The Iowa Public Employees Retirement System administers pension and other benefits for employees of more than 2,100 public entities in the state, including the state, school districts, and cities and counties. Assets are managed by the IPERS Investment Board, whose members include the state treasurer and others appointed by the governor. A separate retirement system administers pension benefits for many municipal public safety personnel.
Iowa Public Employees Retirement System Basics, by Plan
| Plan |
Assets (millions) |
Total Members |
| Iowa PERS |
42,889.9 |
327,172 |
| Other Plans |
0 |
0 |
| Total |
42,889.9 |
327,122 |
Source: Public Plans Database (as of 2021)
Note: Iowa Public Employees Retirement System has 0 other plans.
Assets
Assets at Year-End
Iowa Public Employees Retirement System
2001-2021
| Fiscal Year |
Net Assets (billions) |
| 2001 |
15.9 |
| 2002 |
14.9 |
| 2003 |
15.4 |
| 2004 |
17.2 |
| 2005 |
18.8 |
| 2006 |
20.4 |
| 2007 |
23.2 |
| 2008 |
22.4 |
| 2009 |
18.0 |
| 2010 |
19.9 |
| 2011 |
23.1 |
| 2012 |
23.2 |
| 2013 |
24.9 |
| 2014 |
28.0 |
| 2015 |
28.4 |
| 2016 |
28.3 |
| 2017 |
30.8 |
| 2018 |
32.3 |
| 2019 |
34.0 |
| 2020 |
34.0 |
| 2021 |
42.9 |
Membership
Ratio of Actives to Beneficiaries, 2001-2021
| Fiscal Year |
Iowa Public Employees Retirement System |
US State and Local Pensions |
| 2001 |
2.3 |
2.4 |
| 2002 |
2.2 |
2.3 |
| 2003 |
2.1 |
2.2 |
| 2004 |
2.1 |
2.1 |
| 2005 |
2.0 |
2.1 |
| 2006 |
2.0 |
2.0 |
| 2007 |
1.9 |
2.0 |
| 2008 |
1.9 |
1.9 |
| 2009 |
1.9 |
1.9 |
| 2010 |
1.8 |
1.8 |
| 2011 |
1.7 |
1.7 |
| 2012 |
1.6 |
1.6 |
| 2013 |
1.6 |
1.5 |
| 2014 |
1.5 |
1.4 |
| 2015 |
1.5 |
1.4 |
| 2016 |
1.5 |
1.4 |
| 2017 |
1.4 |
1.4 |
| 2018 |
1.4 |
1.3 |
| 2019 |
1.4 |
1.3 |
| 2020 |
1.3 |
1.3 |
| 2021 |
1.3 |
1.3 |
2021 Membership for Iowa Public Employees Retirement System
| Actives |
Beneficiaries |
Inactive Vested |
Total Membership |
# of Participating Employers |
| 173,304 |
128,589 |
25,279 |
327,122 |
2,001 |
Cash Flows
Cash Flow vs. Total Assets (Millions)
Iowa Public Employees Retirement System
2001-2021
| Fiscal Year |
Cash Flow |
Assets |
| 2001 |
-222.6 |
15,928.5 |
| 2002 |
-281.8 |
14,874.4 |
| 2003 |
-295.0 |
15,403.2 |
| 2004 |
-330.6 |
17,249.9 |
| 2005 |
-395.2 |
18,767.2 |
| 2006 |
-427.9 |
20,404.9 |
| 2007 |
-486.5 |
23,217.2 |
| 2008 |
-508.0 |
22,370.6 |
| 2009 |
-532.8 |
17,974.0 |
| 2010 |
-573.8 |
19,878.1 |
| 2011 |
-718.5 |
23,082.1 |
| 2012 |
-663.1 |
23,243.5 |
| 2013 |
-703.0 |
24,878.7 |
| 2014 |
-744.5 |
28,038.5 |
| 2015 |
-688.8 |
28,429.8 |
| 2016 |
-728.3 |
28,326.4 |
| 2017 |
-827.1 |
30,779.1 |
| 2018 |
-923.3 |
32,314.6 |
| 2019 |
-943.9 |
34,010.7 |
| 2020 |
-1,004.9 |
34,047.7 |
| 2021 |
-1,060.8 |
42,889.9 |
2021 Cash Flows for Iowa Public Employees Retirement System (millions)
| Inflows |
Outflows |
Investment Gains (losses) |
Change in Net Assets |
| 1,371.9 |
2,432.7 |
9,903.0 |
8,842.2 |
Cash Flow as a Percentage of Assets
Iowa Public Employees Retirement System
2001-2021
| Fiscal Year |
Iowa Public Employees Retirement System |
National Average |
| 2001 |
-1.4 |
-2.1 |
| 2002 |
-1.9 |
-2.4 |
| 2003 |
-1.9 |
-2.6 |
| 2004 |
-1.9 |
-2.0 |
| 2005 |
-2.1 |
-2.2 |
| 2006 |
-2.1 |
-2.2 |
| 2007 |
-2.1 |
-2.1 |
| 2008 |
-2.3 |
-2.3 |
| 2009 |
-3.0 |
-3.1 |
| 2010 |
-2.9 |
-3.2 |
| 2011 |
-3.1 |
-3.1 |
| 2012 |
-2.9 |
-3.3 |
| 2013 |
-2.8 |
-3.2 |
| 2014 |
-2.7 |
-2.9 |
| 2015 |
-2.4 |
-2.8 |
| 2016 |
-2.6 |
-3.0 |
| 2017 |
-2.7 |
-2.9 |
| 2018 |
-2.9 |
-2.6 |
| 2019 |
-2.8 |
-2.6 |
| 2020 |
-3.0 |
-2.4 |
| 2021 |
-2.5 |
-2.1 |
