Month: October 2025

News You Should Know: The Importance of National Retirement Security Month

Posted on by Kurt Sevits

Why National Retirement Security Month Matters (Opinion) | The Daily Camera

Colorado PERA CEO/Executive Director Andrew Roth penned a guest column for the Daily Camera, explaining why National Retirement Security Month is important. Roth encourages everyone to discuss financial preparedness and take steps to boost their savings.

Why Tax Refunds Will Probably Be Bigger in 2026 | Money

Some taxpayers are set to receive larger refunds when they file their tax returns early next year due to the tax and spending bill known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. While some of the provisions of the bill don’t take effect until 2026, some key changes—such as an additional tax deduction of up to $6,000 for senior taxpayers—apply to tax year 2025.

Americans Are Living Longer, But Many Are Making a Costly Mistake About Old Age | CBS News

New research finds that while Americans are living longer, many of us are not well-prepared for a long retirement. In its new Longevity Preparedness Index, the MIT AgeLab gave especially low scores on factors related to care, such as preparing for long-term care needs and making sure health-related documents are in order.

Positive Views on Aging May Lead to Healthier, More Active Lifestyles, New Study Finds | Medical Xpress

A positive mindset can be a powerful thing, and new research shows a positive view of aging might just affect how well we age. Researchers from the University of Surrey found that older people with a more positive outlook on aging tend to engage more in behaviors that help us stay healthy as we get older, such as physical exercise.

News You Should Know is a digest of news from publications around the nation about finance, investing, and retirement.

Providing Retirement Security for Colorado

Posted on by Kurt Sevits

October is National Retirement Security Month, and as we wrap up the month, we’re reflecting on how PERA has enabled generations of Coloradans who serve their communities to retire with dignity and peace of mind.

The state of retirement

Surveys often find workers who save for retirement on their own struggle to save enough to support their retirement goals. A recent survey by Schroders found more than 80 percent of workers with an employer-based retirement plan worry about outliving their savings, while more than half fear losing too much money if the stock market drops.

Social Security also faces an uncertain future; the latest forecasts show its trust funds are likely to run out of money in less than a decade, which would lead to future reductions in benefits unless Congress takes action.

PERA, however, is on a clear path. With continued support from the State of Colorado, we expect to reach full funding by 2048, a goal that reflects both our responsibility to our members and our long-term planning discipline. 

Pensions and retirement security

The value of a defined benefit plan—also known as a pension—is in the name: it defines what your benefit will be. A PERA member can calculate their retirement income from the day they’re hired because they know the factors that determine it—age, salary, and length of service. There’s no guesswork about how much to save, how to invest it, or when to withdraw. And most importantly, that income is guaranteed for life, no matter what happens in the stock market.

Retirement security is also economic security: When retirees spend their income—on groceries, housing, health care, and other goods and services—they’re supporting Colorado businesses and jobs. 

In 2023, PERA paid $4.56 billion to more than 114,000 retirees living in Colorado. According to an analysis by Boulder-based Pacey Nehls Economic Consulting, those benefit payments resulted in $7.1 billion in total economic output and supported 28,525 jobs. Retirees also paid nearly $382 million in local and state taxes on those benefits, helping support public services that make Colorado a great place to live. 

How can I promote retirement security?

PERA’s Ambassador Program engages members in the retirement security conversation by sharing the value of PERA to all of Colorado. You can sign up for the Ambassador mailing list to stay in the loop and be notified of any potential legislative changes that might affect PERA, as well as lend your voice to the conversation.

We love to hear from PERA members and retirees who have dedicated their careers to serving Colorado. Browse member stories and fill out our form to share your own PERA story with us.

In addition, independent member and retiree groups like Secure PERA advocate for strengthening and protecting retirement security for Colorado’s public employees. The National Public Pension Coalition does the same on a national scale.

Providing retirement security is what we at PERA have been doing for 94 years, and we plan to continue that work for many more generations to come. Colorado’s public employees deserve it. 

