July 1 Candidate Application Deadline: Active Member Place 7

The City of Austin Employees Retirement System (COAERS) is holding a special election to fill the unexpired term for the Place 7 position on the Board of Trustees.

• The deadline to submit your completed candidate application is on or before Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at 5:00 pm Central Time.
• To apply, download and submit your candidate application.
• For questions, email michelle.mahaini@coaers.org

Voting for the Place 7 special election will commence in July 2026 once ballots are distributed to members.

Call for Candidates: Retired Member Place 11

Are you a retired member and interested in serving on the COAERS Board of Trustees? The 2026 election for Retired Member Place 11 will take place this fall. The application period for eligible members will open this summer. Be on the look out for more information.

For more information, visit www.coaers.org/board-elections.

On Wednesday, April 29, COAERS members gathered at Austin Energy HQ for the 2026 Financial Wellness Forum — a half-day event built on a simple idea: financial confidence is something you build, one decision at a time.

Held in recognition of April as Financial Literacy Month, the Forum also served as a capstone to a series of month-long financial wellness initiatives. COAERS staff partnered with trusted community organizations to deliver practical, relevant guidance tailored to every career stage. Whether just starting out, balancing family responsibilities, or preparing for retirement, attendees found sessions designed to meet them where they are.

After check-in and a warm welcome, attendees moved through a full slate of sessions led by experts in their fields including: Managing Today’s Finances with Confidence, Making the Most of Your COAERS Benefits, Understanding Long-Term Care, Protecting Your Financial Life in a Digital World, and much more.

Attendees had the opportunity to connect with resource partners specializing in financial wellness, aging services, and broader community support. COAERS extends sincere thanks to everyone who attended, as well as to our presenters from Foundation Communities, the Austin Area Agency on Aging, AARP, and Michael Gill. We also appreciate the many resource partners who generously shared their time and expertise.

Missed the event? Presentation materials are available on the COAERS website at www.coaers.org. 

Your Financial Wellness Journey

Financial wellness goes beyond numbers on a page. It’s about building a strong foundation that supports long-term goals, complements retirement benefits, and empowers informed decision-making to help members feel more confident about their financial future.

To support that journey, COAERS is working to provide our members with a variety of tools, resources, and education to help members take control of their finances at every stage of life.

Explore the financial tips, educational resources, register for a seminar and more at www.coaers.org/financialwellness.

These highlights are a summary of actions taken and topics discussed by the COAERS Board.

COAERS Board Updates

At its June meeting, the Board received an update from the Executive Director on the process for developing the 2027 - 2031 COAERS Strategic Plan. The Board also approved the December 31, 2025 financial statements from COAERS auditor CliftonLarsonAllen, and approved the Nominating and Election Committee to oversee the Place 11 election process.

2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report

The 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for COAERS is now available. The annual report provides an overview of the retirement system including detailed information about the financial, investment and actuarial aspects of the System. In addition, the Popular Annual Financial Report is also available to members. To view the reports, visit www.coaers.org/annual-financial-reports.

Investment Update

At its June meeting, the Board approved updates to the Investment Policy Statement as part of its annual policy review. The Board also approved its first private equity investment commitment in accordance with the Fund’s Private Markets Strategic Plan and annual pacing plan. Finally, the Board reviewed and approved the funding implementation plan and rebalancing recommendation related to the Fund’s Global Equities portfolio.

As part of your COAERS membership, your death benefit helps ensure your beneficiaries are supported according to the choices you’ve made.

For Retirees

If you pass away after retirement, your designated beneficiary(ies) will receive a one-time, taxable death benefit of $10,000. Depending on the annuity option you selected at retirement, your beneficiary may also be eligible for an ongoing monthly benefit.

For Active Members

If you pass away before becoming eligible to retire, your beneficiary will receive:

• A lump-sum payment of your contributions plus accumulated interest, and
• An additional death benefit equal to that same amount. If you are eligible to retire at the time of your passing, your surviving spouse may have the option to receive a monthly retirement benefit.

Reporting a Death

If a COAERS member or retiree passes away, a family member or representative should contact our office as soon as possible. The COAERS Member Services team will explain the required documentation and guide survivors through each step of the process.

Questions? If you have questions about your death benefit or need to update your beneficiary designation, call us at (512) 458-2551 or visit www.coaers.org.

COAERS Pop-Up

In June, COAERS hosted a pop-up event at the PDC Event Center, offering city employees a convenient way to attend one-on-one counseling sessions with the COAERS team, review and update their retirement information, and receive guidance on retirement planning.

Interested in hosting a pop-up event at your department or providing a department presentation to City employees? Email mehrin.rahman@coaers.org.

Representing COAERS at NCPERS

COAERS Executive Director Christopher Hanson was among the pension leaders who recently joined the Chief Officers Summit hosted by the National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems (NCPERS). The summit is a valuable exchange of ideas and learnings to advance the mission of public pension systems nationwide.

Welcome to the Team

COAERS welcomed several talented new individuals to grow and strengthen the organization and enhance our ability to serve our members and the mission.

*Not pictured: Jamie Nickle, Accountant

To register for a seminar, sign up via MemberDirect at www.coaers.org. For assistance, please contact member.services@coaers.org or (512) 458-2551.