WRS News Online - January 2021 Edition

As my time at ETF draws to a close, I’d like you all to know that the WRS remains strong, and it continues to be recognized as one of the best-funded public pension plans in the country. To be sure, there will always be challenges to overcome, but the dedicated professionals at ETF and SWIB are ready, able and willing to address those challenges head on. The WRS is truly strong for Wisconsin!

This past year has been a year to remember. As governments and institutions worked to manage the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impact, the financial markets experienced a great deal of volatility. We ended the year in a strong positive position with the Core Fund achieving a preliminary net return of 15.21%.

ETF projects annuity adjustments for the Core Trust Fund to be 4.7% to 5.1%, based on SWIB’s preliminary 2020 investment returns. Projections for effective rates are also good news. Find out how this will affect your Wisconsin Retirement System account.

ETF submitted its biennial budget request to the Department of Administration in October, after review and endorsement by the ETF Board. Here are a few highlights of our biennial budget request.

SWIB has signed a lease to relocate in the summer of 2022 to a new building at Madison Yards, on Madison’s near westside. The new facility will provide the agency with the space needed to house its award-winning staff and to increase its ability to manage assets internally.

In the classic fairy tale, Goldilocks looks for the porridge that is not too hot, not too cold, but just right. Similarly, SWIB has to strike just the right balance between an asset allocation that is not too risky for WRS risk-sharing design, but also takes enough risk to generate the returns necessary to sustain the pension system over the long term.

With a dedicated team and information security leadership in place, ETF’s growing information security program underscores our commitment to protecting WRS member information every day and into the future.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has appointed SWIB's Brian Hellmer to serve a four-year term on its Investor Advisory Committee. The committee advises the SEC on regulatory priorities, regulation of securities products, trading strategies, fee structures, and disclosure effectiveness

Tune in to greater well-being with an improved Well Wisconsin experience. This year, the program has partnered with WebMD Health Services to bring information and resources to fit your interests and well-being goals. Learn what’s new for 2021 and how to earn your incentive reward.

A long-term project to locate certain WRS employees who have lost contact with ETF — despite still having money in their accounts — is already having a significant and gratifying impact.

The results of a recent ETF survey provided valuable feedback on members’ preferences for and knowledge of health care options when unexpected medical needs arise. Learn about your options and available resources.

ETF has released the WRS Financial Report for the year ended December 31, 2019. The WRS paid approximately $5.7 billion in benefits in 2019. The WRS funding ratio calculated in accordance with accounting standards was approximately 103% as of December 31, 2019. Sound funding and plan design principles continue to keep the WRS financially strong.

ETF offers a full slate of retirement prep and benefits-related webinars every month. For January and February, we’ve got six great topics and 26 different sessions for you to choose from, including several evening timeslots.

Here’s a tool to help you decide whether contributing to the WDC’s Roth option makes sense for you; a reminder to review your savings rate and allocation; and a link to scheduling a personalized retirement readiness review.

Find out when the governing boards of the Wisconsin Retirement System and the SWIB Board of trustees are scheduled to meet.