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News You Should Know: Colorado Sets First Price Cap on Prescription Drug

Posted on by Kurt Sevits

Colorado Becomes First State to Cap Prescription Drug Prices | Denver7

After a lengthy process, Colorado’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board has for the first time set a price cap on a prescription medication. The board declared Enbrel, an injectable drug for autoimmune diseases, unaffordable last year before deciding to institute the price cap.

What Government Shutdown Means for Medicare, Medicaid and Other Health Programs | NBC News

As of publishing time, the partial shutdown affecting the federal government is still in effect as Congress remains stalled in its efforts to reopen government agencies. While essential programs like Medicare and Medicaid are still operating through the shutdown, they’re largely working under contingency plans with limited staff and resources.

42% of Americans on Track for Retirement, per Vanguard | PLANADVISER

A new survey finds while more American workers have access to retirement plans through their employers, less than half are likely to enter retirement with enough money to support their lifestyles. The growth in access to retirement plans has heavily favored defined contribution plans like 401(k)s, with the percentage of workers who have access to a defined benefit pension plan dropping to 23%.

$2 Trillion Left in 401(k)s Shows You Can Forget Money | Investopedia

If you’ve held a variety of jobs in the private sector over the course of your career, you may have left behind some retirement savings without even realizing it. A recent report found there are nearly 32 million employer-sponsored retirement accounts like 401(k)s that are sitting untouched. Those accounts hold more than $2 trillion in total, or an average of $67,000 each.

News You Should Know is a digest of news from publications around the nation about finance, investing, and retirement.

Meet Trina Ruhland, Vice Chair of the PERA Board

Posted on by Morgan

The PERA Board of Trustees gained a new Chair and Vice Chair in June, when then-Chair Taylor McLemore announced he would be leaving the Board. The Hon. Rebecca R. Freyre assumed the role of Chair and Trina Ruhland was elected Vice Chair.  

Trina Ruhland joined the Board in 2022 and attended her first meeting as Vice Chair in September. We caught up with Ruhland to learn more about her and the experience she brings to the Board. 

Tell us a little about yourself and your background. 

My day job is as a deputy county attorney for Boulder County, which is a PERA member. I have a degree in mathematics from the University of Chicago, so I’ve always had a math-minded brain and a personal interest in finance, and I’ve always considered myself a fan of PERA. I first found out about PERA during my first job in law school with the Attorney General’s Office. I remember even then recognizing its value and thinking, “Wow, this is an amazing benefit.” I was excited to join Boulder County, and PERA benefits were a factor in my choosing to work there.  

How has your career informed your work as a Trustee? 

As an attorney for a local government, I have a direct view into the importance of good governance and public service as well as the impact a board can have on an organization and its stakeholders. I believe in the importance of good governance and careful long-term planning. I teach a class at the University of Colorado Law School every semester for law students interested in government service and am constantly reminded of the importance of government service for our community and society. 

What are you most looking forward to as you step into a leadership role on the Board? 

When it comes to PERA, the members are always at the forefront of my mind. I really look forward to having the opportunity to make sure every voice on the Board is heard, as well as supporting transparency for our members and other stakeholders.  

What makes for an effective Trustee, in your eyes? 

I think preparation is key to being a good Trustee. It’s important to have a foundational understanding of how pension funds work, and Trustees are expected to obtain a certain number of hours of education, both on the specifics of PERA and more generally about best practices among public plans like ours. I think effective Trustees are those who understand the Board’s role as an oversight board and understand the governance framework we have put in place. PERA is a long game—we’re not just making decisions for this year but for many years in the future—so we have to be very intentional with each of our decisions to keep the best interests of our members’ retirement security at the forefront.  

What’s something you wish more people knew about the Board? 

I want people to know how passionate the Board members are in making sure our members have secure retirements, and that their benefit is really our sole focus. Many of our trustees, myself included, are PERA members themselves. Each Trustee puts in a significant amount of time, work, and mental energy into the work of the Board, and I think that makes the organization stronger in ensuring our members have secure retirements. 

To learn more about the PERA Board, visit our Board and Leadership page. 

