United Airlines Pilots
Your PRAP is custodied at Schwab. We speak that language fluently.
Saint Francis Capital's own advisory and custodial relationship runs through Charles Schwab — the same platform behind the United Airlines Pilot Retirement Account Plan. We help you make sense of auto-enrollment, the default Target Date Fund, the PCRA brokerage window, and rollover decisions, with a founder who flew the line himself.
What is the PRAP?
A plan built jointly by United and ALPA — administered through Schwab
The United Airlines Pilot Retirement Account Plan ("PRAP") is a custom defined-contribution retirement plan created jointly by United Airlines and the ALPA UAL MEC Retirement and Insurance Committee, exclusively for United Airlines pilots on the seniority list.
Saint Francis Capital is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by United Airlines, ALPA, or Charles Schwab. Plan details are provided for informational purposes only — always confirm current terms in your Summary Plan Description.
How to access your account
- Log in through the Schwab Workplace Retirement App
- Visit schwabplan.com/PRAP
- Call the PRAP Service Center at 1-866-855-PRAP (1-866-855-7727)
What happens if you do nothing
New participants are auto-enrolled at a 5% pre-tax contribution rate after 30 days if they don't actively enroll. The default investment is a Target Date Fund aligned to the year you turn 65 — unless you choose otherwise. Passive defaults are a reasonable starting point, but they're rarely the optimal strategy for your specific timeline and goals.
Why this matters
A genuine credibility angle, not a slogan
Because our own custodial and advisory relationship runs through Schwab, we can speak fluently about PRAP mechanics, the Schwab PCRA brokerage window, and rollover options for pilots who are retiring, separating, or simply want more control than the default Target Date Fund provides. Combined with a founder who spent 30 years on the flight deck, we bring both the platform fluency and the career context to the table.
Career-stage planning
The financial questions that come with flying for a living
These challenges are common to United pilots and flight attendants alike — pilot plans are commonly custodied at Schwab, flight attendant plans often at Fidelity, but the underlying planning questions are the same.
Mandatory retirement at 65
FAA rules require airline pilots to retire at age 65. That creates a firm, known runway — and a bridging-income question for the years before Social Security and pension income fully phase in.
Furlough & leave-of-absence planning
Furloughs and extended leaves interrupt contributions and cash flow. A plan that anticipates these gaps holds up better than one that assumes uninterrupted service.
Pension & Social Security coordination
Where a pension exists, timing it against Social Security claiming decisions — and understanding any offsets — changes the math meaningfully.
Deferred compensation strategy
Deferred comp elections are often irrevocable once made. Sequencing them against your broader tax picture and retirement timeline matters.
Long-term disability analysis
A medical event that ends a flying career is a financial event too. Understanding your LTD coverage before you need it is part of a complete plan.
"Early-out" retirement program analysis
When airlines offer early-out packages, the decision window is short and the numbers are dense. We help evaluate the offer against your actual retirement plan, not just the headline figure.
PRAP contribution & rollover strategy
From adjusting your PRAP contribution rate above the 5% default to evaluating a rollover through the Schwab PCRA window, we help you make an active choice instead of accepting the default.
Next step
Bring us your PRAP statement. Let's look at it together.
A 30-minute conversation is enough to identify whether your current contribution rate and investment default still make sense for your timeline.
Schedule a Consultation