Member April Retirement Planner-Everything you want to know about retirement but were afraid to ask!

Happy Retirement Season! This year we introduced a Member Retirement Planner. Enclosed you will find information regarding July 1st retirement and entering T-DROP, along with several helpful topics concerning retiring. If you have retirement questions, please reach out to an ATRS counselor at 501-682-1517, or email us at Info@artrs.gov. Enjoy our Member Retirement Planner…filled with everything you wanted to know about retirement but were afraid to ask! Click here to view or download the April 2025 Member Retirement Planner.

Executive Director Update: Payment Schedule Change + Coming IT Modernization

I want to let you know about a change that affects ATRS retirees, but this change illustrates the need for some future actions that will benefit all of our members.

Every year in December, we publicize our payment schedule for the following year. It shows the monthly dates on which most retirees can expect to see their ATRS deposit in their bank account. For 2025, we adjusted the schedule to make it more consistent and predictable from month to month. But our changes resulted in pay dates on the last day of several months, including January.

We quickly heard from many of you that this move was a problem. If you have bill payments automatically drafted on the 28th or 29th of the month, having your deposit show up on the 30th can result in overdraft fees or other complications.  

To address your concerns, our staff worked to revise the payment schedule for the rest of 2025. It’s not as easy as it sounds – sending out more than 57,000 direct deposits each month is a complex process, and it affects many other processes we do each month that each have their own timelines and limitations (things like tax payments and Cash Balance Account withdrawals). And we have to coordinate all this between our ATRS staff and systems, our bank, our investment custodian, and the State Treasury.

But you spoke, and we listened. With the new schedule we have adopted, the payment effective date for each month will be no later than the 27th. Our revised payment schedule is:

  • February 26, 2025
  • March 24, 2025
  • April 24, 2025
  • May 27, 2025
  • June 23, 2025
  • July 24, 2025
  • August 25, 2025
  • September 25, 2025
  • October 27, 2025
  • November 24, 2025
  • December 22, 2025

You can always find the current payment schedule by going to our website at https://www.artrs.gov/ and clicking on “Calendar.”

 

COMING SOON: ATRS TECHNOLOGY MODERNIZATION

Our IT systems and technology are a key part of virtually everything we do. This includes sending out retiree payments. It also includes recording contributions and service credit for active members working in our public schools.

We are beginning to modernize our systems so that we can continue to provide you exceptional customer service. Many members don’t realize that the software we use to maintain member records and process payments is more than 20 years old. It was created in-house by a team of programmers, some of whom still work for ATRS. Building our own system saved ATRS money in the 2000s, but the system is starting to show its age.

We still have functions that our staff must do manually or on paper because the system is not built to handle them. Making changes in our work often requires us to reprogram the system to handle the changes. And when we hire younger employees, it can be difficult for them to adapt to software that is almost as old as they are.

Last fall, we brought in some outside experts to conduct a technology assessment for us. They helped us identify some of the gaps and needs in our present technology (like the paper-based work I mentioned above). They also identified some foundational needs that have to be addressed first, before we can look at upgrading or replacing our main membership system.

Over the next year we will be investing money and personnel in modernizing our systems and our IT infrastructure. We have some aging equipment and tools that need to be replaced. This will address some of those foundational needs that our outside experts identified.

We also know that our IT team is understaffed. We have asked the state’s Office of Personnel Management for three new positions so that we can hire more IT employees to work in cybersecurity, technology infrastructure, and user training. The ATRS IT team has done an incredible job despite being understaffed, and we're going to get them the resources that they need to be even more effective.

One thing I've learned in talking with directors from other retirement systems around the country is that technology modernization is both expensive and time-consuming, but it can be worth it. This is not a short-term project; it will be at least a 5-year effort for ATRS. I expect that you will see improvements in the upcoming years, including improvements in our online member portal and an update of our website.

As we go through this effort, I will keep you updated on what we are doing and how everything unfolds. We have many decisions to make this year, and I am always glad to hear your feedback and suggestions. Please feel free to send your thoughts to me at MarkW@artrs.gov.

 

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

The Legislature will soon be hearing the retirement bills that affect ATRS. The good news is that so far, none of them represent a threat to ATRS independence or our benefits. You can find more information on our website including a summary of our ATRS 2025 legislative package. And if you would like to subscribe to my weekly email updates about the legislative session, go to the following link and enter your email address to subscribe: https://www.artrs.gov/sign-up-for-legislative-updates

 

ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT

We recently issued the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for 2024. It includes detailed financial, investment, and actuarial information about ATRS and how we did in the 2024 fiscal year. You can find it on the Publications page of our website at this link: https://www.artrs.gov/Publications/ATRS_2024_Annual_Report.pdf

As always, if you ever have a question about your retirement options or need information or advice, please reach out to our counselors by calling (501) 682-1517 or e-mailing info@artrs.gov.

