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.

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.

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 American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) has released its Pro‑Worker Scorecard for the 89th Texas Legislative Session, grading state lawmakers on their alignment with ten legislative priorities aimed at improving wages, benefits, and workplace conditions across Texas. For public employees and those overseeing retirement systems, the scorecard provides insight into where elected officials stand on issues that can impact compensation, benefits, and long-term retirement security.

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.

In a June 2025 blog post, AARP Texas highlighted a range of legislative achievements for older Texans: enhanced fraud protection, stronger standards for long‑term care, expanded housing support, judicial training, and a proposed Dementia Prevention & Research Institute. While not all bills directly reference pensions, they have clear implications for fund administrators in policy, risk management, and member communication.

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.

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.

America is facing a wave of retirements that is unprecedented in modern history. Each day 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. 

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.

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.