America is facing a wave of retirements that is unprecedented in modern history. In 2025, more than 11,000 Americans from the baby boomer generation will reach the retirement age of sixty-five. They will find themselves confronted by a decision they likely did not give much thought to prior to retirement: do they keep their retirement assets in their employer’s plan, roll them over to an IRA, or withdraw them as a lump-sum distribution? For most employees, the accumulation phase of saving for retirement is discussed far more frequently than the decumulation phase. Plan sponsors and retirees may be unaware of the benefits afforded to both parties by leaving assets in the plan, and the lack of awareness can often create plans that are not very friendly to retirees. A deeper understanding of these benefits can help plan sponsors better care for their participants’ assets and individual needs. 

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.

Americans remain largely confident in their retirement prospects, even as inflation, health care costs, and concerns about Social Security persist, according to the 2025 Retirement Confidence Survey.

As the 89th Texas Legislature enters its final stretch, the coming weeks mark a turning point in the legislative process. For public employee retirement systems, now is the time to closely track bills that could influence pension funding, governance, benefits, and administrative oversight.

This blog post outlines key deadlines in both the Texas House and Senate that trustees and administrators should be aware of, along with insights on how to stay engaged.

Managing a public employee retirement system involves handling a wide variety of files—investment reports, meeting minutes, actuarial studies, training certificates, vendor contracts, and more. Without a consistent way to organize your digital files, it’s easy to lose track of important documents or waste time digging through folders during critical moments.

As people retire, income composition shifts, as shown in a new data tool that breaks down income by age group. As people age, they are more likely to depend on Social Security (Social Security) and "Other Income," including pensions, instead of wages and assets.

Public pension trustees and administrators play a vital role in safeguarding retirement assets—and proxy voting is one of the most powerful tools they have to do it. With the 2025 proxy season underway, the National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems (NCPERS) is offering timely guidance to help public pension systems navigate the year’s most critical shareholder votes.

Staying ahead of economic shifts, policy changes, and market movements is crucial for public pension funds, institutional investors, and retirement professionals. This week's developments highlight a mix of market uncertainty, global policy challenges, and opportunities for professional education. Below, we break down key stories shaping the landscape, providing The Story and Why It Matters to help you navigate these changes.

On March 27, the U.S. Census Bureau will release the latest summary report and data tables from the 2024 Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll—a vital dataset for understanding employment trends across state and local governments, including the gross monthly payroll for March 2024.

The fight over control of the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System escalated this week after the Texas Senate Finance Committee advanced Senate Bill 1527, a measure from Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, that would give the City of Dallas greater authority over the pension fund's recovery plan. Just one day later, Mayor Eric Johnson moved to appoint two new board members to the pension system—Rob Walters, a retired antitrust lawyer and former pension board member, and David Kelly, a financial expert with experience chairing the Teacher Retirement System of Texas. They would replace Board Chair Nick Merrick, recently appointed ambassador to the Czech Republic, and Mark Malveaux, who resigned due to increased work commitments.

Staying ahead of economic shifts, policy changes, and market developments is essential for those managing Texas public employee retirement systems. This week's roundup features key updates on legislative hearings, national pension trends, investment insights, upcoming events, and research impacting public pensions. Each entry includes The Story and Why It Matters to help trustees, administrators, and stakeholders stay informed and make strategic decisions.

The TEXPERS 2025 Annual Conference, presented by Dimensional Fund Advisors, is shaping up to be one of our most dynamic gatherings yet! From March 29 to April 2, public pension trustees, administrators, investment professionals, and policymakers from across Texas and beyond will come together at the Renaissance Austin Hotel for an unparalleled experience of education, networking, and strategic discussions.

A new legislative proposal in Texas could significantly impact public employees and their pension benefits. House Bill 4938, filed by Rep. Pat Curry (R-Waco), aims to dissolve the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and redistribute its functions across three other state agencies.

Texas is one step closer to becoming the first in the U.S. to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, a tool the bill's authors claim is to enhance financial resilience, hedge against economic instability, and diversify state assets by leveraging Bitcoin's potential for long-term value appreciation and investment returns.

March 14, 2025, marks the 60th day of the 89th Legislative Session in Texas, which serves as the final deadline for filing bills and joint resolutions, except for local bills, emergency appropriations, or bills declared an emergency by the state's governor. As of the filing deadline, preliminary data from Texas Legislature Online (TLO) indicates that this session has seen a record-breaking number of bills filed compared to previous sessions:

Staying ahead of economic shifts, policy changes, and market movements is crucial for public pension funds, institutional investors, and retirement professionals. This week’s Pensions Outlook covers key legislative updates, including a Texas House committee hearing and the latest TEXPERS 89th TxLege Bill Tracker, along with new Census data on metro growth and a look at the private lending boom reshaping investment strategies. We also explore managing emotions in high-stakes environments and highlight must-attend industry events, including the TEXPERS 2025 Annual Conference with training and networking opportunities for pension leaders.

Staying ahead of economic shifts, policy changes, and market movements is crucial for public pension funds, institutional investors, and retirement professionals. This week's developments highlight a mix of economic optimism, policy initiatives, and investment challenges. Below, we break down key stories shaping the landscape, providing The Story and Why It Matters to help you navigate these changes.