News You Should Know: New Report Ranks Colorado on Financial Literacy

Posted on by Kurt Sevits

Financial Literacy by State: 2025 Rankings | Intuit

A new ranking puts Colorado in the middle of the pack when it comes to financial literacy among high schoolers. Intuit ranked states on factors such as required coursework, test scores, and youth employment rate, giving Colorado a score of 9.3 out of 18 possible points. It’s worth noting a new state law will require all Colorado high school students to take a financial literacy course in order to graduate.

Colorado is Teetering on the Edge of a Recession, Governor’s Planning, Budgeting Director Says | CBS Colorado

State lawmakers will have to deal with yet another budget shortfall during next year’s legislative session. The latest forecasts show the state will once again have to cut hundreds of millions of dollars in spending, driven largely by increases in Medicaid costs. Lawmakers will get their next quarterly update in December, and the legislative session begins in January.

Social Security payments, federal benefits go electronic Sept. 30 | CNBC

Say “goodbye” to paper checks from the federal government. If you receive Social Security benefits, you’ll now have to be signed up for direct deposit to receive your benefit payments. The shift away from paper checks is intended to cut down on fraud while also saving the government money. The change will also apply to tax refunds and other federal payments going forward.

You’re Retiring. Get Ready for These Tax Changes | Money

Retirement is more than just a change in employment—it also brings some important changes to your finances. Here are some important tax considerations to keep in mind if you’re approaching retirement and are expecting to draw from Social Security and other savings.

News You Should Know is a digest of news from publications around the nation about finance, investing, and retirement.

How Private Equity Helps Us Secure Public Employee Retirement

Posted on by Kurt Sevits

At Colorado PERA, we invest for one purpose: To provide a secure and reliable retirement for the people who spend their careers serving our state. We do that by managing a diversified investment portfolio that includes everything from traditional stocks and bonds to investments in real estate and private equity.

Private equity is often less well-understood by individual investors than other types of investments and is an important component of institutional portfolios. Here’s why we invest in this asset class and how it contributes to our members’ hard-earned retirements.

What is private equity?

Simply put, private equity generally refers to investments made in companies that aren’t traded on the public stock exchanges. Those investments can include:

  • Venture capital: Providing money to young businesses like startups.
  • Growth capital: Investing in more mature businesses looking to grow or expand.
  • Buyouts: Purchasing a company or a portion of a company with the goal of growing its value.

We invest in private equity through carefully selected limited partnerships and funds that are managed by experienced professionals. Those funds cover a variety of business areas with high potential for growth, such as technology, energy, and health care.

Why PERA invests in private equity

The PERA Board of Trustees, which oversees PERA’s investments, believes a well-diversified portfolio is key to making sure we can deliver on our promises to members. Our investments in private equity are an important part of that strategy, despite being a relatively small portion of the portfolio. As of June, private equity amounted to 7.5% of the total PERA portfolio with a long-term target of 10%.

We first started investing in private equity in the early 1980s, and those investments have paid off in the years since. In the past decade, for example, private equity has earned an annualized return of 11.5% compared to the total fund’s 8.6% return.

That strong performance helps strengthen the trust funds and ensures we can continue paying benefits well into the future.

Private equity and transparency

Because private companies aren’t publicly listed, financial details on those companies aren’t always available to the public. State law also limits what we can disclose.

Still, we are committed to being as open as possible. You can view a list of our private equity investments on our website, including how much money we’ve committed and each fund’s internal rate of return. We also were an early supporter of the Institutional Limited Partner Association (ILPA), which aims to improve reporting and transparency within the private equity field.

Our team of investment professionals reports regularly to the Board of Trustees, which has a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of members and retirees. That includes making sure our private equity investments meet our standards for risk-adjusted returns.

Want to learn more?

We produce our Investment Stewardship Report every year to provide more insight into how we manage investments on behalf of our more than 700,000 members and retirees. You can explore a digital interactive summary at copera.org/stewardship-snapshot.

Private equity may be a small portion of our investment portfolio but it’s an important part of the long-term strategy that helps secure our members’ retirements. By investing wisely in both public and private markets, we’re making sure the trust funds remain strong not just for today’s members and retirees, but for generations to come.

Learn more by watching our video, “Investing in Your Future: How PERA Grows Member Benefits.”