Unfunded Liability
$2.21B
actuarial shortfall
FY2023 data · Public Plans Database
Montana Teachers Retirement System
The Public Plans Database's 23-year record for Montana Teachers Retirement System: funded ratio, unfunded liability, member counts, and investment returns, compiled by Boston College CRR and cross-checked against actuarial valuations.
By PlainPension · · Montana · Teachers Plan · Data through FY2023
- Funded ratio
- 69.0%
- Health grade
- CReported funded ratio below full funding
- Market assets
- $4.92B
- Members
- 39,454
According to the Public Plans Database, compiled by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research, Montana Teachers 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.
Total Members
39,454
active + retired + vested
1-Year Return
8.9%
net investment return
-2.4pp vs 5-yr avg
5-Year Avg Return
11.3%
annualized, net of fees
How Montana Teachers Retirement System Funded Ratio Compares
Plan Funded Ratio 69.0%
National avg
A ratio of 69.0% 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
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
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 | 70.6% |
| 2023 | 69.0% |
| 2022 | 66.3% |
| 2021 | 62.4% |
| 2020 | 60.6% |
| 2019 | 59.8% |
| 2018 | 57.1% |
| 2017 | 57.1% |
| 2016 | 55.5% |
| 2015 | 52.9% |
| 2014 | 49.2% |
| 2013 | 46.2% |
| 2012 | 46.3% |
| 2011 | 43.3% |
| 2010 | 42.2% |
| 2009 | 47.3% |
| 2008 | 59.1% |
| 2007 | 58.2% |
| 2006 | 55.5% |
| 2005 | 53.9% |
What the Data Says About Montana Teachers Retirement System
Montana Teachers Retirement System reports a funded ratio of 69.0% as of fiscal year 2023, earning a financial health grade of C in the Public Plans Database. The plan holds $4.92B in market assets against an unfunded liability of $2.21B. As a Teachers plan operating under Montana sponsorship, it covers 39,454 members (19,533 active contributors, 17,707 retirees drawing benefits).
Montana Teachers Retirement System is funded above the midpoint but still carries a real shortfall, 7 points below the 75.5% national average across tracked plans. A 5-year average investment return of 11.3% factors into the plan's overall trajectory.
For Montana taxpayers and plan members, the $2.21B 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
19,533
Active Members
17,707
Retirees
39,454
Total Members
Plan Details
- Plan Type
- Teachers
- State
- Montana
- Market Assets
- $4.92B
Source: Public Plans Database (PPD)
Boston College CRR / NASRA
Boston College CRR / NASRA
Plans With a Similar Funded Ratio
The closest plans nationwide to Montana Teachers Retirement System's 69.0% funded ratio.
- Bismarck Police Plan 69.0%
- Sioux Falls ERS 68.8%
- Arkansas Police and Fire 69.1%
- Mississippi Public Employees Retirement System 68.8%
- Pittsburgh Municipal 68.7%
Other Montana Plans
All Montana plans →Frequently Asked Questions
Is Montana Teachers Retirement System fully funded?
Montana Teachers Retirement System has a funded ratio of 69.0% as of FY2023, earning a health grade of C. The reported ratio shows actuarial assets divided by actuarial accrued liabilities for the stated fiscal year. Its interpretation depends on the plan's assumptions, valuation date, and contribution history.
What happens if Montana Teachers Retirement System runs out of money?
A public plan's reported ratio is only one part of its financial picture. PlainPension does not predict actions by Montana Teachers Retirement System, Montana, or any public body.
What does a funded ratio of 69.0% mean?
A funded ratio of 69.0% means that Montana Teachers Retirement System currently has assets equal to 69.0% of its projected benefit obligations. The unfunded liability, the gap between assets and liabilities, stands at $2.21B. This represents a moderate funding gap that requires ongoing monitoring.
How does Montana Teachers Retirement System compare to other public pensions?
Montana Teachers Retirement System is a Teachers plan in Montana serving 39,454 members. Nationally, the average funded ratio for public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database is approximately 75.5%. Montana Teachers Retirement System's funded ratio of 69.0% places it near the national average.
How many members does Montana Teachers Retirement System have?
Montana Teachers Retirement System covers 39,454 total members, including 19,533 active employees and 17,707 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.
Related
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.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
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.