Our current phone provider is having some communication difficulties resulting in nationwide outages. This will affect LSERS' main telephone numbers and staff numbers.  The estimated time to repair has not been determined. When the service has been restored, there will be additional communication provided. 

Please allow up to 3 weeks for delivery.
Call LSERS at 225.925.6484 or  toll  free (outside the Baton Rouge area) at 1.800.256.3718 or e-mail us at webmaster@lsers.net if you:

·       Have not received your 1099-R by February 14, 2013
·       Need to request a duplicate copy
·       Need to report an error

We suggest contacting your tax advisor on any questions regarding the information on your 1099-R.

Reminder: LSERS retirement benefits are not subject to Louisiana state income taxes for residents filing a Louisiana income tax form.

Explanation of amounts reflected on the 1099-R form (see below):

Box 1 Gross Distribution - Total amount you received in the 2012 calendar year

Box 2a Taxable money you should report on your income tax return

Box 4 Federal tax withheld from your retirement benefit

Box 5  Tax-free portion of retirement benefits you received during the calendar year. This is NOT the amount of your insurance premium. It represents unsheltered contributions withheld from your salary before 7-1-1994 that had already been taxed. This amount is the difference between the Gross distribution in Box 1 and the Taxable amount in Box 2a. If you have no amount in Box 5 - you have no tax-free benefits.

Note: Disability retirees will not have tax-free benefits reflected in Box 5 until they reach their normal retirement eligibility age.

 

Due to the approach and potential impact of Hurricane Isaac, all state government offices in the Baton Rouge area, including this office, will be closed Tuesday, August 28th and Wednesday, August 29th as declared by the Governor.  September payroll checks to retirees and beneficiaries will be mailed on Wednesday, August 29th and electronic payments will be transmitted to banks on Friday, August 31st.  

Louisiana School Employees' Retirement System (LSERS) releases answers  to questions about  RFP  for redesign of internal application system.

2012 Answers to Proposers Questions
Request for Proposals Site
 

Louisiana School Employees' Retirement System (LSERS) is seeking software application contractor to develop web-based software application from its architectural document for total redesign of its internal application system.  Must meet all minimum requirements outlined in Request for Proposal (RFP).  Click here for additional information on Items and Phases.  Architectural document referenced in RFP can only be viewed onsite during official business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CDT at the office of LSERS, 8660 United Plaza Blvd., Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70809-7004.

Deadlines:
Sunday, July 15, 2012 - receipt of proposers' inquiries and questions about RFP
Tuesday, July 31, 2012 - submission of proposals

Contact:   Jack Allen, LSERS IT Director, at jallen@lsers.net for
   1)  proposer inquiries and questions about RFP
   2)  scheduling time to review architectural document 

LSERS is excited to announce its redesigned LSERSWeb portal for members and employers!
  -   Members can review their retirement account and update their personal
      information.  
  -   Employers can view their employees' retirement information, and, based on  
      access, can complete enrollments, terminations, and update personal
      information.  Eliminates manual completion of Forms 2, 2AC, or 4T, saving time
      and postage!

Training for this new portal is highly recommended, as the redesigned LSERSWeb is scheduled to launch on Wednesday, June 27^th.  A webinar will be presented in 2 different sessions beginning this afternoon - see below for more information and quick links to the webinar registration. 

We encourage our employers, as well as our membership, to attend one of these sessions.  Please join us for this exciting event by clicking on one of the links below that best fits your schedule.

Step-by-step procedures to guide you through the registration process will be posted on the Members and Employers  pages on LSERS website.

Soon after these training sessions are complete, the presentation material will be uploaded to our website for you to view at anytime.

Date                               Title                                                 Target Audience

Wednesday, June 27     LSERSWeb–Employer Access        Reporting Agencies/Members

Thursday, June 28

To register for a session, click on the registration link below for the session that best fits your schedule:

Once registered you will receive an email confirming your registration with information you need to join the Webinar.

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server

Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer

 

The 2012 Legislative Session ended on June 4th.  The bill to abolish LSERS was never brought to a vote on the House floor, so LSERS will continue striving for excellence in customer service to the membership.  There were no changes affecting current members' benefits or eligibilities for retirement.  However, new members hired on or after July 1, 2013 may elect participation in a cash balance plan.  Also, a forfeiture bill was passed affecting members who are convicted of a public corruption crime on or after January 1, 2013.  Click here for more details on these new laws and others passed during the 2012 legislation.
 

