KPERS & Social Security Won't Be Enough.
Having additional savings gives you some cushion to pay monthly expenses and for the occasional "surprise." And it helps you fight inflation. The price of just about everything goes up from year to year. Think how expensive it will be in 30 years.
And the sooner you start, the more time your money has to grow. That can pay off big in retirement thanks to the power of compound interest.
Where to Save
One of the easiest ways to save is through an optional employer plan, like a 457 or 403b. Check with Human Resources at your employer for options where you work. You could also consider opening your own individual retirement account (IRA) if that works better for you.
It doesn't really matter where you save, as long as you are savings. Your future self will thank you!
The Easy Option
All State agencies and many local employers offer KPERS 457, an optional deferred compensation plan. With KPERS 457, you choose how much to save and can get started with as little as $12 a paycheck. All State employees can participate. If you work for a local employer like a county or city, see if your employer offers KPERS 457 (PDF).
Basic Info
You'll your enter name, date of birth and Social Security number.
Email Address
You can use any email address.
It'll be your login ID.
You can change it anytime in your account.
Password
Password must contain:
- 12+ characters
- At least 3 of the 4: uppercase letter, lowercase letter, number, special character
Image & Phrase
Select an image and enter a phrase. This will display each time you login.
Security Questions
You'll pick 3 security questions in case you forget your password.
In Your Account
- See membership info like your balance and service
- Add or change beneficiaries
- Get a personalized retirement benefit estimate
- See your annual statement
- Update your contact info
KPERS is a prefunded system (not like Social Security). The Trust Fund is made up of contributions from members and employers, plus investment income over time. Funds are invested now to pay benefits down the road.
Most members have heard news coverage about KPERS’ long-term funding shortfall. The not-so-good news is KPERS does have a long-term funding shortfall. The great news is we’ve made progress! KPERS is on the right path and headed in the right direction.
Check out our Funding page for a high-level snapshot of KPERS' current funding status.
For a deeper dive, click here to watch a recording of our "KPERS Funding Basics" webinar. Link opens in a new window.
