April 8, 2019 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Retirement Planner for 2019
April 8, 2019 - ATRS Retirement Planner for 2019
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 will be open on Memorial Day, May 27, 2019 to counsel members, help with applications, provide protections, and accept applications.
ATRS has attached a 2019 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 2019 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:
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 17,100 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 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 5,100 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
(501) 588-4367 Office
clintr@artrs.gov
April 5, 2019 - Executive Director Update: Week Number Twelve of the Legislative Session
Joint Public Retirement & Social Security Committee (JRC)
The Joint Public Retirement Committee (JRC) has concluded all of its business for this legislative session. There are no scheduled meetings at this time.
The 2019 Legislative Session is almost complete. All of the bills in the ATRS sponsored package are now law.
A special thank you is due to all members of the Joint Retirement Committee for the time and patience spent working with ATRS staff and the ATRS Board of Trustees to keep our system strong while protecting the benefits of Arkansas educators. Here is the list of the committee members and alternates by chamber:
2019 Senate Members of Retirement Committee
| *Senator Bill Sample, Chair | Hot Springs | |
| Senator Keith Ingram, Vice Chair | West Memphis | |
| Senator Cecile Bledsoe | Rogers | |
| *Senator Eddie Cheatham | Crossett | |
| *Senator Joyce Elliott | Little Rock | |
| Senator Kim Hammer | Benton | |
| *Senator Blake Johnson | Corning | |
| Senator Greg Leding | Fayetteville | |
| *Senator Jason Rapert | Conway | |
| *Senator Larry Teague | Nashville |
*Returning members
2019 House Members of Retirement Committee
| *Representative Les Warren, Chair | Hot Springs | |
| *Representative Gary Deffenbaugh, Vice Chair | Van Buren | |
| *Representative Bruce Coleman | Mountainburg | |
| Representative Michelle Gray | Melbourne | |
| Representative Grant Hodges | Rogers | |
| Representative Monte Hodges | Blytheville | |
| *Representative Douglas House | North Little Rock | |
| Representative John Maddox | Mena | |
| Representative Mark Perry | Jacksonville | |
| Representative Stu Smith | Batesville |
*Returning members
House Alternates
| Representative Sonia Eubanks Barker | Smackover | |
| Representative Harlan Breaux | Holiday Island | |
| Representative Andrew Collins | Little Rock | |
| Representative Bruce Cozart | Hot Springs | |
| Representative Brian S. Evans | Cabot | |
| Representative Lanny Fite | Benton | |
| Representative Julie Mayberry | Hensley | |
| Representative Tippi McCullough | Little Rock | |
| Representative Jamie Scott | North Little Rock |
The ATRS Board is grateful for all the assistance and advocacy by member organizations. Your voices and concerns about issues affecting ATRS have been heard by the JRC. The cooperation from Governor Hutchinson's office and others is also recognized and appreciated.
This executive director update concludes the weekly updates from the regular session.
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 17,000 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 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 5,100 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
(501) 588-4367 Office
clintr@artrs.gov
- March 29, 2019 - Executive Director Update: Week Number Eleven of the Legislative Session
- March 22, 2019 - Executive Director Update: Week Number Ten of the Legislative Session
- March 15, 2019 - Executive Director Update: Week Number Nine of the Legislative Session
- March 8, 2019 - Executive Director Update: Week Number Eight of the Legislative Session
- March 1, 2019 - Executive Director Update: Week Number Seven of the Legislative Session
- February 22, 2019 - Executive Director Update: Week Number Six of the Legislative Session
- February 15, 2019 - Executive Director Update: Week Number Five of the Legislative Session
- February 8, 2019 - Executive Director Update: Week Number Four of the Legislative Session
- January 31, 2019 - Executive Director Update: Week Number Three of the Legislative Session
- January 25, 2019 - Executive Director Update: Week Number Two of the Legislative Session
- January 17, 2019 - Executive Director Update: Week Number One of the Legislative Session
- Public Notice: 2019 Board of Trustees Election
- October 31, 2018 - Board Chairman Update: ATRS Board unanimously choose Mr. Clint Rhoden as ATRS Executive Director
- October 4, 2018 - Board Chairman Update: Smooth Transition Underway at ATRS
- October 1, 2018 - Executive Director Update: Executive Director Retiring after a Decade at ATRS
- June 6, 2018 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Board Helps Members/ Modifies the Phase-in for T-DROP Annuitization
- May 24, 2018 - Executive Director Update: ATRS will be Open Memorial Day
- April 6, 2018 - Executive Director Update: Retirement/T-DROP Planner 2018
- February 7, 2018 - Executive Director Update: Quality 2019 T-DROP Interest Rates, New Application Window for 2018, and a Market Update
- Public Notice: Board of Trustees Election 2018
- November 13, 2017 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Adopts New Actuarial Assumptions
- July 31, 2017 - Executive Director Update: Lifetime Teaching Licenses for All Eligible ATRS Retirees
- May 23, 2017 - Executive Director Update: ATRS School Hall Meetings Celebrating 80 Years
- May 8, 2017 - Executive Director Update: ATRS is Open Again on Memorial Day to Serve Members
- May 4, 2017 - Executive Director Update: T-DROP Interest Rate for 2017-2018
- April 26, 2017 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Retirement and T-DROP Planner 2017
- April 19, 2017 - Executive Director Update: Final Report on the Regular Session
- April 10, 2017 - ATRS Board Meeting has been rescheduled for April 17, 2017
- March 31, 2017 - Executive Director Update: Week 12 of the General Assembly
- March 24, 2017 - Executive Director Update: Week 11 of the General Assembly
- March 17, 2017 - Executive Director Update: Happy 80th Birthday ATRS and Week 10 of the General Assembly
- March 14, 2017 - Executive Director Update: The Strength of ATRS
- March 10, 2017 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Legislative Package and Week 9 of the General Assembly
- March 3, 2017 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Legislative Package and Week 8 of the General Assembly
- February 24, 2017 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Legislative Package and Week 7 of the General Assembly
- February 17, 2017 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Legislative Package and Week 6 of the General Assembly
- February 10, 2017 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Legislative Package and Week 5 of the General Assembly
- February 3, 2017 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Legislative Package and Week 4 of the General Assembly
- January 27, 2017 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Legislative Package and Week 3 of the General Assembly
- January 20, 2017 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Legislative Package and Week 2 of the General Assembly
- January 13, 2017 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Legislative Package and Week 1 of the General Assembly
- January 6, 2017 - Executive Director Update: Actuarial Status and ATRS Legislative Package
- October 4, 2016 - Executive Director Update: Member Annual Statements 2015-2016
- May 16, 2016 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Open Memorial Day & Deadlines
- April 26, 2016 - Board of Trustees Election Results
- April 5, 2016 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Retirement and T-DROP Planner 2016
- June 12, 2015 - Executive Director Update: The Wonderful Arkansas 529 College Savings Plan!
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