Montana State Legislature

Teachers' Retirement System

Agency Leadership

Shawn Graham, Executive Director

Agency Website

https://trs.mt.gov/trs-home/view

Agency Overview

The Montana Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) was established by state law in 1937 with an initial enrollment of 3,367 members. As of fiscal year 2019, that number had grown to nearly 20,000 active members and over 16,600 retirees and other benefit recipients.

The Montana Teachers' Retirement System serves active and retired teachers and educators in the State of Montana. Its primary purpose is to administer their pension plan, which includes (but is not limited to) payment of retirement benefits, collection of member contributions and enrollment of new members.

The TRS is a Defined Benefit Plan qualified under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) 401(a). Membership in TRS is compulsory for all K-12 public educators, except for persons teaching fewer than thirty days in each fiscal year.

An actuarial valuation of the retirement system is performed annually, as of July 1st of each year. The purpose of the valuation is to determine the financial position of the fund, the normal cost, and the unfunded actuarial accrued liability based upon present and prospective assets and liabilities of the system.