Question 1

What is a replacement rate?

Accepted Answer

The replacement rate is the percentage of your final compensation that your pension replaces. For example, a 2% benefit factor with 30 years of service gives you a 60% replacement rate, meaning your pension would be 60% of your final compensation.

Question 2

Is my information stored or shared?

Accepted Answer

No. All calculations happen entirely in your browser. No personal information — including your salary, age, or pension estimate — is sent to any server, stored, or shared. This calculator is completely private and requires no login.

Question 3

Why is this page set up around a specific age, years, or salary?

Accepted Answer

Scenario pages on this site are designed to help you compare formulas at a fixed planning input — a specific retirement age, a specific number of service years, or a specific final salary band — so you can see the spread between formulas with the variable you care about held constant. The embedded calculator is pre-set to that scenario; change any input to model your own situation.

Question 4

Why does the benefit factor change every quarter year?

Accepted Answer

CalPERS publishes benefit factors at quarter-year intervals (e.g., 55.00, 55.25, 55.50, 55.75). This means your exact retirement date within a year affects your benefit factor. Retiring even three months later can increase your benefit factor and monthly pension.

Question 5

What is the difference between CalSTRS and CalPERS?

Accepted Answer

CalSTRS (California State Teachers' Retirement System) covers certificated K-12 teachers, community college instructors, and some administrators. CalPERS (California Public Employees' Retirement System) covers state, school, and local public agency employees. Teachers may have benefits from both systems depending on their career.

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