FY2023 data · Public Plans Database

Manchester Employees' Contributory Retirement System

Drawing on 23 years of Public Plans Database history (Boston College CRR), this page covers Manchester Employees' Contributory Retirement System's funded ratio, unfunded liability, member counts, and investment returns, cross-checked against actuarial valuations.

By · · New Hampshire · General State Plan · Data through FY2023

Funded Ratio: 98.6% (Healthy) Manchester Employees' Contributory Retirement System funded ratio compared to national public pension benchmark. FUNDED RATIO 98.6% Healthy Nat'l avg 75.49869791666667% 0% 60 70 80 100% Healthy > 80% · At-risk 70-80% · Critical < 60%
Manchester Employees' Contributory Retirement System funded ratio is 98.6 percent, classified as Healthy. National public-pension benchmark is 75.49869791666667 percent.
Funded ratio
98.6%
Health grade
BReported funded ratio above the portfolio average range
Market assets
$274M
Members
2,333

According to the Public Plans Database, compiled by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research, Manchester Employees' Contributory Retirement System is one of 197 public pension plans tracked nationwide. The plan card reports FY2023 valuation figures; the multi-year table includes FY2024 where PPD published it; this site’s database copy was last loaded in July 2026. See our methodology for the full source and update cadence.

Unfunded Liability

$4M

actuarial shortfall

Total Members

2,333

active + retired + vested

1-Year Return

4.0%

net investment return

-4.2pp vs 5-yr avg

5-Year Avg Return

8.2%

annualized, net of fees

How Manchester Employees' Contributory Retirement System Funded Ratio Compares

Plan Funded Ratio 98.6%
National avg

A ratio of 98.6% compared against the national public-pension average of 75.5%.

Healthy Threshold

Plans above 80% are generally considered adequately funded by NASRA standards.

Participant Composition

Participants: 1.1K active, 1.1K retired, 0 separated Plan participant breakdown showing active workers, retirees, and separated-vested members. PARTICIPANT MIX 2.3K total members 48% 47% Active 1.1K Retired 1.1K Separated 0 Active-to-Retiree 1.03 · Transitioning
Plan participant breakdown: 1.1K active workers, 1.1K retirees, 0 separated-vested members. Sustainability rating: Transitioning.

The active-to-retiree ratio is a leading indicator of long-term plan sustainability, plans with more retirees than active contributors face mounting cash-flow pressure as benefit payments outpace incoming contributions.

Investment Policy Mix

Asset Allocation: 55% equity, 25% fixed income, 17% alternatives Manchester Employees' Contributory Retirement System investment policy mix as reported in its CAFR and actuarial valuation. ASSET ALLOCATION $274M market assets · CAFR / actuarial valuation 55% 25% 17% Equity 55.0% Fixed Inc. 25.0% Alternatives 17.0% Cash 3.0% Investment Stance: Growth-Tilted · Equity + Alts 72%
Manchester Employees' Contributory Retirement System asset allocation: 55% equity, 25% fixed income, 17% alternatives, 3% cash. Investment stance: Growth-Tilted.

Public pension plans report their asset allocation in their annual CAFR and actuarial valuation. Equity-heavy mixes capture market upside but introduce volatility; fixed-income tilts protect funded status during downturns at the cost of long-run return.

Historical Funded Ratio

Year Funded Ratio
2024 96.3%
2023 98.6%
2022 101.9%
2021 103.2%
2020 99.2%
2019 98.7%
2018 95.7%
2017 94.4%
2016 91.7%
2015 89.6%
2014 84.2%
2013 79.0%
2012 76.7%
2011 76.6%
2010 76.6%
2009 78.4%
2008 80.8%
2007 79.7%
2006 76.2%
2005 75.7%

What the Data Says About Manchester Employees' Contributory Retirement System

Manchester Employees' Contributory Retirement System reports a funded ratio of 98.6% as of fiscal year 2023, earning a financial health grade of B in the Public Plans Database. The plan holds $274M in market assets against an unfunded liability of $4M. As a General State plan operating under New Hampshire sponsorship, it covers 2,333 members (1,119 active contributors, 1,088 retirees drawing benefits).

Manchester Employees' Contributory Retirement System is one of the more fully funded plans in the Public Plans Database, 23 points above the 75.5% national average across tracked plans. A 5-year average investment return of 8.2% factors into the plan's overall trajectory.

For New Hampshire taxpayers and plan members, the $4M unfunded gap is the actuarial shortfall this plan must close over time.

Where this data comes from + how funding gaps get resolved

These figures come from the Public Plans Database, a collaboration between the Boston College Center for Retirement Research and NASRA that compiles them from each plan's Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports (CAFRs) and actuarial valuations. The relationship between contribution adequacy and investment performance determines whether an unfunded liability narrows or expands year over year, and the gap itself is typically closed through some combination of higher contributions, investment returns, or benefit modifications. See our methodology for how public-pension funding differs from ERISA-backed private plans, and our disclaimer below before acting on this data.

Membership

1,119
Active Members
1,088
Retirees
2,333
Total Members

Plan Details

Plan Type
General State
Market Assets
$274M
Source: Public Plans Database (PPD)
Boston College CRR / NASRA

Plans With a Similar Funded Ratio

The closest plans nationwide to Manchester Employees' Contributory Retirement System's 98.6% funded ratio.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Manchester Employees' Contributory Retirement System fully funded?

Manchester Employees' Contributory Retirement System has a funded ratio of 98.6% as of FY2023, earning a health grade of B. This ratio summarizes one reported funding measure. It does not substitute for a plan's actuarial valuation, financial statements, or a review of its contribution policy.

What happens if Manchester Employees' Contributory Retirement System runs out of money?

Manchester Employees' Contributory Retirement System's reported funding data can identify questions for further research. It does not establish how a sponsor will set contributions, benefits, or revenue policy.

What does a funded ratio of 98.6% mean?

A funded ratio of 98.6% means that Manchester Employees' Contributory Retirement System currently has assets equal to 98.6% of its projected benefit obligations. The unfunded liability, the gap between assets and liabilities, stands at $4M. This is considered adequately funded.

How does Manchester Employees' Contributory Retirement System compare to other public pensions?

Manchester Employees' Contributory Retirement System is a General State plan in New Hampshire serving 2,333 members. Nationally, the average funded ratio for public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database is approximately 75.5%. Manchester Employees' Contributory Retirement System's funded ratio of 98.6% places it above the national average, reflecting strong fiscal management.

How many members does Manchester Employees' Contributory Retirement System have?

Manchester Employees' Contributory Retirement System covers 2,333 total members, including 1,119 active employees and 1,088 retirees currently receiving benefits. The ratio of active members to retirees is a key indicator of plan sustainability, when the number of retirees grows relative to active contributors, funding pressure increases.

Data sourced from official Public Plans Database and actuarial valuations from federal and state pension systems. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainPension

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Public Plans Database (PPD). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

Data sources used on this page
  • Public Plans Database (PPD) - funded ratios, assets, liabilities, and member counts for US state and local public pension plans, maintained by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research with MissionSquare Research Institute and NASRA. publicplansdata.org
  • NASRA - National Association of State Retirement Administrators public-pension actuarial and policy references. nasra.org

Every figure on PlainPension is rendered directly from the Public Plans Database (Boston College Center for Retirement Research), no number is typed in by an editor. This page aggregates this plan's funded ratio, unfunded liability, and multi-year financial history, live from the dataset. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.