Plan

Wichita Retirement System

State

Kansas

Funded Ratio

72.2%

Assets

$1.48B

Members

5,374

Health Grade: C — Underfunded — significant gap between assets and liabilities

FY2023 data Grade C Public Plans Database

Wichita Retirement System

Funded ratio, unfunded liability, member counts, ARC coverage, and 23-year financial history for Wichita Retirement System — sourced from the Public Plans Database (Boston College CRR) and cross-checked against actuarial valuations.

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By Kiznis Studio Editorial · June 2026 · Kansas · General State Plan · Data through FY2023

Financial Health Grade

Underfunded — significant gap between assets and liabilities

Funded Ratio

72.2%

actuarial assets / liabilities

Unfunded Liability

$571M

actuarial shortfall

Total Members

5,374

active + retired + vested

1-Year Return

9.8%

net investment return

2.2pp vs 5-yr avg

5-Year Avg Return

7.6%

annualized, net of fees

ARC Payment

48.7%

of actuarially required contribution

How Wichita Retirement System Funded Ratio Compares

Plan Funded Ratio 72.2%

National avg

A ratio of 72.2% compared against the national public-pension average of 73.5%.

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 Form 5500 Schedule H Part I disclosures. 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	Assets	Unfunded	Members
2024	72.2%	N/A	N/A	N/A
2023	71.7%	$1.48B	$583M	5,374
2022	72.6%	$1.34B	$505M	5,282
2021	71.6%	$1.63B	$645M	5,212
2020	69.1%	$1.47B	$659M	5,162
2019	69.8%	$1.35B	$584M	5,187
2018	69.8%	$1.18B	$510M	5,130
2017	71.1%	$1.31B	$534M	5,216
2016	71.5%	$1.16B	$465M	5,184
2015	72.8%	$1.13B	$423M	5,149
2014	74.2%	$1.16B	$405M	5,075
2013	76.6%	$1.15B	$350M	5,028
2012	77.6%	$991M	$286M	4,990
2011	82.0%	$905M	$199M	5,048
2010	83.2%	$933M	$188M	5,058
2009	87.3%	$855M	$124M	5,139
2008	89.4%	$732M	$87M	5,154
2007	91.9%	$1.05B	$93M	5,177
2006	92.5%	$971M	$79M	5,082
2005	96.2%	$866M	$34M	4,997

What the Data Says About Wichita Retirement System

Wichita Retirement System reports a funded ratio of 72.2% as of fiscal year 2023, earning a financial health grade of C in the Public Plans Database. The plan holds $1.48B in market assets against an unfunded liability of $571M. As a General State plan operating under Kansas sponsorship, it covers 5,374 members (2,499 active contributors, 2,668 retirees drawing benefits). These figures aggregate from Form 5500 filings submitted to the Department of Labor and actuarial valuations reported through NASRA.

A funded ratio in the 60–80% range indicates moderate underfunding that falls near the national average of 72–75% but leaves the plan exposed to market downturns and demographic shifts. Employer contributions covered 48.7% of the Annual Required Contribution in the most recent reporting cycle, while the plan posted a 5-year average investment return of 7.6%. The relationship between contribution adequacy and investment performance determines whether the unfunded liability narrows or expands year over year.

For Kansas taxpayers and plan members, the $571M unfunded gap represents the actuarial shortfall that must eventually be closed through a combination of contributions, investment returns, or benefit modifications. Unlike private-sector pensions governed by ERISA and backstopped by the PBGC, public plans like Wichita Retirement System rely on the full faith and credit of Kansas — meaning funding shortfalls flow through to state and local budgets rather than a federal insurance program. This information summarizes official Public Plans Database disclosures and is provided for research and educational purposes only. It is not financial, legal, or retirement-planning advice; active and retired members with specific benefit questions should consult their plan administrator directly.

Membership

2,499

Active Members

2,668

Retirees

5,374

Total Members

Plan Details

Plan Type: General State
State: Kansas
Market Assets: $1.48B
ARC Payment: 48.7%

Source: Public Plans Database (PPD)
Boston College CRR / NASRA

Other Kansas Plans

Kansas Public Employees Retirement System 82.4%

All Kansas plans →

Related Resources

Pension Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wichita Retirement System fully funded?

Wichita Retirement System has a funded ratio of 72.2% as of FY2023, earning a health grade of C. A funded ratio of 100% means the plan has enough assets to cover all projected liabilities. Ratios above 80% are generally considered adequately funded; ratios below 60% indicate significant underfunding and risk to future benefits.

What happens if Wichita Retirement System runs out of money?

Public pension plans like Wichita Retirement System are backed by the sponsoring government entity — in this case Kansas. If a plan's assets are insufficient, the state or local government is typically required to make up the difference through increased contributions, benefit adjustments, or tax measures. Unlike private pensions, public pensions are not insured by the PBGC, but they do carry the full faith and credit of the sponsoring government.

What does a funded ratio of 72.2% mean?

A funded ratio of 72.2% means that Wichita Retirement System currently has assets equal to 72.2% of its projected benefit obligations. The unfunded liability — the gap between assets and liabilities — stands at $571M. This represents a moderate funding gap that requires ongoing monitoring.

How does Wichita Retirement System compare to other public pensions?

Wichita Retirement System is a General State plan in Kansas serving 5,374 members. Nationally, the average funded ratio for public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database is approximately 72–75%. Wichita Retirement System's funded ratio of 72.2% places it near the national average.

How many members does Wichita Retirement System have?

Wichita Retirement System covers 5,374 total members, including 2,499 active employees and 2,668 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.

What is the ARC payment percentage for Wichita Retirement System?

Wichita Retirement System pays 48.7% of its Annual Required Contribution (ARC). Consistently underpaying the ARC accelerates the growth of unfunded liabilities and places future benefits at greater risk. Employer contribution patterns are tracked annually in the Public Plans Database.

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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 Kiznis Studio Editorial

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.

All federal data sources used on this page

U.S. Census Bureau ACS — demographic + housing + income data. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage + employment by occupation. bls.gov/oes
BEA Regional Economic Accounts — GDP + personal income by state/metro. bea.gov/data/regional
U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns — establishment + employment by industry. census.gov/cbp
IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) — tax-return aggregate data. irs.gov/statistics
data.gov — U.S. federal open-data portal — discovery layer for additional federal sources. data.gov