Uh........wonder how many billions we lost this week (and it's only Tuesday) - think they'll tell us?
From STRS, September 30, 2008
Subject: [News] STRS Ohio Retirement Funds Remain Safe and Secure, Despite Market Turmoil
STRS Ohio members who are following news reports of the recent impact that the nation's credit crisis has had on global financial markets might wonder how this affects their pension fund. Times like these are a good time to remind our members that STRS Ohio pension benefits are safe and secure. STRS Ohio is a long-term investor with an extremely diversified portfolio. This design enables us to weather the ups and downs of the market, including the investment-related market losses we have recently experienced due to the credit crisis and the overall general market decline.
The system's assets, along with contributions from members and employers, are used to pay benefits earned by its members. However, it's important to remember that not all of those benefits are due at once. Many of our members who are accruing benefits will not retire for many years. In other words, STRS Ohio has the liquidity needed to pay pension benefits when they are due near term, and the accumulated investment assets and income from employer and member contributions (future revenues) to allow us to continue to do so into the future.
The recent events on Wall Street are unprecedented. Nevertheless, it is not time for knee-jerk reactions or to change the disciplined approach to investments that has served STRS Ohio well over the years. We are monitoring how the overall markets respond to discussions in Washington. We hope that steps will be taken that will restore both calm and confidence to the markets. During this period, we will continue to do what we do best as a public pension plan -- maintain our long-term focus and only make significant changes after thorough and deliberative discussions.
We encourage all our members to read our newsletters and visit our Web site often to keep abreast of all issues and events affecting their retirement system.
Subject: [News] STRS Ohio Retirement Funds Remain Safe and Secure, Despite Market Turmoil
STRS Ohio members who are following news reports of the recent impact that the nation's credit crisis has had on global financial markets might wonder how this affects their pension fund. Times like these are a good time to remind our members that STRS Ohio pension benefits are safe and secure. STRS Ohio is a long-term investor with an extremely diversified portfolio. This design enables us to weather the ups and downs of the market, including the investment-related market losses we have recently experienced due to the credit crisis and the overall general market decline.
The system's assets, along with contributions from members and employers, are used to pay benefits earned by its members. However, it's important to remember that not all of those benefits are due at once. Many of our members who are accruing benefits will not retire for many years. In other words, STRS Ohio has the liquidity needed to pay pension benefits when they are due near term, and the accumulated investment assets and income from employer and member contributions (future revenues) to allow us to continue to do so into the future.
The recent events on Wall Street are unprecedented. Nevertheless, it is not time for knee-jerk reactions or to change the disciplined approach to investments that has served STRS Ohio well over the years. We are monitoring how the overall markets respond to discussions in Washington. We hope that steps will be taken that will restore both calm and confidence to the markets. During this period, we will continue to do what we do best as a public pension plan -- maintain our long-term focus and only make significant changes after thorough and deliberative discussions.
We encourage all our members to read our newsletters and visit our Web site often to keep abreast of all issues and events affecting their retirement system.
Labels: investments, STRS, STRS Board
posted by Kathie Bracy at 3:47 PM
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