Strong 2021 Investment Return Brings IMRF's Funded Status to Nearly 100%
IMRF more than doubled its 7.25% investment target during the most recent fiscal year ending December 31, 2021, based on preliminary figures.
Financial Highlights:

During 2021, IMRF:

  • earned an investment return of 16.6%, after paying investment management fees.

  • grew its investment portfolio by $6.5 billion, from $50.3 billion on December 31, 2020 to $56.8 billion on December 31, 2021.
 
  • increased its actuarial funded status to 98.8%.

These figures are estimates and are unaudited. IMRF will share final figures in its Fiscal Year 2021 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.
IMRF Is Nearly 100% Funded
Funded status is a key barometer of a pension plan’s fiscal health. The typical U.S. pension plan is about 72.8% funded, according to the National Association of State Retirement Administrators. IMRF’s 98.8% funded status means it has on hand today nearly all the money needed to pay the entirety of its pension obligations to all current retirees as well as all active workers.

As an IMRF retiree, you can feel secure knowing that IMRF will deliver on all pension promises.

Click here to read more and to watch a financial update video from IMRF Executive Director Brian Collins.
Working in the Private Sector After Retiring from Your IMRF Position
As an IMRF retiree, there is a Separation of Service requirement and a Return to Work policy which limit when you can return and how many hours you can work in an IMRF position, while still receiving an IMRF pension.

However, if you return to work for a private-sector employer, there are far fewer limitations. You can return to work for a private-sector employer at any point, for as many hours as you wish, and continue to receive your IMRF pension, as long as the private-sector employer does not contract with any IMRF employers. If the private-sector employer contracts with an IMRF employer, please call IMRF before starting work to discuss possible implications for your pension.

Private-sector employers are non-government agencies, run by individual business owners or corporations, who pay employees using part of the company's profits. Private-sector jobs can include manufacturing, financial services, hospitality, business professions, or many other non-government positions.

If Returning to a Public-Sector Employer, Call IMRF First!
Employment or even contract work for any public-sector employer, whether they are an IMRF employer or other reciprocal service employer, could negatively impact your pension. Before returning to work for a public-sector employer, please call IMRF to discuss possible implications for your pension.

For more information on returning to work after retirement, click here.
In Member Access, You Can...
Review and Update Your Beneficiaries
Do you need to make a change to your beneficiaries? You can make the change quickly and easily in your online Member Access account. After you log into your Member Access account, click on View Beneficiaries under the Beneficiaries section of your My IMRF profile.

If you do not have a beneficiary form on file, the default beneficiary is your estate. If you have a form on file that names a beneficiary you no longer wish to receive your death benefit, IMRF must follow the directions on the form.

It is important that you regularly review your Designation of Beneficiary form and keep it up-to-date, to ensure your death benefit goes to the beneficiary you intend it to. You can name any person, trust, charity, or organization as a beneficiary. The fastest and easiest way to complete this form is in Member Access.

If you do not already have a Member Access account, you will need a registration key mailed to you to create one. You can generate a new registration key by clicking here.

For information on everything Member Access has to offer, and for instructions on how to conduct your important IMRF business using Member Access, click here.
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