October is National Retirement Security Month

In recognition of National Retirement Security Month, IMRF invites you to take our quiz to test your knowledge about the IMRF Voluntary Additional Contributions (VAC) program, a unique and highly effective retirement savings opportunity available to IMRF members only.

The consistent, high interest rate of the VAC program make it a particularly attractive option during times of market volatility like we are currently experiencing. For information on how to enroll in IMRF's VAC program:

National Retirement Security Month, held annually in October, is an effort to raise public awareness about the importance of saving for retirement. The campaign encourages employees to reflect on their personal retirement goals and determine if they are on target to reach those goals.

Another great resource to help you determine if you are on track with your retirement savings efforts is IMRF's Your Glass is Half Full workshop webinar. For details, please see the article at the bottom of the page.

Current IMRF Executive Trustee Tom Kuehne was unopposed in seeking a new five-year term of office. Kuehne's new term as Executive Trustee will run January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2027.

Kuehne has served on the IMRF Board since 2013. He was Board President in 2016 and is Vice President in 2022. He currently chairs the Board’s Legislative Committee and serves on the Audit, Benefit Review, and Investment committees. Kuehne is the Finance Director/Treasurer of the Village of Arlington Heights, IL.

“It is an honor to continue to participate in the excellent work of the IMRF Board

and staff as we navigate through these challenging times,” Kuehne said. “In my

new term, I will continue to look for ways for IMRF to consistently attain its

policy of 100% funding.”

IMRF is governed by an eight-member Board of Trustees elected by the people

and institutions IMRF serves. Four Executive Trustees are elected by participating units of government, three Employee Trustees are elected by active members, and one Annuitant Trustee is elected by Retirees. The IMRF Board has many responsibilities including authorizing IMRF investments, approving the administrative budget, and setting employer contribution rates.

In 2021, IMRF’s investment assets grew at a historic rate. At the end of the fiscal year, IMRF had $57.3 billion in investment assets and was 98.6% funded, which is a significantly better funding level than the vast majority of pension plans in the US.

In 2022, IMRF’s investment assets were down through August 31, due to a number of global challenges, such as rising interest rates, growing inflation, and the war in Ukraine. However, as a long-term investor, IMRF has had consistent, steady growth in assets across the past ten years and is weathering the 2022 market downturn.

This webinar will explain how your pension is funded, your benefits as an IMRF member, and the importance of having more than one savings vehicle as you prepare for your eventual retirement.

The Your Glass is Half Full Workshop webinar is now offered online, on-demand on the IMRF website. You can view this recently recorded webinar at any time, when it is convenient for you. To watch the Your Glass is Half Full Workshop webinar, click here.