May 1, 2019 - Executive Director Update: May 31st Deadline Reminder

May 31st is the deadline to file an application to become a July 1st Retiree or a 2019 T-DROP Participant.

The goal of the ATRS Board and ATRS staff is to help in every way possible to make our members’ journey into retirement and T-DROP a happy and pleasant experience! 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.

ATRS will be open on Memorial Day, May 27, 2019 to counsel members, help with applications, provide projections, and accept applications. The May 31, 2019 deadline is only 30 days away!

ATRS Employers: Please forward this executive director update email to all employees.

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.

Stay in Touch with ATRS and View YOUR Account Information

Remember, the ATRS website allows members to have direct access to specific member account information.  Now, approximately 17,400 members have direct account access to individualized account information.  Here is the link to the instructions to sign up: www.artrs.gov/login.

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 20,000 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.

You can also get helpful ATRS information on the ATRS Facebook page under the name of Arkansas Teacher Retirement System.  Over 5,200 Facebook users get updates via the ATRS Facebook page.  Go to the Facebook page and "like" ATRS to get daily updates.  I try to go to the Facebook page every day to post information and answer member questions about ATRS.  In addition, if you use Twitter, you can join over 970 others by following events at ATRS and issues of interest on the ATRS Twitter page. 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call ATRS locally at (501) 588-4374 or toll free (800) 666-2877.

Best regards,

Clint Rhoden
Executive Director ATRS

(501) 291-1623 Mobile
clintr@artrs.gov

Public Notice: April 22, 2019 Proposed Rule Changes

Arkansas Teacher Retirement System (ATRS)

April 22, 2019 Proposed Rule Changes

NOTICE OF INTENDED ATRS BOARD ACTION

At a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System (ATRS) to be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June 3, 2019, at 1400 West Third Street, Room 300, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201, the Board, pursuant to its authority under A.C.A. §§ 24-7-201–1409, will consider adoption of amendments to the System’s policies, rules, and regulations.
The policies are Rule 4: Board of Trustees Composition and Elections, Rule 7: Reporting and Eligibility, Rule 8: Purchases and Refunds, Rule 10: Teacher Deferred Retirement Option Plan (TDROP) and Return to Service, and Rule 16: Cash and Savings Help (CASH) Program.
Interested persons may submit their comments, orally or in writing, to the Executive Director of ATRS, at the above address. Views should be received no later than Monday, May 20, 2019 at 4:30 p.m. and requests for oral hearing in accordance with A.C.A. § 25-15-204 should be submitted no later than 20 days prior to the meeting for placement on the agenda.
The proposed amendments, along with the Questionnaire, Financial Impact Statement, and summaries of the changes, may be reviewed on the ATRS web site at www.artrs.gov/board-rules or copies may be obtained by contacting the Executive Director’s office at (501) 588-4367. The current rules may also be viewed at www.artrs.gov/board-rules or at the ATRS office Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.