 Molly Spitler lives with purpose.
The 70-year-old Erie resident beams about helping others and engaging with people.
She retired early at age 54 after 30 years with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) as an eligibility specialist.
She then worked as a senior resource advocate with AgeWays’ Monroe County Opportunity Program before retiring again in December 2025.
Molly enjoys time with her grandson and daughter’s family, line dancing, and quilting.
She’s volunteered for 14 years as a Medicaid/Medicare counselor in MDHHS’ MI Options program and is active with St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Temperance.
“I was able to take care of myself and find something very flexible,” Molly said of her state retirement benefits. “I’m enjoying where I’m at.”
Learn more about volunteering in the MI Options program by emailing MDHHS-MIOPTIONS@Michigan.gov.
As of Sept. 30, 2025, the retirement system had $2.6 billion in assets for pension benefits and other post‑employment benefits (OPEB). OPEB includes things like retiree health insurance. The retirement system expected to need $3.7 billion to pay future costs, which created an unfunded liability of $1.1 billion. An unfunded liability is the amount a plan expects to pay in the future, minus the amount it has saved right now.
Under the dedicated gains policy, extra investment earnings must be used to strengthen the plan. In 2025, those extra earnings were used to lower the OPEB assumed rate of return (AROR) from 6.05% to 6.00%. The pension plan AROR stayed at 6.00%.
In fiscal year 2025, the plan’s assets grew by $118.9 million. This increase came mainly from employer and employee contributions and strong investment returns. The amount the plan expects to pay in the future increased by $77.7 million.
The pension funding ratio increased by 1.70 percentage points, and the OPEB funding ratio improved by 2.30 percentage points. A funding ratio compares how much money the plan has saved to how much it needs for future benefits. These increases were due to contributions from employers and employees and good investment results.
Statement of assets and liabilities
FY 2025
|
Pension
|
OPEB
|
|
Actuarial accrued liability
|
$2,876,557,756
|
$811,094,769
|
|
Present value of assets
|
$2,104,390,398
|
$518,923,086
|
|
Unfunded actuarial accrued liability
|
$772,167,358
|
$292,171,683
|
|
Funding ratio
|
73.2%
|
64.0%
|
FY 2024
|
Pension
|
OPEB
|
|
Actuarial accrued liability
|
$2,825,876,918
|
$784,107,109
|
|
Present value of assets
|
$2,020,527,831
|
$483,901,175
|
|
Unfunded actuarial accrued liability
|
$805,349,087
|
$300,205,934
|
|
Funding ratio
|
71.5%
|
61.7%
|
As the year comes to a close, it’s a good time to make sure you’re prepared before the busyness of the holiday season starts. A few quick check-ins can help you stay on top of your benefits. Here are three simple things to do before Dec. 31.
- Review your insurance coverage for the next year. Look over your health, dental, vision, and prescription plans to make sure they still fit your needs.
- Check your contact information in miAccount. Confirm that your physical and email addresses are up to date so you keep getting important ORS updates and tax documents.
- Take a moment to plan for tax season. Review your pension payment history and withholdings in miAccount to see if you want to make changes.
Spending a few minutes now can make the start of the next year much easier. ORS is here to support you every step of the way.
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