The Texas Local Fire Fighters Retirement Act Educational Foundation will host its annual Educational Conference Oct. 5–7, 2025, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown Convention Center, 500 Cypress St., Abilene, Texas. The three-day event will bring together trustees, administrators, investment professionals, and service providers to focus on governance, education, and the future of firefighter pension systems.

On Sept. 27, people across the country will roll up their sleeves for National Public Lands Day (NPLD), the largest single-day volunteer effort for public lands. From planting trees to cleaning trails, it is a day when communities come together to give back. Entry to all national parks is free, making it a celebration of both service and access.

The Texas Pension Review Board meets Sept. 25 in Austin, and what happens there matters to every trustee and administrator managing a public employee retirement system in Texas. The agenda covers funding policies, compliance, and investment oversight — the very issues that shape how our systems operate and plan for the future.

The terrorist attacks of Sept.  11, 2001, caused significant loss of life and lasting trauma for our nation. The events of that day, the emergency response, and the acts of selflessness—from individuals sworn to duty and everyday people alike—remain powerful reminders of the value of public service. Today, on Patriot Day and the National Day of Service and Remembrance, we honor the victims and the heroes of 9/11. We also reflect on the millions of public employees who serve our communities every day—teachers, police officers, firefighters, city workers, and countless others who form the backbone of civic life in Texas and across the country.

The National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS) released a new study, Debunking the Job-Hopping Myth: A Data-Driven Look at Tenure and Turnover Among Younger Workers (Sept. 2025), challenging the belief that Millennials and Gen Z workers change jobs more often than previous generations.

The 2025 Summer Educational Forum, presented by Dimensional Fund Advisors, may be over, but your learning and networking don’t have to be. The Whova mobile and web app remain open, so you can swap templates, line up quick peer chats, and grab sponsor resources tailored to public plans.

From Aug. 3–5, 2025, 274 trustees, administrators, and industry professionals convened in El Paso, Texas, for the TEXPERS Summer Educational Forum—offering three days packed with professional development, pension fund governance insights, and networking built on a foundation of retirement security for public employees.

Rector “Choc” McCollum, a retired Dallas police sergeant and longtime advocate for public employee retirement systems, died July 16 in Plano. He was 69.

TEXPERS is proud to welcome Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossman LLP (BLBG) as the official sponsor of this year’s Fiduciary Fizz Mocktail, the signature drink of the 2025 Summer Educational Forum’s Networking Welcome Reception on Sunday, Aug. 3, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Paso Del Norte Lobby of the El Paso Convention Center.

TEXPERS is proud to welcome back Dimensional Fund Advisors as the Presenting Sponsor of our 2025 Summer Educational Forum, taking place August 3–5 in El Paso, Texas.

TEXPERS has extended the deadline to reserve rooms in the official hotel block to July 18, 2025, for the 2025 Summer Educational Forum, presented by Dimensional Fund Advisors. Held Aug. 3–5 at the El Paso Convention Center in El Paso, the forum provides state-approved continuing education hours for public retirement system trustees and administrators. The official event hotel is the Hotel Paso del Norte (Autograph Collection).

The box has just arrived and is nearly overflowing with ribbons for the 2025 TEXPERS Summer Educational Forum, thanks to sponsor Pomerantz LLP, the official Lanyard Sponsor of the event.

TEXPERS is excited to announce the sponsors supporting the Pre-Forum Soccer Social taking place from 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025, in El Paso, Texas, ahead of the Association’s Summer Educational Forum.

Trustees and administrators of Texas public employee pension systems carry the critical responsibility of safeguarding retirement benefits for thousands of public servants. To do the job well, staying current on industry trends, governance practices, and regulatory expectations is essential. The TEXPERS 2025 Summer Educational Forum, presented by Dimensional Fund Advisors and held Aug. 3–5, 2025, in El Paso, offers the perfect opportunity to do just that.

TEXPERS is excited to announce that WCM Investment Management and Dicello Levitt LLP are the official Room Keycard Sponsors for the upcoming 2025 Summer Educational Forum, presented by Dimensional Fund Advisors, and held Aug. 3–5 at the El Paso Convention Center in El Paso, Texas. The official event hotel is the Hotel Paso del Norte, Autograph Collection, located just steps from the venue.

This summer, TEXPERS invites you to join us in El Paso for a conference experience that blends fiduciary excellence with regional charm, exclusive networking, and practical education.

Ready to turn your summer getaway into a professional growth experience? Whether you're a trustee, administrator, or sponsor, we’ve planned our TEXPERS 2025 Summer Educational Forum Aug. 3-5, 2025, that blends education, networking, and El Paso charm. Here's your personal itinerary to help you plan the trip.

Retirement benefits for state legislators are far from uniform across the country, according to a new report released in April 2025 by the National Association of State Retirement Administrators (NASRA). The report, Understanding Retirement Benefits for State Legislators, reveals significant disparities in plan types, participation requirements, and benefit levels, offering valuable insights into how Texas compares.

Killeen Fire Capt. Marvin Taylor III died in a car crash early Sunday, May 11, after leaving an Austin hospital where his fifth child had been born. He was en route to pick up his other children when his vehicle was struck from behind at East Koenig Lane and Airport Boulevard, according to FOX 7 Austin. An Austin police officer witnessed the crash. The other driver was arrested and charged with intoxication manslaughter.