TEXPERS System Members are used to thinking in decades, balancing today’s benefits against tomorrow’s obligations. But what happens when tomorrow lasts longer than ever?
How much did COVID-19 really change how long people live—and what does that mean for public pension plans? A new report compiled by the Retirement Plans Experience Committee of the Society of Actuaries Research Institute sheds light on post-pandemic mortality trends, and the findings could affect every trustee’s outlook on plan funding and assumptions. However, here’s the short version, along with a link to an audio explainer on the TEXPERS' Deep Dive podcast.
A single tap could be all it takes to compromise sensitive retirement data.
When identity theft hits home, it’s not just a personal crisis; it’s a governance issue. New data from the Identity Theft Resource Center shows that cyberattacks are causing deeper financial and emotional harm than ever before. For pension systems that guard sensitive member data, the message is clear: protecting information is part of protecting benefits.
Understanding how long people expect to live doesn’t just influence their personal retirement choices; it also shapes how they value lifetime benefits. For trustees and administrators of public pension systems, this awareness gap presents a significant challenge to effective communication.
When the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) temporarily halted operations during the recent federal government shutdown, one independent research firm stepped in to fill the gap. Revelio Labs released its Revelio Public Labor Statistics (RPLS) report, estimating that the U.S. economy added 60,000 jobs in September, according to a press release.
Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed four new members to the Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS) Board of Trustees, which oversees retirement benefits for employees of more than 800 cities across Texas.
The global energy sector is entering a period of uncertainty that could affect investment decisions, according to the Reuters Events Energy Transition Insights Report 2025. For trustees and administrators of Texas public employee retirement systems, understanding these shifts is important for evaluating risks, monitoring portfolio exposure, and ensuring fiduciary oversight in a changing market. Note: Readers must sign up with Reuters Events to download the full Global Energy Markets Insights Report.
Staying ahead of retirement trends isn’t just about portfolio returns—it’s also about understanding where retirees live and what factors shape their quality of life. WalletHub’s annual “Best & Worst Places to Retire” reports—covering both states and cities—offer a window into those realities.
Many older retirement investors are more cautious about stocks than they need to be; however, a new study finds that financial advisors often recommend higher equity allocations — advice that could actually help households achieve better long-term outcomes.
Over the past two decades, 11 million more U.S. households have paid off their mortgages, according to the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. That’s good news for retirement readiness among public employees. But the story isn’t all positive—the majority of homes are still owned with mortgages, and that reality underscores the financial pressures trustees and administrators must keep in mind as we plan for the future of our systems.
Nevada's Aug. 30 ransomware shutdown shows how fast entire systems—even pensions—could be paralyzed by a single cyber strike.
For pension fund trustees and administrators, understanding workforce trends is essential to anticipating contribution flows and retirement readiness. The U.S. Census Bureau on Sept. 3 released Educational Attainment in the United States: 2024, a table package examining the education levels of adults age 18 and older. The findings provide valuable insight into the economic and demographic forces that shape public pension systems.
Two of the nation's largest proxy advisory firms, Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) and Glass Lewis, are suing the State of Texas over a new law that could directly affect how public pension funds and trustees receive shareholder voting guidance.
Texas Pension Review Board staff actuary David Fee and agency intern Annika Leong, briefed board members July 10 on the latest steps in the Funding Soundness Restoration Plan. Their report outlined shifts in actuarial assumptions, valuation timing, key system statistics, and statewide funding trends, highlighting both system-specific changes and broader patterns in public pension liabilities and assumptions.
The Texas Municipal Retirement System has named Debbie Muñoz as its new executive director, according to a statement posted on the organization’s homepage at www.tmrs.com.
The Texas Pension Review Board has put out requests for comment on the changes they will propose to the Texas Legislature for the Texas Local Fire Firefighters Retirement Act, also known as TLFFRA.
In May 2023, Americans are invited to join in celebrating Older Americans Month – a time dedicated to recognizing the contributions of older Americans to our nation’s culture and society. U.S. population statistics show that the number of Americans age 65 and older is expected to double over the next 25 years – making it more important than ever for TEXPERS members to appreciate and value the contributions of this segment of our population. Join us as we explore why celebrating Older Americans Month is so important for all of us!
The author of a new brief from the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College finds that state and local pension plans should focus on stabilizing their pension debt as a share of the economy rather than full funding. The alternative of fully prefunding state and local pensions to maintain fiscal sustainability will mean big contribution hikes.
