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KPERS Funding

Infographic representing $20 billion in KPERS Trust Fund
chart representing 8.3% 25-year return
image representing 68.4% funded ratio
image representing $9.2 billion unfunded actuarial liability

Your Benefit is Secure.




KPERS is a prefunded system made up of contributions from you, your employer and investment income. You put part of every paycheck into the Retirement System. And your employer contributes, too. Then we invest the money to pay you a monthly benefit when you retire.

A breakdown of KPERS Funding Sources. 47% from Investments, 36% from Employer Contributions and 17% from Member Contributions
Contributions and Benefit Payments. Fiscal Year 2019 money in was $1.6B Annual Contributions and $1.2B Investment Returns. Fiscal Year 2019 money out was $1.9B in Benefit Payments Paid


More than $1 billion in contributions comes in each year. That's about enough to cover the $1 billion cost of annual benefits. And then there's investment income. Over time, investments have paid for almost half of members' benefits.

When you're ready to retire, your benefit will be here.

How We're Doing


The KPERS Trust Fund is your money. It's not going anywhere except to pay your benefits. It can never be withdrawn for any other purpose.

At about $25 billion, Trust Fund assets have more than doubled in the last two decades. And our 25-year investment return is 8.2%, just above our 7.75% target. Remember, investment returns each year are important. But healthy returns over time are essential for proper funding.

Trust Fund Assets and Investment Returns - KPERS assets have more than doubled in the last 20 years

Making Progress for Sound Funding



KPERS funding growth graphic, KPERS funding is up more than 13% since 2012.

KPERS is 72.5% funded – up more than 16% since 2012. While we're making progress toward full funding, it's important to remember that 80% and rising is good for pensions like ours, with the goal of 100%. So we're on the right track! But there's no getting around it. We have a long-term funding shortfall and we can't invest our way out.

The difference between our Trust Fund assets and projected future benefits is the unfunded actuarial liability. Currently at $8.5 billion, it's mainly from two recessions and KPERS receiving less than the required employer contributions for more than 25 years. It will take time and the right amount of employer contributions to improve the System's funded status. As your fiduciary, we're working with employers and State leaders to ensure sound funding for your promised benefits.

Learn More

Message from the Executive Director of KPERS Alan Conroy

Message from KPERS Executive Director Alan Conroy

Funding basics, especially useful for members

KPERS Funding Webinar

Watch the May 2022 Recording | View the May 2022 Presentation Slides 

  Helpful Links
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  Location

Kansas Public Employees Retirement System
611 S. Kansas Ave, Topeka, KS 66603
Toll-free: 1 888 - 275-5737
Email: [email protected]


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