April 7, 2020 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Retirement Planner for 2020

COVID-19 Update and Continuance of Operation

ATRS is currently closed to walk-in traffic until further notice. Many of ATRS staff are working from home to serve you while doing our part to reduce the spread of COVID-19. We are committed to serve and appreciate the patience members have already shown during this unprecedented time.

ATRS staff is working normal hours 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. We ask that when calling our office please leave a message and someone will return your call as soon as possible. We can be reached at (501) 682-1517 or email info@artrs.gov.

Thank you all for your support, and understand we are thinking of your health and safety as well as our staff.

Planning for Retirement

Retirement season has arrived for ATRS and its members. This is a special time of the year for ATRS. For some, this is the season to retire and for others to move from being an active member to T-DROP participant. It is an honor and great privilege to help members cross the finish line into retirement and T-DROP. We understand the retirement applicants' tears of joy and sometimes the tears of sadness that may flow together as retirement moves from a dream into a reality. Always remember that every ATRS retiree always receives a lifetime monthly retirement benefit!

The goal of the ATRS Board and ATRS staff is to help in every way possible to make this special journey into retirement and T-DROP a happy and pleasant experience for you! We are here for one reason, to serve you. If this is the year that you plan to retire or enter T-DROP, please know that we look forward to helping you. If you are uncertain if this is the year for retirement or T-DROP, then the ATRS staff also welcomes you to get counseling and estimates to see on a comparative basis how staying a little longer may help build your retirement income. One suggestion in the attachments is for you to pause and reflect if you are considering retiring but remain uncertain. ATRS staff will be available on Memorial Day, May 25, 2020 to counsel members, help with applications, provide projections, and accept applications. For all your questions, contact our Call Center at (501) 682-1517.

ATRS has attached a 2020 Retirement Planner that provides important information about retirement. Also attached is a copy of the notice that ATRS sends to ATRS employers about retirement.

May 31st is the deadline to file an application to become a July 1st retiree or a 2020 T-DROP participant.

ATRS Employers: Please forward this executive director update email to all employees. ATRS wants to get this planner to as many ATRS members as possible.

If you are considering retiring or entering T-DROP, then ATRS is here to help you with the process and make it as easy as possible. Starting early can help get you through the process more smoothly and with less stress. ATRS thanks you for your dedicated service to the schools and children of Arkansas. ATRS is now ready to help you on your retirement or T-DROP path, just as you have helped the children of Arkansas on their educational path during your career in public education.

You can find additional information in the Retirement and T-DROP frequently asked questions located on the ATRS Frequently Asked Questions web page.

List of Attachments:

1. Employer Notice
2. Retirement Planner

Stay in Touch with ATRS and View YOUR Account Information

The ATRS website allows members to have direct access to specific member account information. Now, approximately 21,200 members have direct account access to individualized account information. Here is the link to the instructions to sign up: www.artrs.gov/registration.

You can also sign up to obtain these executive director updates through your private email address. Updates are made throughout the year such as at retirement season and other times when information needs to be shared. Now, over 23,300 people have signed up to receive this executive director update by direct email delivery. It is always a great pleasure for ATRS staff to learn of more ways to provide information to ATRS members, employers, beneficiaries, government officials, and the public. The ATRS Board is committed to providing a system that is member friendly and transparent. Remember that ATRS is here to serve you.

Best regards,

Clint Rhoden
Executive Director ATRS
Office: (501) 588-4367
Mobile: (501) 291-1623
clintr@artrs.gov

March 25, 2020 - Executive Director Update: COVID-19, March Payroll on Schedule, and ATRS Investments

I hope this update finds all of our ATRS members and their families safe and healthy during the current public health crisis. The health and well-being of our members and employees is of the utmost importance. Therefore, all group workshops are currently canceled or postponed, our office is closed to the public until further notice, in-person individual benefit planning sessions have been rescheduled as telephone sessions, we have increased the frequency of cleaning and sanitizing in the ATRS building, we are assessing the health and family needs of all ATRS employees and are transitioning them to remote work on an as-needed basis.

Concern continues to grow across the nation about the spread of COVID-19 and the impact it is having on personal safety and the financial markets. I want to emphasize to all ATRS members that your retirement benefits remain secure.

The primary function of ATRS is to pay 50,000 plus retirees their benefits each month. We have developed procedures to run our monthly payroll from outside the office. The remote processing of March payroll has just been completed. Direct deposits and checks are on schedule for March 27, 2020.

Global stock markets recently experienced a significant decline due to fears over COVID-19. It is possible that markets could continue to decline as the ultimate impact of the virus is determined.

The ATRS investment portfolio also experienced recent declines with the stock market correction. However, it is important to note that the ATRS portfolio is well diversified across multiple asset classes and designed to weather stock market volatility.

As the latest crisis continues to unfold, ATRS is mindful of the volatility within the markets and in communication with various market participants to evaluate developments. It is likely that until there is more clarity, there will be more volatile times ahead. However, the primary mission and focus of ATRS is to remain actuarially sound and pay member benefits by investing ATRS assets in a manner to earn the 7.5% actuarial assumed rate of return over a long-term horizon.

We want to emphasize to all our members that your ATRS benefits are secure. ATRS is a long-term investor and the ATRS Board has structured a well-diversified investment portfolio with the ability to withstand market volatility. The ATRS Board remains committed to managing the System’s assets in a prudent manner that will ensure the viability of your pension. The ATRS Board makes decisions in terms of decades, not days, weeks, or months.

Stay in Touch with ATRS and View YOUR Account Information

The ATRS website allows members to have direct access to specific member account information.  Now, approximately 21,000 members have direct account access to individualized account information.  Here is the link to the instructions to sign up: www.artrs.gov/registration.

You can also sign up to obtain these executive director updates through your private email address.  Updates are made throughout the year such as at retirement season and other times when information needs to be shared.  Now, over 23,000 people have signed up to receive this executive director update by direct email delivery.  It is always a great pleasure for ATRS staff to learn of more ways to provide information to ATRS members, employers, beneficiaries, government officials, and the public.  The ATRS Board is committed to providing a system that is member friendly and transparent.  Remember that ATRS is here to serve you.

Best regards,

Clint Rhoden
Executive Director ATRS
Office: (501) 588-4367
Mobile: (501) 291-1623
clintr@artrs.gov