URS Retirees Share Their Stories | Laura Stireman
‘Retirement with Options’
With a steady pension beside her, this retiree has the freedom to decide what comes next.
“Regardless of what’s happening in the general economy … this is peace of mind that is priceless for me.”
Laura Stireman espouses finding purpose and meaning in work. But when she used to talk to her younger coworkers with URS benefits, her advice became a little more nuanced. “Even if you’re not 100% happy where you are, it’s so worth it if you can just figure out a way to be happy or find value or add value,” she said. “Because that pension… if you can stick it out, then you have the freedom to make decisions that you probably would never be able to (otherwise) make.” Laura retired in July 2024 after 28 years of service — young by most standards, just 53 at the time. “I had no idea… the true value of what (a pension) means until I was retired,” she said. “It’s become such a big deal in the decisions that my family and I have made moving forward.”
Opening Doors
When Laura first stepped away from a job she enjoyed, she wasn’t sure what “retired” would look like. “I’m young, I’m in my 50s … and, honestly, was I ready to be fully retired?” Her URS pension gave her space to find out. She spent several months at home, then decided she wanted to keep working, but on different terms. “I was able to pick a job based on what I really wanted to do, rather than just a salary,” she said. Without that pension, that wouldn’t have been an option.” Today she works full-time in the private sector at a commercial insurance agency. “I’m excited to come to work,” she said. It feels more like I get to than a have to.”
A Different Kind of Security
The monthly URS pension income, Laura said, has been life-changing. “Regardless of what’s happening in the general economy … this is peace of mind that is priceless for me.” And the impact goes beyond Laura herself. She and her husband have one son in his 20s, and her mother — now in her late 70s — had retired to Florida. Over time, the distance became tough. The family decided to buy a house for Laura’s mother and son, bringing mom closer and giving their son a foothold in a tough housing market. “We couldn’t have done that without the pension,” Laura said. What impact has URS had on Laura’s life? “Not to be too sappy, but it’s almost immeasurable,” she said. “It’s hard to put into words.” But she finds it easy to put into words her advice for younger URS members. “I talk to people about it all the time,” she said. “Go talk to URS. You have no idea what it means. It’s such an amazing benefit. Pretty incredible.”
