
<p>Retirement insights from a Colorado PERA perspective</p>



<p></p>


A distant view shows a mountainous landscape with sloping peaks, green trees in the foreground, and a cloudy sky above.


<p>In June, PERA released its <a href="https://copera.org/annual-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report</em> (ACFR)</a>, which contains detailed information on PERA’s finances, investment performance, and funded status for the year ended December 31, 2024.</p>



<p>The <em>ACFR</em> is a large report with a lot of information. We’re highlighting some of the key facts and figures from the report to make it easier to digest and to help those who want to know more about PERA’s finances.</p>



<p>A <a href="https://www.copera.org/2023-popular-annual-financial-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">summary version of the <em>ACFR</em></a> is also available and you can explore highlights in an interactive format at <a href="https://secure.copera.org/staticcontent/digitalsnapshot/acfr-2024/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">copera.org/snapshot</a>.</p>



<h2 style="color:#000000;" class="wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size">Plan Assets and Funding</h2>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignright size-large is-resized"><a href="https://content.copera.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/bythenumbers2024-acc.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://content.copera.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/bythenumbers2024-acc-791x1024.jpg" alt="2024 in review: $66.7 billion investment portfolio, 10.8% net rate of return, 219,204 active members, 412 employers, 57,232 PERACare participants, 69.2% funded status, 141,438 retirees and benefit recipients, $5.4 billion in annual benefit payments, $768.4 million invested in Colorado, 8.4% 30-year return." class="wp-image-59265" width="396" height="512" srcset="https://content.copera.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/bythenumbers2024-acc-791x1024.jpg 791w, https://content.copera.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/bythenumbers2024-acc-232x300.jpg 232w, https://content.copera.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/bythenumbers2024-acc-768x994.jpg 768w, https://content.copera.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/bythenumbers2024-acc-1187x1536.jpg 1187w, https://content.copera.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/bythenumbers2024-acc-1583x2048.jpg 1583w, https://content.copera.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/bythenumbers2024-acc.jpg 1978w" sizes="(max-width: 396px) 100vw, 396px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Click or tap to enlarge</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>As of the end of 2024, PERA manages an investment portfolio of $66.7 billion for the defined benefit plans and $6.7 billion for the defined contribution plans. The defined benefit assets are split between five division trust funds from which PERA pays benefits: State, Local Government, School, Denver Public Schools, and Judicial.</p>



<p>The defined benefit trust funds saw a total of $12.4 billion in additions and $6.4 billion in deductions during 2024.</p>



<p>Across all five divisions, 219,204 members and 412 employers were actively contributing to PERA accounts. Member and employer contributions to PERA totaled more than $4.4 billion. Other additions included the State’s annual $225 million direct distribution and more than $96 million in <a href="https://www.copera.org/welcome-pera-members/benefit-basics/purchasing-service-credit" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">service credit purchases</a>.</p>



<p>Sixty-one percent of PERA’s investment assets are managed in-house by PERA staff, at an annual savings of $70 million compared to external management. Net investment income totaled more than $7.5 billion for the year.</p>



<p>PERA’s funded status at the end of the year – or the percentage of money PERA currently has on hand to pay all benefits earned to date &#8211; was 69.2%. While that represents a slight drop from the year before, PERA remains on track to meet its funding goals.</p>



<h2 style="color:#000000;" class="wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size">Benefits Paid</h2>



<p>PERA paid a total of $5.4 billion in pension benefits to 141,438 retirees and benefit recipients, for an average monthly benefit of $3,264. The average age at retirement was 59.3 with 22.3 years of service credit.&nbsp; The remaining $1 billion in deductions included health care benefits and insurance premiums, member account refunds, and administrative expenses.</p>



<p>PERA provides benefits to nearly 1 out of every 10 Coloradans who are current and former teachers, State Troopers, snowplow drivers, correction officers, and other public employees who provide valuable services to all of Colorado. Of that $5.4 billion paid last year, approximately $4.6 billion went to more than 115,000 PERA retirees living in Colorado. That steady stream of income flows to every county in the state, providing stability to state, regional, and local economies.</p>



<p>Visit <a href="https://secure.copera.org/staticcontent/digitalsnapshot/acfr-2024/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">copera.org/snapshot</a> for more details, including a county-by-county breakdown of benefits paid.</p>



<h2 style="color:#000000;" class="wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size">More Information</h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://secure.copera.org/staticcontent/digitalsnapshot/acfr-2024/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Digital Snapshot</a></li>



<li><a href="https://content.copera.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Annual-Comprehensive-Financial-Report.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2024 <em>Annual Comprehensive Financial Report</em> (PDF)</a></li>



<li><a href="https://content.copera.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2024-Popular-Annual-Financial-Report.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2024 <em>Popular Annual Financial Report</em> (PDF)</a></li>



<li><a href="https://content.copera.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2024-Division-Trust-Funds-Funding-Valuation.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2024 Actuarial Valuation (PDF)</a></li>
</ul>


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