Mark White
Executive Director, ATRS
MarkW@artrs.gov
Office: (501) 621-8853
Cell: (501) 541-2057

  1. ATRS Legislative Update: Week 5 (Feb. 10-14)
  2. ATRS Legislative Update: Week 4 (Feb. 3-7)
  3. 1099R Tax Forms - Now Available in Member Portal and Frequently Asked Questions
  4. Executive Director Update: New Member Handbook + Misleading Marketing Emails
  5. Public Notice: ATRS Board of Trustees Election 2025
  6. Executive Director Update: National Retirement Security Month
  7. Executive Director Update: Annual Statements Coming Soon
  8. Executive Director Update: Back to School for ATRS Members
  9. Executive Director Update: 2024 COLA + ATRS and Social Security Benefits
  10. Public Notice: Proposed Effective Date of Final Rules
  11. Executive Director Update: ATRS Updates on ESG Legislation + 2024 Retirements
  12. Executive Director Update: 2024 Retirement Planner + ATRS Election Results
  13. Executive Director Update: Updates for Members + Survey Request
  14. Executive Director Update: Our System's Financial Health + Retirement Application Deadlines
  15. Executive Director Update: Who Runs ATRS + Updates on Tax Forms and Cybersecurity
  16. Public Notice: Notice of Intended ATRS Board Action
  17. Executive Director Update: How ATRS Invests Contributions + Tax Deductions for College Savings
  18. Executive Director Update: Why ATRS Invests Your Contributions
  19. November 8, 2023 - Board Vacancy: Certified Member Trustee, 4th Congressional District
  20. October 5, 2023 - Executive Director Update: Addressing a Rumor
  21. September 5, 2023 - Executive Director Update: Understanding Retirement
  22. August 8, 2023 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Board Changes and Updates + Normal Retirement Age Confusion
  23. July 20, 2023 - Board Vacancy: Member Trustee, Non-Certified
  24. July 7, 2023 - Executive Director Update: Introduction
  25. June 9, 2023 - Executive Director Update: Next Executive Director
  26. April 28, 2023 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Retirement Planner for 2023
  27. April 11, 2023 - Executive Director Update: Final Week of Legislative Session
  28. April 6, 2023 - Executive Director Update: Executive Director Vacancy Announcement Posting Dates
  29. April 4, 2023 - Executive Director Update: Executive Director Selection Process
  30. March 17, 2023 - Executive Director Update: Legislative Session, Week 10
  31. March 10, 2023 - Executive Director Update: Executive Director Announcement
  32. March 8, 2023 - Executive Director Update: Legislative Session, Week 9
  33. March 7, 2023 - Now Accepting Retirement Applications Online
  34. March 3, 2023 - Executive Director Update: Actuarial Impact of LEARNS Act
  35. March 2, 2023 - Executive Director Update: Legislative Session, Week 8
  36. February 23, 2023 - Executive Director Update: Legislative Session, Week 7
  37. February 16, 2023 - Executive Director Update: Legislative Session, Week 6
  38. February 9, 2023 - Executive Director Update: Legislative Session, Week 5
  39. February 2, 2023 - Executive Director Update: Legislative Session, Week 4
  40. January 26, 2023 - Executive Director Update: Legislative Session, Week 3
  41. January 19, 2023 - Executive Director Update: Legislative Session, Week 2
  42. January 12, 2023 - Executive Director Update: Legislative Session, Week 1
  43. October 18, 2022 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Investments for Fiscal Year 2022
  44. October 12, 2022 - Annual Statements 2021-22
  45. October 3, 2022 - Retiree Insurance Contact Information and Medicare Advantage Opt-Out Form
  46. September 19, 2022 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Retiree Insurance Choice
  47. July 1, 2022 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Investments
  48. May 17, 2022 - Executive Director Update: May 31st Deadline Reminder
  49. April 20, 2022 - Executive Director Update: Newly Elected Trustees for Positions #1 and #9
  50. April 14, 2022 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Retirement Planner for 2022
  51. March 10, 2022 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Investments and Board Election
  52. March 4, 2022 - Retirement Reminders and Resources
  53. February 17, 2022 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Board of Trustees Election - Candidates
  54. Public Notice: Notice of Intended ATRS Board Action - Rules Amendment
  55. December 8, 2021 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Board of Trustees Election 2022
  56. Board of Trustees Election 2022
  57. October 18, 2021 - Chat Feature Now Available!
  58. September 23, 2021 - Member Annual Statements for 2020-2021
  59. August 23, 2021 - Executive Director Update: Act 290 of 2021 and Normal Retirement Age
