Response to Media Questions About TRS Investment Practices

From time to time, Teachers’ Retirement System gets questions from legislators, academics, members and others asking about the System’s investment decisions. Specifically, these questions center on whether TRS is making risky investments in order to “overreach” for investment returns that would help reduce our unfunded liability and whether the allocation of TRS assets to “alternative” investments is a prudent move.

The answers are: TRS does not invest with the goal of making up the System’s unfunded liability. TRS investments in “alternatives” are prudent and are designed more to reduce volatility in the overall portfolio.

Most recently these questions came from Crain’s Chicago Business and the System believes it is helpful to share our extensive responses to these questions.

For the complete TRS response, click here.

For point-by-point answers to accusations raised in the Crain's story, click here.

For the Crain's Letter to the Editor, click here.

What's Happening at TRS

• Winter 2011-12 Topics & Report Newsletter (PDF)
• 2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report
• 2011 Annual Financial Report Summary (PDF)
• Inactive teachers: click on this link to request a refund of your TRS contributions
• TRS Rebalances Equity Portfolios to Better Perform in a Volatile Economy (PDF)
• Post-retirement employment limitations reduced beginning July 1, 2011: read more by clicking here.
  
• TRS Executive Director Dick Ingram held a series of “Town Hall” meetings throughout Illinois during September and October. Director Ingram’s “Town Hall” presentation on issues facing TRS and its members: Town Hall Presentation (PDF)

TRS Issues Update

Teachers’ Retirement System is committed to providing the latest up-to-date information available about the progress of legislation in the General Assembly that could alter the Illinois Pension Code and affect TRS members. The following resources are designed to help you track active bills in the legislature and to help you understand what those bills mean to you and your family.

• Major Legislation & Proposals - A TRS breakdown of the major proposals introduced in the General Assembly
• TRS Speaks– A statewide compilation of TRS responses to news articles and letters-to-the-editor
• All Pension Legislation– Brief descriptions of all pension legislation pending in the General Assembly and a link to the General Assembly’s official bill search and status Web site
• TRS Issues & Answers– Questions and answers about issues facing TRS members

To expedite your search for specific information, please use our search engine on the top right hand corner of our Web site.

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