Volume 1 | November 2020
The Pensioner: Looking Forward
Welcome to the BRAND NEW digital MPERS' newsletter! The Pensioner: Looking Forward contains news, updates, and important information for active employees' of the Missouri Department of Transportation and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
A Word from the Executive Director
Scott Simon, Executive Director
As MPERS continues to evolve, we strive to find better and more efficient ways to serve our members, the beneficiaries of this System. I am pleased to announce the initiation of MPERS’ newsletter in digital format. It is our intention to distribute these concise and timely editions on a more frequent basis, to be sure you are informed and up to date on important issues relevant to the retirement system. Please take a moment to read our newsletters as they are intended to be informative and advise you about the important benefit you may earn from MPERS.  
Funded Status Continues to Increase
MPERS' funded status increased from 59.8% in 2019 to 60.6% in 2020. The funded status is an indicator of overall health of the System. To learn more about MPERS' financial status, check out Executive Director Scott Simon's Financial Status Update below.
Every End Is a New Beginning
Greta Bassett-Seymour (left) and Greg Beck (right)
MPERS' Assistant Executive Director, Greg Beck, retired on January 1, 2020, after 32 years of state service.

Mr. Beck began his career at the state auditor's office in 1988, and spent the majority of his career serving as the internal auditor at the Missouri State Employees' Retirement System (MOSERS). In 2016 he began his position at MPERS as the assistant executive director.

The new assistant executive director is no stranger to MPERS. Greta Bassett-Seymour has been general counsel at MPERS for over 6 years. She now serves dual roles as assistant executive director and general counsel.
MPERS' Publications Win Awards
MPERS' 2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report recently received the certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. This is the 15th year that MPERS has received this award. Read more...
MPERS' 2019 Popular Annual Financial Report "MPERS FYI" recently received an award from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA).
In Memoriam
We would like to recognize Jane*, our eldest payee, who passed away recently at the age of 106. Jane was the survivor beneficiary of one of our members who passed away in 1981; a short seven years after his retirement. Because of the survivor benefit that MPERS offers, Jane was able to continue receiving a monthly benefit for the next 39 years until her passing in 2020. 

Jane’s story is a reminder of the value of the MPERS pension benefit. Jane didn’t need to worry about losing her husband’s pension benefit once he passed away. MPERS is a defined benefit pension plan and the benefit is payable for the lifetime of the retiree, and if a survivor payment option is selected at retirement, it is payable for the lifetime of the survivor. Even when the survivor lives to be 106. 

*Name changed for privacy
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, MPERS converted all in-person seminars to live webinars. This included 23 Pre-Retirement Seminars as well as eight Mid-Career Checkups.

The Mid-Career Checkup is a new webinar offering for those who wish to plan for retirement sooner, rather than later, in their career.

The last Pre-Retirement Webinar for the season is on November 4th. There are additional Mid-Career Checkups available in November and December for 2011 Tier members as well as Closed Plan/Year 2000 Plan members.
Check out this month's benefit bite!
A small "bite" of information that may help you understand your retirement benefits better!
Upcoming Events
  • 4 Pre-Retirement Webinar
  • 5 Audit Committee meeting
  • 10 Mid-Career Checkup Webinar for Closed Plan/Year 2000 Plan members
  • 11 Veterans Day, office closed
  • 12 Mid-Career Checkup Webinar for 2011 Tier members
  • 19 Board meeting
  • 26-27 Thanksgiving, office closed
We value your feedback!
What would you like to see in The Pensioner: Looking Forward?
Send comments and suggestions to Julie.West@mpers.org.