Guiding Principles

NASRA supports the following guiding principles to retirement security and public plan sustainability:

  • Participation of all relevant stakeholders, including government employers, their plans, their employees, plan beneficiaries and retirees, and other taxpayers in discussions and processes about the design and financing arrangements of public retirement plans

  • Policy-driven decision-making that recognizes the retirement security and workforce management purposes of public employee retirement systems, and which is based on objective and pertinent information that fairly reflects the long-term time horizon and economic effects of public plan financing, benefit adequacy, and benefit distributions

  • Tailored solutions, achieved by affected stakeholders working through the state and local legislative and regulatory processes

  • Retention of core, indispensable elements of public plan design, namely, mandatory participation, shared financing, targeted income replacement, pooled investment and longevity risks, and lifetime benefit payouts

  • Removal of federal policy barriers to the preservation of these central retirement plan design features in the public sector and the adoption of federal policies that encourage their inclusion in the private sector. 

Resolution adopted by NASRA Members, August 11, 2010 and further Amended August 9, 2016. 

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Become A Member

Becoming a member of NASRA offers a unique opportunity to join a community committed to the sound, efficient, and innovative stewardship of public retirement systems. Membership connects you with a network of professionals and experts, providing valuable insights into managing public retirement systems with a focus on sustainability and risk-averse strategies.

By joining NASRA, you gain the tools and resources to enhance the management of public retirement systems, ensuring their long-term success and reliability for generations to come.


 

What's New at NASRA: Updated Fast Facts and Helpful Resources Infographic for 2025

NASRA recently released an updated infographic detailing the significant economic footprint of of public retirement systems across the United States for 2025. This visual resource highlights the strength of governance of these plans, the positive impact of the systems, sources of revenue and investment management results. The infographic illustrates how retirement systems not only support retirees but also bolster local economies through stable income flows, job creation, and increased spending. NASRA's data-driven approach provides a factual backdrop for policymakers focused on retirement in our country.