  60. August 20, 2021 - Executive Director Update: New Appointed Trustee for Position #1
  61. July 1, 2021 - Executive Director Update: Vacancy on ATRS Board, Applications Welcome
  62. June 30, 2021 - Executive Director Update: Record Return for Fiscal Year
  63. June 28, 2021: Employer Information for 2021-22
  64. June 17, 2021: July 1 Retirees and T-DROP Participants
  65. May 27, 2021 - OPEN Memorial Day and May 31st Filing Deadline
  66. May 13, 2021 - Executive Director Update: May 31st Deadline Reminder
  67. April 30, 2021 - Executive Director Update: May 31st Deadline Reminder
  68. April 29, 2021 - Executive Director Update: Week Number Sixteen of the Legislative Session
  69. April 16, 2021 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Retirement Planner for 2021
  70. April 8, 2021 - Executive Director Update: Week Number Thirteen of the Legislative Session
  71. April 1, 2021 - Executive Director Update: Week Number Twelve of the Legislative Session
  72. March 26, 2021 - Executive Director Update: Week Number Eleven of the Legislative Session
  73. March 19, 2021 - Executive Director Update: Week Number Ten of the Legislative Session
  74. March 11, 2021 - Executive Director Update: Week Number Nine of the Legislative Session - JRC Meeting Room Change!
  75. March 4, 2021 - Executive Director Update: Week Number Eight of the Legislative Session
  76. February 25, 2021 - Executive Director Update: Week Number Seven of the Legislative Session
  77. February 18, 2021 - Executive Director Update: Week Number Six of the Legislative Session
  78. February 15, 2021 - UPDATED:JRC meeting for Wednesday, February 17th has been cancelled - Executive Director Update: Week Number Five of the Legislative Session
  79. February 4, 2021 - Executive Director Update: Week Number Four of the Legislative Session
  80. January 28, 2021 - Executive Director Update: Week Number Three of the Legislative Session
  81. January 21, 2021 - Executive Director Update: Week Number Two of the Legislative Session
  82. January 15, 2021 - Executive Director Update: Week Number One of the Legislative Session
  83. December 18, 2020 - Executive Director Update: Funding Status and Legislative Session
  84. Public Notice: Board of Trustees Election 2021
  85. November 10, 2020 - Executive Director Update: New Appointed Trustees for Positions #2 and #5
  86. November 2, 2020 - Executive Director Update: Investments and Your ATRS ID
  87. September 29, 2020 - Executive Director Update: Vacancies on ATRS Board, Applications Welcome
  88. September 22, 2020 - Retirement Workshops
  89. July 1, 2020 - Executive Director Update: Another Fiscal Year End
  90. June 23, 2020: 2020-21 Employer Information
  91. June 8, 2020: July 1 Retirees and T-DROP Participants
  92. May 11, 2020: Data Security Event Notification Letter
  93. May 1, 2020 - Executive Director Update: May 31st Deadline Reminder
  94. April 27, 2020: CARES Act
  95. April 7, 2020 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Retirement Planner for 2020
  96. March 25, 2020 - Executive Director Update: COVID-19, March Payroll on Schedule, and ATRS Investments
  97. March 24, 2020: COVID-19 and Cybersecurity
  98. March 23, 2020: COVID-19 UPDATE
  99. March 20, 2020: Camden and Blytheville Pre-Retirement Workshops Canceled
  100. March 19, 2020: Russellville pre-retirement workshop has been canceled
  101. March 18, 2020: COVID-19 UPDATE-ATRS Offices Closed to the Public
  102. March 16, 2020: Communicating with ATRS
  103. January 22, 2020: 1099Rs - Frequently Asked Questions
  104. December 20, 2020: December Insurance Premiums for Group Life with AD&D
  105. November 21, 2019 - Executive Director Update: Thanksgiving and Statewide Meeting Summary
  106. October 23, 2019 - Executive Director Update: Statewide Meetings on Arkansas Retirement Systems
  107. October 17, 2019 - Executive Director Update: Statewide Meetings on Arkansas Retirement Systems
  108. September 30, 2019 - Executive Director Update: Statewide Meetings on Arkansas Retirement Systems
  109. September 12, 2019 - Executive Director Update: Newly Appointed Trustee for Position #6 - Administrator (Superintendent)
  110. September 10, 2019 - Executive Director Update: Statewide Meetings on Arkansas Retirement Systems
  111. August 29, 2019 - Executive Director Update: Statewide Meetings on Arkansas Retirement Systems
  112. July 10, 2019 - Executive Director Update: Vacancy on ATRS Board - Applications Welcome
  113. May 1, 2019 - Executive Director Update: May 31st Deadline Reminder
  114. Public Notice: April 22, 2019 Proposed Rule Changes
  115. April 8, 2019 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Retirement Planner for 2019
  116. April 5, 2019 - Executive Director Update: Week Number Twelve of the Legislative Session
