Planning for Retirement
Retirement season has arrived for ATRS and its members. This is a special time of the year for ATRS. For some, this is the season to retire and for others to move from being an active member to T-DROP participant. It is an honor and great privilege to help members cross the finish line into retirement and T-DROP. We understand the retirement applicants' tears of joy and sometimes the tears of sadness that may flow together as retirement moves from a dream into a reality. Always remember that every ATRS retiree always receives a lifetime monthly retirement benefit!
The goal of the ATRS Board and ATRS staff is to help in every way possible to make this special journey into retirement and T-DROP a happy and pleasant experience for you! We are here for one reason, to serve you. If this is the year that you plan to retire or enter T-DROP, please know that we look forward to helping you. If you are uncertain if this is the year for retirement or T-DROP, then the ATRS staff also welcomes you to get counseling and estimates to see on a comparative basis how staying a little longer may help build your retirement income. One suggestion in the attachments is for you to pause and reflect if you are considering retiring but remain uncertain. ATRS staff will be available to counsel members, help with applications, provide projections, and accept applications. For all your questions, contact our Call Center at 501-682-1517.
We have attached a 2023 Retirement Planner that provides important information about retirement. Also attached is a copy of the notice that ATRS sends to ATRS employers about retirement.
May 31st is the deadline to file an application to become a July 1st retiree or a 2023 T-DROP participant.
ATRS Employers: Please forward this executive director update email to all employees. ATRS wants to get this planner to as many ATRS members as possible.
If you are considering retiring or entering T-DROP, then ATRS is here to help you with the process and make it as easy as possible. Starting early can help get you through the process more smoothly and with less stress. ATRS thanks you for your dedicated service to the schools and children of Arkansas. ATRS is now ready to help you on your retirement or T-DROP path, just as you have helped the children of Arkansas on their educational path during your career in public education.
You can find additional information in the Retirement and T-DROP frequently asked questions located on the ATRS Frequently Asked Questions web page.
List of Attachments:
1. Employer Memo
2. Retirement Planner
Stay in Touch with ATRS and View YOUR Account Information
The ATRS website allows members to have direct access to their account information and sign up to receive our executive director updates. Member account information can be accessed 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. Executive director updates are emailed periodically throughout the year to help keep members up-to-date on issues from retirement, to legislative updates that may affect ATRS, and any other time when information needs to be shared.
Join over 30,000 ATRS members who have registered for account access and updates by visiting us at: www.artrs.gov/registration. There you can join the mailing list for executive director updates and register to gain access to your member information.
ATRS is always striving to keep its members, employers, beneficiaries, government officials, and the public informed. It is always a great pleasure for ATRS to learn of more ways to provide information to ATRS members. If you have any suggestions on how we can improve our communication you may e-mail them to info@artrs.gov for consideration.
As always, ATRS and its board are committed to providing a system that is member friendly and transparent. Remember that ATRS is here to serve you.
Kind regards,
ATRS Staff