there still an early retirement penalty? Why would a 59 year old “me” get a different check than a 62 year old “me”? Why am I being penalized?
A: Let’s start with a truth that’s easy to miss: there’s no such thing as a penalty for retiring early.
And, not for nothing, that phrase makes it sound like the Plan is sitting there with a ruler, ready to whack your writing hand for daring to take your money before a certain date. Spoiler alert: it isn’t.
Here’s the reality: it’s just a simple trade-off between time and money, and you get to decide which matters more:
- Start earlier: smaller checks, more of them. Or,
- Start later: bigger checks, fewer of them.
This isn't the Plan punishing you for choosing early retirement. It's basic math that keeps the system solvent for everyone—including the people who come after you.
Now, the actual question you should be asking is: Do you want more years of income, or more income per year?
Only you know which matters more for your life. The Plan gives you the freedom to decide.
Sound familiar? Here’s the kicker: that’s exactly how Social Security works! Yet somehow, and interestingly, nobody’s clutching their pearls about a “penalty” there. And the IBEW Local 697 Pension Fund? Substantially better funded than Social Security.
In short: the math is transparent, and the choice is yours.
Good question and thanks for taking the time to write and submit it.
Q: So, you’re starting again with the update form. What a drag.
A: “‘Drag’? Really? What a delightfully vintage expression — charming, yes, in a bell-bottoms-and-rotary-phone kind of way. I’m curious, did you emotionally check out sometime during the Ford administration, or have you just woken from a decades-long nap?
Seriously, who even says ‘drag’ anymore?
But here’s the real question: did you actually have one?”
But, since you submitted something, I’ll take a stab at addressing it — a small pivot toward insight, or at least toward making a little good come of your effort.
As the loyal readers of the Funds newsletters understand, words often reveal more than we realize. Calling something a “drag” rarely reflects the task itself; it usually says, “I don’t see the point.” And that’s exactly where the opportunity lies. What feels tedious — a form, a brief administrative act — is actually a five-minute investment in solidarity, trust, and keeping the Plan running for everyone who depends on it.
Think of it not as red tape, but as an invisible handshake between members. When everyone shows up — even in small, unglamorous ways — the Plan functions beautifully. Redefine “drag” as “a tiny act that keeps the lights on for everyone,” and suddenly it doesn’t feel outdated. It feels… noble.
So, do your part. Stay current. Show up to meetings. And yes — if you were referencing it — actually complete the Health Care Information form. Wild, I know. Handle the details that keep the whole thing moving.
The fact of the matter is that these aren’t meaningless bureaucratic rituals. They’re the quiet, unglamorous acts that keep the Union and the Benefit Plans strong — the behavioral glue that holds the whole system together.
Capiche?
On a different note, maybe, — just maybe — it’s time to consider moving past the language and habits of another era – the ones that smells faintly of shag carpeting — you know, that vintage aroma of ‘someday.’ This is about now. And choosing to care, when it still makes a difference.
Happy Holidays & thanks for sending that, er… that “thought” into us.
Q: I’ve noticed that you mention showing up at membership meetings a lot within the Funds monthly newsletter. Why? Why do you care? You’re the Fund, not the Union.
A: I’m glad you noticed. You’re right — over the seventy-two months since 2019, more than three-quarters of our newsletters have mentioned showing up at a membership meeting. Out of 228 articles, (not counting this months) that’s roughly one in three saying, in one form or another, “Hey — come to a meeting. Seriously, show up.”
So why do I keep talking about showing up? Why do I care?
Really, the better question isn’t why I care — it’s why more members don’t. Four to six meetings a year. That’s all it takes to help shape the future of something you chose to belong to.
Here’s the thing: every great community rests on a quiet, unspoken promise. We owe something to each other. Not because we’re told to, but because we choose to.
That, to me, is what your union represents. It’s voluntary — gloriously, powerfully voluntary. You weren’t drafted into it. You joined. You decided to stand with others who share your trade, your standards, and your stake in the future. You said, count me in.
Now, a lot of people confuse showing up for work with showing up for each other. Doing your job puts food on the table and a roof overhead — honorable, essential, personal. But showing up for your union? That’s about belonging with intention.
It’s about recognizing that your success isn’t a solo act. Your presence, your questions, your curiosity — these are small but essential investments in a shared trust. In other words, showing up and participating is generosity made visible. It says: I’m here. I care. I’m part of this story too.
And yes — story. A story about dignity, solidarity, and the belief that together, we can build something better than any of us could alone.
When you show up — at a meeting, a seminar, a discussion — you’re not just ticking a box. You’re tending the union’s soul. Not the mystical kind, but the practical kind: the soul that keeps participation alive and turns a union from a logo or a line item on a paycheck into something far rarer — a living, breathing promise.
I know, I know — “the union’s soul” sounds cosmic. Fair enough. But stay with me: it’s not as airy as it sounds. Plus…. you asked!
Think of it this way — membership isn’t just about representation. It’s belonging on purpose. And participation? That’s stewardship: the quiet act of saying, I’ll leave this stronger than I found it.
Both you and the next generation deserves more than a pension or a benefit plan. You and they deserve the sense of meaning that comes from trust, pride, and mutual responsibility — the kind of wealth no balance sheet can measure, yet the rarest and most valuable kind.
The health of any union, like any democracy, depends on people who choose to show up — not just for themselves, but for each other.
That’s why I care.
And since you asked — what made you write in? Real and honest curiosity, or just the thrill of calling me out? If the latter, you could’ve just shown up at a meeting and asked me in person. Radical concept, I know – people, in a room, talking. It’s like texting, but with lungs.
Q: I like it when you go off topic in our newsletters. You connect dots I hadn’t seen or offer a different perspective or something new. October and November’s newsletter did just that. So, here’s my question: what’s the perfect holiday gift—one that doesn’t cost much?
A:🎄 Surprise: it’s not under the tree.
The best presents? They’re the ones you finally choose to use. It’s saying, “Yes, I will use this. Yes, I will put it to work and make it count.”
And here’s the kicker — it’s already in your hands. No cost. No lines. No wrapping paper.
It’s the opportunity that you keep pushing off. The number you haven’t called, the app waiting to be downloaded, the button you haven’t pressed, the answers you haven’t sought. Practical. Immediate. Powerful.
As it relates to the IBEW Local 697 Benefit Funds, that opportunity is right in front of you.
💡 For your financial future: open the Fund’s retirement calculator and start planning today. As Warren Buffett says, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.”
Download the Empower App. Log in. Sit down with Mo. Make a Roth contribution. Every bit of knowledge you put to use today compounds into security tomorrow
❤️ For your family’s health: before rushing to the ER or urgent care, download the Included Health telehealth app — or call the number on your medical ID card. It’s the fastest, smartest way to get guidance, save money, and protect well-being.
Picture it: you, the unassuming hero of the holidays. Jaws drop; hearts swell. And all it took was a little foresight and pressing a few buttons instead of running around like a caffeinated reindeer. And trust me, if you do this, mistletoe will be irrelevant – your loved ones will be smothering you with gratitude before you can say “you’re welcome.” Responsibility has never looked this seductive.
Press the button. Make a call. Use the gift that’s been waiting for you all along. The real magic isn’t in what you buy or wish for — it’s in what you finally choose to use.