  117. March 29, 2019 - Executive Director Update: Week Number Eleven of the Legislative Session
  118. March 22, 2019 - Executive Director Update: Week Number Ten of the Legislative Session
  119. March 15, 2019 - Executive Director Update: Week Number Nine of the Legislative Session
  120. March 8, 2019 - Executive Director Update: Week Number Eight of the Legislative Session
  121. March 1, 2019 - Executive Director Update: Week Number Seven of the Legislative Session
  122. February 22, 2019 - Executive Director Update: Week Number Six of the Legislative Session
  123. February 15, 2019 - Executive Director Update: Week Number Five of the Legislative Session
  124. February 8, 2019 - Executive Director Update: Week Number Four of the Legislative Session
  125. January 31, 2019 - Executive Director Update: Week Number Three of the Legislative Session
  126. January 25, 2019 - Executive Director Update: Week Number Two of the Legislative Session
  127. January 17, 2019 - Executive Director Update: Week Number One of the Legislative Session
  128. Public Notice: 2019 Board of Trustees Election
  129. October 31, 2018 - Board Chairman Update: ATRS Board unanimously choose Mr. Clint Rhoden as ATRS Executive Director
  130. October 4, 2018 - Board Chairman Update: Smooth Transition Underway at ATRS
  131. October 1, 2018 - Executive Director Update: Executive Director Retiring after a Decade at ATRS
  132. June 6, 2018 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Board Helps Members/ Modifies the Phase-in for T-DROP Annuitization
  133. May 24, 2018 - Executive Director Update: ATRS will be Open Memorial Day
  134. April 6, 2018 - Executive Director Update: Retirement/T-DROP Planner 2018
  135. February 7, 2018 - Executive Director Update: Quality 2019 T-DROP Interest Rates, New Application Window for 2018, and a Market Update
  136. Public Notice: Board of Trustees Election 2018
  137. November 13, 2017 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Adopts New Actuarial Assumptions
  138. July 31, 2017 - Executive Director Update: Lifetime Teaching Licenses for All Eligible ATRS Retirees
  139. May 23, 2017 - Executive Director Update: ATRS School Hall Meetings Celebrating 80 Years
  140. May 8, 2017 - Executive Director Update: ATRS is Open Again on Memorial Day to Serve Members
  141. May 4, 2017 - Executive Director Update: T-DROP Interest Rate for 2017-2018
  142. April 26, 2017 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Retirement and T-DROP Planner 2017
  143. April 19, 2017 - Executive Director Update: Final Report on the Regular Session
  144. April 10, 2017 - ATRS Board Meeting has been rescheduled for April 17, 2017
  145. March 31, 2017 - Executive Director Update: Week 12 of the General Assembly
  146. March 24, 2017 - Executive Director Update: Week 11 of the General Assembly
  147. March 17, 2017 - Executive Director Update: Happy 80th Birthday ATRS and Week 10 of the General Assembly
  148. March 14, 2017 - Executive Director Update: The Strength of ATRS
  149. March 10, 2017 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Legislative Package and Week 9 of the General Assembly
  150. March 3, 2017 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Legislative Package and Week 8 of the General Assembly
  151. February 24, 2017 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Legislative Package and Week 7 of the General Assembly
  152. February 17, 2017 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Legislative Package and Week 6 of the General Assembly
  153. February 10, 2017 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Legislative Package and Week 5 of the General Assembly
  154. February 3, 2017 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Legislative Package and Week 4 of the General Assembly
  155. January 27, 2017 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Legislative Package and Week 3 of the General Assembly
  156. January 20, 2017 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Legislative Package and Week 2 of the General Assembly
  157. January 13, 2017 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Legislative Package and Week 1 of the General Assembly
  158. January 6, 2017 - Executive Director Update: Actuarial Status and ATRS Legislative Package
  159. October 4, 2016 - Executive Director Update: Member Annual Statements 2015-2016
  160. May 16, 2016 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Open Memorial Day & Deadlines
  161. April 26, 2016 - Board of Trustees Election Results
  162. April 5, 2016 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Retirement and T-DROP Planner 2016
  163. June 12, 2015 - Executive Director Update: The Wonderful Arkansas 529 College Savings Plan!

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