Welcome to TRS' resource page to help members better understand their pension fund's function.
In the video series Understanding Your Pension Fund, industry expert Joe Newton explains three main topics pertaining to the long-term health of the TRS Pension Trust Fund. Newton is an actuary at Gabriel, Roeder, Smith & Company (GRS), an independent actuarial firm that analyzes pension funds across the nation, including TRS.
The goal of this series is to help educate active TRS members and retirees on concepts and definitions that are commonly encountered at TRS board meetings, legislative committee hearings and other briefings. This effort is part of TRS' mission to continually work to deliver on the promise of retirement security now and for generations to come.
How the Health of the Fund is Calculated
This video explains how the actuarial valuation defines the health of the TRS Pension Trust Fund. Terms: actuarial valuation, unfunded liability, funding period, actuarially sound.
How Benefit Enhancements are Paid For
This video explains the different ways benefit enhancements may be paid for, and best practices for these additional costs. Terms: benefit enhancements, actuarially sound, financing, unfunded liability.
Experience Study & Investment Return Assumption
This video explains how the experience study evaluates the accuracy of the investment return assumption, and why this is important. Terms: investment return assumption, experience study.
General Investments Information
The links below explain TRS’ overall investment philosophy. Also provided are links to federal government resources related to investing for retirement.