SPRINGFIELD, IL – Teachers’ Retirement System surpassed its fiscal year 2016 goals for integrating women and minority-owned money managers and brokers into its investment program with more than 17.6 percent of the total portfolio managed by WMBE companies.

TRS investment staff reported to the TRS Board of Trustees that at the end of the fiscal year on June 30, the 34 women and minority owned business enterprises managing System assets administered $7.86 billion. The WMBE goal for FY 2016 was 16 percent of total assets. The FY 2016 total surpassed the goal by $721 million.

SPRINGFIELD, IL – After months of research and discussion, Teachers’ Retirement System has endorsed a new reporting template that standardizes the way private equity fund managers detail the fees they charge TRS and other public pension systems.

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Teachers’ Retirement System Board of Trustees today reduced its long-range assumed rate of investment return to 7 percent from 7.5 percent, a move that reflects changes in the world economy which have dampened investment results.

This is the third time in the last four years that TRS has reduced its assumed rate of return in order to keep the System in line with economic reality. In 2012 TRS lowered its assumed rate from 8.5 percent to 8 percent, and then lowered the rate to 7.5 percent in 2014.

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Teachers’ Retirement System is being honored for its strong, on-going commitment to nurturing minority-owned emerging investment managers across the country.

TRS has received the 2016 Stand-Out Institutional Investor Award, given annually during the annual Consortium EAST investment forum to “an institutional investor…for their unwavering commitment to the growth and success of the emerging manager space.”

The Stand-Out Institutional Investor Award was announced in June during the 13^th annual Consortium EAST in New York, New York.

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Teachers’ Retirement System selected five firms to provide transition management services on an as-needed basis, forming a “bullpen” of expertise designed to help the System in different situations.

Following its internal investment policy, TRS undertakes a formal evaluation of its transition management program every three years and issues a “Request for Proposals” to ensure that the companies selected to provide these services are the best fit for the System’s needs.

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Teachers’ Retirement System Board of Trustees today hired two money management firms to initiate a new program designed to reduce the potential risk associated with stock investments based in foreign currencies.

The Board engaged Fischer, Francis, Trees and Watts, of New York, New York and Adrian Lee & Partners of London, England, to oversee a portion of the System’s foreign currency exposure and manage the associated risk of that exposure on the overall TRS portfolio.

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Teachers’ Retirement System Board of Trustees today hired Segal Consulting to provide actuarial services to the System for the next three years.

Segal, with offices in Chicago and across the country, will assume its duties with TRS on July 1, 2016. The firm replaces the System’s previous actuary, Buck Consultants of Chicago, which had served TRS since 1988.

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Teachers’ Retirement System Board of Trustees has given final approval to a $4.813 billion state contribution to the System for fiscal year 2020, a 10.6 percent increase over the current fiscal year’s contribution.

The FY 2020 contribution falls short of the amount of money that actuaries calculate would “fully fund” the cost of TRS pensions in the new fiscal year. The FY 2020 statutory contribution is $3.065 billion below the full funding amount of $7.878 billion.

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Teachers’ Retirement System Board of Trustees has given preliminary approval to a $4.813 billion state contribution to the System for fiscal year 2020, a 10.6 percent increase over the current fiscal year’s contribution.

The FY 2020 preliminary contribution falls short of the amount of money that actuaries calculate would “fully fund” the cost of TRS pensions in the new fiscal year. The FY 2020 statutory contribution is $3.065 billion below the full funding amount of $7.878 billion.

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Teachers’ Retirement System Board of Trustees allocated approximately $620 million to various investment opportunities in order to further the System’s mission of safeguarding retirement benefits for its 406,000 members.

At their regularly scheduled February meeting, the trustees: