Archived News

Beginning this January, if you are a NYSTRS retiree working for a New York State public employer and have not yet turned 65, you will be able to earn up to $35,000 a year without impacting your pension benefits.

Public pension costs do not crowd out education spending, according to a new study.  The real funding squeeze is caused by frequent tax changes that destabilize state and local revenue, the study concludes.

NYSTRS continues to be one of the most secure and well-funded public pension plans in the country with a 30-year rate of return, net of fees, of 8.8% and a funded level of nearly 100%.

NYSTRS video series offers a seasonable approach to preparing for retirement.

NYSTRS' Board of Trustees lowered the System's assumed rate of return on investments to 7.1%.

Active members with MyNYSTRS accounts can now access their 2019 Benefit Profile.

Delegates attending NYSTRS' 2019 Annual Delegates Meeting unanimously elected teachers Sheila Sullivan Buck and Elizabeth Chetney to the NYSTRS Board of Trustees.

In-person consultations are now available in New Paltz at the Ulster County BOCES. Schedule an appointment through your MyNYSTRS account or call us at (800) 348-7298, Ext. 6100.

If you’ve just started your first teaching job, the experience is likely to be both exciting and overwhelming. Now that you're settled, take the time to become familiar with one of the key benefits of a public school teaching job – your future pension.

The Internal Revenue Service and the NYS Department of State Division of Consumer Protection recently issued new warnings to consumers about scammers attempting to steal personal or financial information.

Elizabeth A. Chetney, a teacher in the Baldwinsville Central School District, was appointed to the NYSTRS Board to fill a teacher member opening.

A new study debunks the myth that Baby Boomers are to blame for the financial shortfall facing Social Security and notes the failure to build up a trust fund – like NYSTRS and other well-funded defined benefit pension plans have done – is the true culprit.

Jennifer J. Longtin, an insurance executive from Ballston Lake, and Christopher Morin, a retired investment banking executive from Scarsdale, were elected to the NYSTRS Board by the New York State Board of Regents. Their terms began July 1.

If you have a MyNYSTRS account but haven’t logged in recently, check out the new, more modern design that looks good and works smoothly on any device.

Retiring soon and have lots of questions about the application process, how benefits are calculated, what planning resources are available to you, and more? You’ll find answers to many of your questions in our newly revised Retirement Planning FAQs page.

Retirees who worked in NYS public employment in 2018 and were under age 65 for the entire calendar year must report these non-pension earnings to NYSTRS if the legislated earnings limit of $30,000 was exceeded. 

Just in time for peak retirement season, there’s a new addition to our video library that will help those planning to retire soon.

If you have made the decision to retire, you can find everything you need to know about the NYSTRS retirement process on our new, easy-to-use Ready to Retire page.

Pension costs for NYSTRS-participating employers are expected to drop about 17% for the 2019-20 school year.

The rules for working in retirement differ based on type of employment, age and several other variables. Our publication Working in Retirement is newly updated and is a must-read for anyone employed and collecting a NYSTRS pension.

Retiree spending of defined benefit pensions generated $1.2 trillion in total economic output and supported 7.5 million jobs across the country in 2016, according to a new study by the National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS).

With a nearly 100% funding ratio, NYSTRS continues to rank among the top 10 largest retirement plans and among the best-funded public pension systems in the country.

Defined benefit pension plans are vital for attracting and retaining teachers in the classroom, and they also aid local economies, according to a new report from the National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS).

The NYSTRS portfolio returned 9.0% for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018. With a funded ratio of approximately 100%, the System oversees one of the best-funded plans in the nation.

Our Pension Education Toolkit provides facts and research to help you understand the importance of pensions and why they should be preserved.

The 2018 Benefit Profile for active members is now available online for those with a MyNYSTRS account.

PowerPoint presentations and unique graphic recordings from the 2018 Annual Meeting of NYSTRS Delegates are now available. Almost 700 educators from around the state attended the meeting.

Delegates attending NYSTRS' annual meeting unanimously re-elected William Floyd teacher Ron Gross to a new three-year term on the NYSTRS Board of Trustees.

Your 2018 Benefit Profile will be available soon and you’ll notice some big changes that result in a much smaller document.

The September issue of Your Source newsletter for active members is now available online. It features a new look and is our first all-digital edition.

Trade journal Pensions & Investments once again acknowledges NYSTRS as one of the best-funded public pension systems.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently issued a series of news releases aimed at helping taxpayers pay the right amount of tax and avoid an estimated tax penalty.

Registration is now open for fall Pension & Retirement Education Program (PREP) seminars. Sessions fill quickly so reserve your spot today!

New York’s automatic COLA means eligible retired members will receive a benefit increase beginning with their September 28 payment. Members with a pension of $1,500 a month or greater will receive the maximum monthly increase of $18.

A recently-released survey found that 61% of workers report having trouble saving for retirement.

If you're looking to supplement your income in retirement, there are several important facts to keep in mind.

One of the latest tricks scammers are using is falsifying caller ID information.

A new NCPERS study finds public pensions fuel state and local economies.

The third installment in a multipart video series on NYSTRS’ benefits was recently added to the System’s online library.

Eligible retirees receiving a monthly NYSTRS benefit will receive a 1.2% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) beginning with their September 2018 payment.

Learn how to ensure you’re prepared for retirement and that you’ll receive all the benefits for which you are eligible.

NYSTRS was recently ranked second among the nation’s top 30 public pension systems.

You will no longer be able to visit NYSTRS.org if you use Windows XP or version 8 or lower of Internet Explorer.

Retirees who withhold federal taxes based on their marital status and number of exemptions may see a change in their net monthly payments.

1099-R tax statements for calendar year 2017 earnings are now available online for those with a MyNYSTRS account.

NYSTRS' 2017 Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) summarizes complex financial data.

The ability to apply for retirement online was added to MyNYSTRS for eligible members 55 and older.

Study finds little correlation between a plan’s funded status and its ability to pay benefits.

NYSTRS posted a total fund return of 12.5% for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017, easily outpacing the System’s 7.5% assumed rate of return.

Teachers Paul J. Farfaglia, Sheila Buck and Ronald Gross are elected to NYSTRS’ 10-member Board.

A recent report found Republicans and Democrats share a deep concern for economic security in retirement.

The NYSTRS Board recently adopted an Employer Contribution Rate of 9.80% applicable to 2017-18 school year salaries, marking a return to single digits.

Recent security enhancements were made to MyNYSTRS in accordance with current standards.

Whether you’re retiring soon or years down the road, NYSTRS offers many free tools to help you with the planning process.

Consider these five key reasons to care about your golden years early in your career.

New items added to the Pension Education Toolkit focus on defined benefit pension plans like the one administered by NYSTRS.

Help us close out Unclaimed and Abandoned accounts.

Eligible retirees receiving a monthly NYSTRS benefit will receive a 1.2% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) beginning with their September 2017 payment.

NYSTRS is one of the nation’s largest pension funds, either public or private, according to the annual rankings of the top 1,000 pension funds compiled by trade publication Pensions & Investments (P&I).

New images added to the Infographics page provide further evidence NYSTRS is strong, secure and sustainable.

Public retirement systems study finds plans are improving cost efficiency while increasing funding ratios.

Employer contributions paid to NYSTRS in 2018 will be lower than 2017 contributions – which will be less than they contributed in 2016.

The 8-page Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) provides a summary of the System’s more lengthy financial reporting document.

1099-R tax statements for calendar year 2016 earnings are now available online for those with a MyNYSTRS account.

NYSTRS remains among the best-funded public retirement systems in the nation and it may be the best-funded teachers' plan.

Jolene T. DiBrango, a teacher from Pittsford Central Schools, was unanimously re-elected to the Retirement Board at the Annual Meeting of NYSTRS Delegates held Nov. 6-7 in Saratoga Springs.

Here are five key reasons to care about retirement early in your career.

David P. Keefe of Hempstead was recently elected by fellow trustees as NYSTRS Board president. Michael J. Masse of Fayetteville was elected as vice president.

Stephen P. Feehan, a wealth management advisor from Windsor, N.Y., joined the Board of the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System (NYSTRS) July 1.

It is said a picture is worth a thousand words. If that’s the case, the new Infographics page on NYSTRS.org has a lot to say.

The fixed interest rate on loans issued by NYSTRS to eligible Tier 3-6 members will decline by 0.5% effective July 1.

Chapter 41 of the Laws of 2016 enables eligible members to claim up to three years of service credit for military duty – no matter when the service occurred.

A new NYSTRS publication is intended to make complex System financial information more understandable for those without a background in public finance.

Eligible retirees receiving a monthly NYSTRS benefit will receive a 1.0% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) beginning with their September 2016 payment.

If you plan to retire at the end of the school year, we have just the tools to help you get retirement ready so you may sail smoothly into your new chapter of life.

NYSTRS ranked 9^th of top 1,000 pension funds.

A new addition to the website allows you to see how NYSTRS benefits are distributed.

Information for those who received a notice and proof of claim form regarding the proposed settlement of the securities class action brought by NYSTRS against General Motors Corporation.

Public pension funding levels are up and costs to manage plans are down, according to a recent study by the National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems (NCPERS).

A review of how NYSTRS served members in 2015.

Defined benefit (DB) plans like those administered by NYSTRS continue to outperform 401(k)-style defined contribution (DC) plans, according to a December 2015 study published by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College.

Timothy M. Southerton, a teacher from the Sayville Union Free School District, was unanimously re-elected to the Board at the Annual Delegates Meeting.

New actuarial assumptions to take effect with next valuation. System remains well funded, posts positive returns. 

Stats show members work many years to earn benefits.

If you are among the thousands of new members who recently joined NYSTRS, welcome!

The employer contribution rate (ECR) applicable to 2015-16 school year salaries will be approximately 24% lower than the previous year’s rate, which translates into a cost savings for New York’s public schools and the taxpayers that fund them.

In conjunction with the launch of a new website, NYSTRS refreshed its mobile app for smartphones, tablets and computers.

NYSTRS.org has a fresh new look and improved navigation! The result: A website where the information and tools you want are more accessible than ever.

Eligible retirees receiving a monthly NYSTRS benefit will receive a 1.0% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) beginning with their September 2015 payment.

Do you have prior New York State public service? If yes, purchasing it can have a positive impact on your pension.

If you're contemplating retirement when the school year ends, be sure to review the NYSTRS publication Countdown to Retirement.

Pension plans like the one administered by NYSTRS are a far more cost-efficient means of providing retirement income compared to individual defined contribution accounts.

You already know the New York State Teachers' Retirement System (NYSTRS) provides a secure pension for public educators in the Empire State.

If you received a new mobile device for Christmas, Hanukkah or other occasion, be sure to download the new NYSTRS app. The app can be added to any Apple or Android smart device.

Pension provisions in a new federal spending bill do not impact your promised NYSTRS benefits. The bill largely pertains to multiemployer plans, which are funded by several employers in a specific industry, such as trucking or construction.

For the second time in four years, delegates attending the Annual Meeting of NYSTRS Delegates in Saratoga Springs Nov. 9 and 10 had the unusual privilege of electing multiple teacher members to the System's Retirement Board.

One of the best ways to track and verify your salary information is to regularly review the Benefit Profile you receive from NYSTRS annually. Your 2014 Profile is coming soon.

Pensions & Investments, a highly respected trade publication, released its annual rankings of the top pension funds this week and NYSTRS was again among the top 10 of all funds.

Did you know independent studies consistently point to NYSTRS as among the best-funded plans in the nation? NYSTRS was also one of six retirement systems featured in a nationwide study titled Lessons from Well-Funded Public Pensions: An Analysis of Plans that Weathered the Financial Storm

The Retirement System's investment portfolio returned 2.8% net of fees for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 – in line with returns posted by peer pension funds.

On average, pension costs for state and local governments are just shy of 3% of total spending, according to a February brief issued by the National Association of State Retirement Administrators (NASRA). The  calculations are based on the most-recent data available from the U.S. Census Bureau.

NYSTRS models excellence in several key areas critical to the long-term health of public pension funds, according to a study released today.

Despite the market volatility of the past few years, NYSTRS remained among the best funded public pension systems in the nation and possibly the best funded teachers' system, according to the National Association of State Retirement Administrators.

Not only have public pension plans seen their overall health improve in recent months, they're also outperforming their private-sector counterparts and seeing better than expected returns on investments.

Public pensions are under attack from special interest groups challenging long-standing accounting principles and concluding public pension plans are underfunded. Our response: Don't believe everything you read.

How can you tell us not to worry about our pension when the economic news is so bad?" That was the reaction we received from some members.

You may have seen or heard that public employee pensions are "too expensive" and should be replaced. The non-profit National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS) is among the many groups that do not agree.