Welcome from Gary L. Harbin, CPA, Executive Secretary

Let me be the first to congratulate you. You are now part of an elite group: the Teachers’ Retirement System established in 1938 to provide retirement benefits for Kentucky’s educators.

The Teachers’ Retirement System of the State of Kentucky (TRS) is a statewide pension plan for the commonwealth’s educators that offers a range of services and benefits to about 130,000 active and retired members. TRS is considered one of the finest retirement systems in the nation for teachers.

Over the span of your teaching career, TRS will play a pivotal part in preparing you for the lifetime benefit you will receive when you retire. That may seem remote at this point, but TRS will be here during your teaching career with newsletters, annual statements, etc. When you receive these informational documents, please take time to look at them. They are tailored to your needs and will include information relative to your future retirement throughout your career. Also, the TRS website contains a wealth of information. Because of changes made over time by law, some benefits information on the website is specific to members or retirees who entered TRS during specified periods. For members who entered TRS on or after Jan. 1, 2022, look for the information specifically for TRS 4 members or that applies to all members regardless of account type. 

If you have any questions, the answers are just a phone call or email away. Our counseling staff and information center are trained professionally to answer your questions or concerns. So feel free to call Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, excluding holidays.

Again, I welcome you as a new member to your Teachers’ Retirement System. Every Kentuckian would be fortunate to have access to a professionally managed retirement plan such as yours at TRS.