The seat on the Group Benefits Policy and Planning Board representing retired teachers and other retired school employees is up for election this year for the remaining two years of a six-year term of office through June 30, 2014.  Click here for more information.  

The Public Retirement Systems' Actuarial Committee (PRSAC) approved an employer contribution rate of 30.8% for the Louisiana School Employees' Retirement System (LSERS) for the fiscal year 2012-13 effective July 1, 2012.

The member contribution rate for 2012-13 will remain at 7.5% for members hired before July 1, 2010 and 8% for new members with first state service on or after July 1, 2010.  Click here for copy of signed memo to Superintendents, Directors, Business Managers, Human Resource Directors, and IT Directors of all LSERS Employing Agencies.

If you have any questions, please contact Carolyn Forbes, LSERS Assistant Director, at 225.925.6490 or via email at cforbes@lsers.net.
 

Louisiana School Employees’ Retirement System (LSERS) is seeking a highly qualified Chief Investment Officer (CIO) to oversee the systems’ $1.4 billion investment portfolio.

The CIO will be responsible for communicating with the Executive Director and Board of Trustees on issues affecting policies, asset allocation, performance, trading practices, benchmarks, peer group comparisons, and new investment opportunities and styles.  The CIO will operate as a liaison between the Retirement System and all investment professionals and direct the Request for Proposals (RFP) process to select investment managers and investment consultants.

Qualified applicants must have a bachelor's degree in business administration, finance, economics, or related field.  Qualified applicants must also have significant experience in institutional investment management with exposure to several major asset classes.  CFA designation and/or MBA is preferred, but not required.  The applicant must possess strong critical thinking, communication and interpersonal skills with in-depth understanding of investment management, investment analysis and financial market theory.  Minimum of 5 years of responsible investment-related professional experience, preferably in public sector pension administration, retirement administration or investment consulting.

Anticipated salary range is $80,000 to $91,500 commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Interested and qualified individuals should submit a letter of application, resume, and two letters of reference no later than Friday, February 10, 2012.

For further information:

Phone:  225.925.1801
E-Mail: agreen@lsers.net
Fax: 225.922.0350
Mail:
Louisiana School Employees’ Retirement System
Human Resources Department
Post Office Box 44516
Baton Rouge, Louisiana  70804-4516
Hand Delivery (office hours M-F  7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.):
8660 United Plaza Blvd.,First Floor
Baton Rouge, LA  70809-7004

 

Governor Jindal announced on Wednesday, January 25, 2012, that he intends to ask the legislature to merge Louisiana School Employees' Retirement System (LSERS) into Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL). For more information click on FACT SHEET:  Gov. Jindal's Pension Reform Plan to Keep Our Promise to State Workers, Protect Critical Services, & Save Taxpayer Dollars.  Please contact Warren Ponder, LSERS Executive Counsel, at 225.925.6560 or 1.800.256.3718 (if outside the Baton Rouge area) or e-mail to wponder@lsers.net if you have any questions.  

Please allow up to 3 weeks for delivery.

Call LSERS at 225.925.6484 or toll free (outside the Baton Rouge area) at 1.800.256.3718 or e-mail us at webmaster@lsers.net if you:

• have not received your 1099-R by February 13, 2012
• need to request a duplicate copy
• need to report an error

We suggest contacting your tax advisor on any questions regarding information on your 1099-R.

Reminder:  LSERS retirement contributions are not taxable to residents filing a Louisiana Income Tax form.

See page 2 of the December 2011 issue of LSERS Crossroads Newsletter for a detailed explanation of amounts reflected on the 1099-R 

The LSERS Board of Trustees approved the proposed employer contribution rate of 30.80% for the FY 2012-13 as recommended by the Board Actuary.  This rate will go before the Public Retirement Systems’ Actuarial Committee (PRSAC) in early 2012 for final approval.  LSERS will notify all employers of the final approval after the PRSAC meeting. 

LSERS is requesting proposals from SOFTWARE APPLICATION DEVELOPING CONTRACTORS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ARCHITECTURAL DOCUMENT FOR THE REDESIGN OF OUR INTERNAL APPLICATION SYSTEM.  Proposing software application developing contractor should have adequate financial resources for performance and the resources to complete the project successfully. Provide the ability to comply with proposed delivery and performance schedule with a satisfactory record of integrity, judgment, and performance. Contractors submitting proposals should be qualified and eligible to receive an award under applicable laws and regulations. View iSeries RFP for more information.

AD Issue Responses to Proposer Inquiries