Retiring from We Energies or WEC Energy Group?
Let’s Make Sure You Get This Right
If you’re planning to retire from We Energies—or from WEC Energy Group—you’re likely within a few years of retirement and starting to make some of the biggest financial decisions of your life.
And here’s the reality:
You’re making decisions that will affect the next 30 years…
often without the information you need—information that HR and your current advisor haven’t shown you.
That’s where we help.
At Keil Financial Partners, we work with employees of We Energies and WEC Energy Group to bring those decisions together into one clear retirement plan—so you can move forward with confidence.
No pressure. Just a conversation to see if we can help.
The Challenge: Everything Is Connected
(But No One Shows You That)
By the time you’re 55+, you’ve done a lot right:
- You’ve saved consistently
- You likely have a pension
- You’ve built a strong 401(k)
- You may own WEC Energy Group stock, either inside or outside of the 401(k)
Now you’re facing decisions like:
- When should you retire?
- When should you start your pension?
- Take the lump sum or a monthly payment?
- What should you do with your 401(k)?
- How do you avoid unnecessary taxes?
Most people try to answer these one at a time.
That’s the problem.
Because each decision affects the others.
Your Pension Decision: Small Timing Changes, Big Financial Impact
Your pension is often one of the most valuable pieces of your retirement.
And timing matters more than most We Energies / WEC Energy Group employees expect.
The problem is two-fold:
- You’re used to seeing your pension balance as a dollar amount when you login to Fidelity / NetBenefits
- You probably aren’t aware of how much your pension could increase each year, especially after you turn 65
I’ve met dozens of We Energies / WEC Energy Group employees and every single one was surprised when we showed them how their pension works.
I can’t blame them, though—there’s different options based on whether you are union, or corporate. Or if you’re in a Legacy / Grandfathered plan.
That’s why the best way to figure out how your pension works is to actually see what happens at different filing ages—not different retirement ages, but different claiming ages.
Here’s where it gets interesting
I’ve seen:
- Some pensions decrease in value once you reach 62
- Others increase their payout each year, even by up to 16% per year after you turn 65
Which one are you?
Most people don’t know.
Where to Get Your Pension Numbers
(The Right Way)
Inside your NetBenefits account:
Go to where you can model your pension benefits
Don’t just run the two standard options most people bring to us:
- Retire today and start the pension today
- Retire in one year and start the pension when you retire
Instead:
Pick your retirement age…
Then run every starting age year-by-year. Retirement age. Then the next year, the next year…
All the way to up to age 70—although for that one you’ll need to plug in 69 and 11 months. That’s the true max age.
That’s when you’ll see the pattern.
That’s when you’ll know which type of pension you have.
Not sure how to do it?
→ Schedule your intro call today
We’ll walk through it with you
The Other Big Opportunity: WEC Stock and NUA
If you have WEC Energy Group stock inside your 401(k), this may be one of the most important tax opportunities in your entire retirement.
It’s called Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA)—and most retirees have never been shown its value by their advisor.
Here’s a simple example I come across all the time.
Let’s say you have:
- $200,000 of WEC stock in your 401(k)
- $60,000 cost basis
That means:
- $60,000 = taxed as ordinary income
- $140,000 = eligible for long-term capital gains rates
That difference can significantly reduce your lifetime tax bill—and potentially for your beneficiaries, too!
But timing matters
NUA only works if:
- You distribute the stock correctly
- You do it in the right year
- It fits into your broader tax plan
This is not something to figure out after the fact.
How We Help You Put It All Together
We don’t just answer one question.
We help you answer the bigger one:
“What is the best overall plan for my retirement?”
Our approach:
Learn the math. Do the math. Follow the math.
1. Can You Retire When You Want?
We evaluate:
- Different retirement date options
- Your income stability
- What could go right, and what could go wrong
2. How Do You Turn Your Savings into Income?
We coordinate:
- Pension decisions
- Social Security timing
- Investment withdrawal strategy
3. How Do You Pay Less in Taxes Over Time?
We analyze:
- Roth conversions
- Tax bracket management
- NUA strategy
- Long-term projections
4. How Should Your Investments Support Your Plan?
We align:
- Income needs
- Risk level
- Long-term growth
5. How Do You Protect What You’ve Built?
We review:
- The We Energies / WEC Energy Group retiree health insurance against other options
- Medicare timing and insurance options
- Long-term care planning
- Estate planning
A Simple Way to Tell If You’ve Found the Right Advisor
If you’re talking with an advisor, here are two things that should happen early:
1. They help you evaluate your pension options
- Multiple ages
- Lump sum vs income
- Real comparisons
2. They ask about WEC stock in your 401(k)
- They call in to Fidelity with you to determine your cost basis
- They show you the NUA opportunity and educate you on how to do it
- They evaluate the tax impact both now, and how it impacts the rest of your retirement
If those two things aren’t happening…
There’s a good chance your retirement plan isn’t complete yet.
Before You Retire Get Organized First
Download your Retired Employee Benefits Guide
This gives you the real numbers behind your decisions.
You can also access benefits support at wecbenefits.bswift.com or call 833-913-0760
Or Let’s Talk Through Your Situation
If you’re within a few years of retiring—or already making decisions—it can help to talk it through.
On your intro call, we’ll:
- Understand your situation
- Identify key decisions
- Let you know if and how we can help
No pressure. Just a conversation to see if we can help.
Final Thought
You only retire once.
The decisions you make when retiring from We Energies / WEC Energy Group will shape your income, taxes, and flexibility for decades.
Let’s make sure you get them right.