NCPERS 2026 Public Retirement Systems Study
Coming Soon: Essential Insights for Public Pension Leaders Continue Reading
Postedby Matt Eckel
Date posted01/29/2026
PERSist
Premiere Articles and Insights from NCPERS Members
Find insights from NCPERS members originally published in our quarterly educational journal. Find out how to submit articles here.
Building Portfolio Resilience: Why Today’s Approach Needs a Rethink
Increased correlations between stocks and bonds and heightened volatility in bond markets have made the traditional 60/40 approach to diversification less reliable, meaning that today’s market conditions call for an approach that includes alternative asset classes. Continue Reading
Date posted01/28/2026
The Long-Term Cost of Short-Term Thinking: Why Prefunding OPEB Liabilities Matters
Although Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) are often financed on a Pay-As-You-Go (PayGo) basis, an increasing number of public plan sponsors are choosing to prefund these obligations with dedicated trusts, similar to pensions. Continue Reading
Date posted01/15/2026
Reinventing Retiree Healthcare: A Financially Sustainable Path Forward for Public Sector Leaders
This article highlights what pension fund stakeholders can learn about how transitioning retiree healthcare from traditional group plans to the individual marketplace through a defined contribution model strengthens the long- term sustainability of retirement systems. Continue Reading
Date posted01/15/2026
Funding Your Other Post-Employment Benefits Plan: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Although funding an OPEB plan actuarially is not always possible, this article offers strategies to get some money contributed and secured to pay OPEB benefits. Continue Reading
Date posted01/15/2026
Retiree Medical Trusts—The Solution for Funding Medical Costs in Retirement
In the face of rising healthcare costs, Retiree Medical Trusts provide an unmatched, tax-advantages solution for saving for medical costs in retirement. Continue Reading
Date posted01/15/2026
The Cost of Indexing
Index funds typically carry the lowest expense ratios in their categories — but like consumer goods, they may impose costs that aren’t apparent from the sticker price alone. Continue Reading
Date posted01/15/2026
Investing in Commingled Funds: Potential Negative Implications for Pension Funds
With pension funds frequently debating whether to invest in equities via either active management and separately managed accounts, or passive management and commingled funds, this informative article discusses the drawbacks of Commingled Funds. Continue Reading
Date posted01/8/2026
What Makes a Great Project SME?
Subject matter experts (SMEs) are invaluable resources in organizations, known for their deep knowledge and experience in specific areas. Knowing what makes a great SME starts with knowing what they'll be tasked with. Continue Reading
Date posted12/23/2025
What Public Pension Funds Can Learn from Continuous Mortality Audits
Learn how continuous mortality audits help public pension funds reduce overpayments, improve data accuracy, and maintain compliance by identifying unreported deaths and missing participants. Continue Reading
Date posted12/22/2025
How to Ensure Smooth Implementation of a New Benefits System
Transitioning to a new benefits administration software solution is a significant decision, making it crucial to safeguard this major investment by taking steps now to avoid costly mistakes later. Continue Reading
Date posted12/19/2025
80 Percent Funded Status? Now What?
As plans, board members, staff, and advisors celebrate many public pensions crossing their 80% funding threshold, a critical question arises: “Now what?” Continue Reading
Date posted12/17/2025