PERA Continues Streak, Listed Among Most Efficiently Run Pension Systems

In 2018, Colorado PERA lowered administrative costs while also
improving service, according to an annual report issued by CEM Benchmarking, a
global pension fund Benchmarking and consulting agency.

The cost to run PERA equaled $52 per active, inactive, and
retired member, which is 13 percent less than PERA’s peer average of $60 per
member, and about half of the $103 average cost for all organizations in the
study. PERA’s administration costs actually fell 0.4 percent per year between
2015 and 2018, while peer average costs remained unchanged. Even as PERA
reduced administrative costs needed to operate the system, it was also able to
improve its customer service scores.

Balancing customer service
and administrative costs

Every year, CEM Benchmarking conducts an in-depth analysis
of global public pension systems. Colorado PERA has improved or maintained its
overall service score—this year 91 out of 100—for the sixth consecutive year
and continues to stand out as a leader in the field.

To assess the 62 pensions in the study, CEM Benchmarking
looks at two primary factors: Each organization’s administrative costs and the quality
of service its members receive. The top-level findings reaffirmed PERA’s place
as a top performer in each category when measured against both the 12 organizations
in its peer group and also when measured against all organizations in the study.

“The PERA Board of Trustees and staff are committed to
providing high-quality service to our members at a low cost,” said Ron Baker,
Executive Director of Colorado PERA. “As we look forward, PERA is committed to
seeking innovative ways to provide better service to the membership while
remaining responsible stewards of their retirement dollars.”

 Delivering top-notch service

CEM Benchmarking defines service from the perspective of
members receiving the service, not from the perspective of PERA employees. The
report states, “high service means more channels, faster turnaround times, more
availability, more choice, better content and higher quality.” To evaluate
service, CEM Benchmarking examines hundreds of data points collected from all
service divisions in the organization and provides comparative data with
pension funds of similar size and assets under management (confirm how peer
group is set).

Key to PERA’s industry-leading ranking were factors such as average
wait time for the call center and percentage of calls that conclude in desired
outcomes. The report also compares the average time needed to process key
service requests and the availability of counseling and education sessions,
among other factors.

Amid a rapidly changing world, the demand to consistently
deliver quality service at a low cost is often easier said than done. When a
third-party study shows that PERA has established such a pattern, it
demonstrates not only sound stewardship of member dollars, but also a
commitment to serving each of PERA’s more than 600,000 members.

StewardshipThe practice of overseeing or managing something entrusted to one’s care. PERA’s approach to investment stewardship is focused on ensuring the financial sustainability of the fund that pays benefits to retirees and beneficiaries.Assets under managementThe value of an investor’s entire portfolio. PERA reports this number, which includes all assets in the PERA Defined Benefit Plan division trust funds, every year in the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.BenchmarkA tool used to measure performance. For example, an investor can use a stock index as a benchmark to measure his/her own investment performance compared to the market as a whole.BenchmarkA tool used to measure performance. For example, an investor can use a stock index as a benchmark to measure his/her own investment performance compared to the market as a whole.