USW Member retirement questions….
Name: James Wesley
Total years working at the Prattville Mill. 39
Total years in Operations 19
Total years in Maintenance. 20
Areas in the mill you worked. 17 years in the Pulpmill, 22 years in Secondary Fibers.
Plans upon retirement. Travel and enjoy our Grandson. Take care of my parents.
Hobbies? Fishing, Work at the Church, Drive the Old and Young on Church buses.
Any info/advise would like to share on the retirement preparation? Things to consider? Don’t wait too late to start retirement process. Take notes along the way. Get a financial advisor while going through this process. Look at your distribution of money. Don’t wait till the last minute. Trish is a great asset in retiring. They sent back Jims retirement paperwork due to an incomplete part of paperwork. More of a reason to start early.
How did you know it was time to retire? My body, wear and tear. It is time.
Any special memories you would like to share with other employees? Good friends, good people. I remember the people who got hurt, who had to retire. The mill now has over 200 people who have passed since the mill has been in operation.
People who influenced you from the mill in a positive way. Supervisor Pulp mill, Eli Cook, great guy. Mill Manager, John Anderson, started in the mill as a Technical Technician. Willis Potts, Jimmy Sanders, Steve Davis.
What advice for the new guys? Make sure you are happy in job you are doing and the area you are working. If not, move on to a different job area. Don’t stay in an area you don’t like.
What advice for the guys with 25 years in with the company? Save your money. Your day of retirement is coming. Take care of your body.
How do you want to be remembered? As a blessing to others.
Would you be willing to come back as a guest to a Local Union Meeting to share with Post Retirement advice? Sure
Last comments. A word of advise from Eli Cook. “Never forget we are all God’s children. We are only passing through.
According to Trish the Retirement Medical Account may just be used for premiums.
Research the information on retirement to see what you are allowed to do and what you are not allowed to do.
May register for Social Security on-line now.
Have learned so much about the process of retiring.
Jim’s last day is May 31st. His retirement will start of June 1. The company pays retirement in arears. First retirement check will be August 1 and will be for dates back to June 1st. Jim wanted to advice to hold back some money till the first retirement check comes in. Jim worked the first 5 months of 2017. He will receive 5/12th vacation pay of his 6 weeks’ vacation. Jim plans to use this as a bridge until he receives his first retirement check and social security.
Best advice is to start the process 2 years out. It comes quicker than you can imagine.