Changes may impact future PERF & TRF retirees' benefits
Future TRF and PERF retirees may be impacted by two changes that will influence the amount of retirement benefits. Effective Oct. 1, 2014, INPRS will begin providing annuities at a market rate, through an outside provider. In addition, retirement benefits will be calculated using updated actuarial factors.
If you would like us to email you information as soon as it becomes available, please click here to provide your information.
1. Annuity Savings Account: Annuitization
Beginning Oct. 1, 2014, INPRS will begin using a market rate to provide annuities. This affects only those members who choose to annuitize their Annuity Savings Account (ASA) funds with INPRS.
Previously, INPRS used a rate that was greater than the system expected to earn with its investments. The board’s decision to end this practice was based solely on the need to protect the financial health of the plan for current and future retirees. INPRS’ actuaries estimate the system has taken on a potential $181 million loss for annuities already converted. They forecast an additional $343 million loss if there were no change.
Remember, your ASA is one part of the two-part PERF or TRF plan. Prior to retirement, you can invest your ASA funds the way you wish. For available options, click here.At retirement, you may choose to annuitize your ASA funds, roll them over to another plan, or take the funds as a lump sum payment. There is no requirement to annuitize ASA funds with INPRS. Half of PERF and TRF retirees do not.
Future market rates may be lower than rates now provided through INPRS’ annuities, leading to lower monthly annuity amounts for future retirees.
- This does not affect members who do not convert ASA funds to an annuity from INPRS at retirement.
- This does not affect current retirees and benefit recipients who have converted their ASA funds to an INPRS annuity.
Why:
The INPRS board reviewed factors including mortality tables and the assumed interest rate that are used to determine the monthly annuity amount for future retirees. Assuming an interest rate greater than what INPRS is likely to achieve can undermine the financial health of the system.
The board opted to provide annuities in the future through an outside provider. This will allow INPRS to leverage its purchasing power to negotiate more annuity options and the best available rates for members. By using an outside provider, INPRS avoids financial risk to the system’s future stability while providing the best possible market rate for members who wish to annuitize via INPRS.
This annuity change will not impact the amount of the pension portion of a member’s two-part benefit.
2. Pension Calculation: Actuarial Factors
Americans are living longer, and INPRS has set an assumed long-term rate of return for investments at 6.75 percent. Both of these changes are included in the actuarial factors used to calculate PERF and TRF benefit payments. This change will be effective for those with retirement dates of Oct. 1, 2014, and later.
- This does not affect members who select the normal retirement benefit (Option: 5-Year Certain & Life).
- This does not affect current retirees and benefit recipients.
Impact to average member defined benefit pension payments:
The impact on your potential benefit could be different than the averages below. An online calculator to help you determine the specific impact on your future benefit will be developed and posted as soon as possible. (See Annuitization Rate below).
- PERF: Could range from a decrease of about 1.0 percent, to an increase of about 4.4 percent.
- TRF: Could range from a decrease of about 0.1 percent, to about 1.1 percent.
How can I learn more about both these changes?
In July, the INPRS board reviewed and approved how the system handles annuities and opted to provide future annuities via an outside provider. An online calculator to help you determine the specific impact on your future benefit will be developed and posted as soon as possible.
In addition, our customer service center is available, toll-free, at the numbers below.
- PERF: (888) 526-1687
- TRF: (888) 286-3544
3. Questions and Answers
Why has INPRS made these changes now?
A review of actuarial factors and investment return assumptions is a routine practice for both public and private pensions. Americans are living longer, and INPRS recently set an assumed long-term rate of return for investments at 6.75 percent. To keep the system in solid financial condition, these changes must be reflected in how pensions and annuities are calculated.
By using an outside provider, INPRS avoids financial risk to the system’s future stability while providing the best possible market rate for members who wish to annuitize via INPRS.
What is an annuity?
An INPRS annuity is a set amount of money paid to you if you choose to convert your ASA account into a monthly benefit payment. Remember, your Annuity Savings Account is one part of your two-part PERF or TRF plan.
Am I required to convert my Annuity Savings Account into an annuity payment when I retire?
No. Converting ASA funds to an annuity from INPRS is one option for retiring members. It is not a requirement. The goal of annuities is to provide a steady stream of income during retirement. Remember, your Annuity Savings Account is one part of your two-part PERF or TRF plan.
If I annuitize my ASA account, how has INPRS calculated the monthly benefit?
Working with our actuary, INPRS considers several factors, including:
- How long you and any other beneficiary may live.
- How much the annuitized funds are likely to earn when invested by INPRS. The return INPRS predicts it can earn on these funds impacts your monthly benefit. The larger percent we predict we can earn, the larger your monthly benefit.
- An outside provider is likely to have a similar approach.
What happens if INPRS doesn’t earn the assumed rate expected on my money?
This risk is one of the reasons INPRS’ board opted to use an outside provider for annuities. INPRS must be certain that it does not promise a benefit that is more than what you paid, plus investment growth or loss on that payment. By using an outside provider, INPRS avoids financial risk to the system’s future stability while providing the best possible market rate for members who wish to annuitize via INPRS.
If we overestimate what INPRS can earn, or underestimate how many years we pay a benefit, the system would operate at a loss.
What information does INPRS use to account for Americans living longer?
INPRS consults with actuaries and mortality tables that predict how long an individual is likely to live. Factors, including advances in health care, are helping Americans to live longer than previous generations. Mortality tables are updated to reflect these longer life spans.
Where does the 6.75 percent assumed rate of return come from?
In June 2012, the system’s board reduced the rate to 6.75 percent from 7 percent. INPRS is now the lowest among the 126 public systems monitored by the annual Public Fund Survey. It is the only one below 7 percent. Read More
