I am enrolled in a defined benefit retirement plan. I will retire next year at age 56. My employer will offer me a partial lump sum distribution option for $124,000, which can be directly rolled into a qualifying retirement investment account of my choosing. Taking the lump sum will reduce my monthly benefit by $600 a month for life. Could use some tax advice if I would be better off taking the advance and investing the money in an IRA or declining the advanced payment. Folks at work seem split on the issue.

Thanks for any assistance