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By John Voelker, ETF Secretary
It is very gratifying to witness the growth and progress of ETF. On a professional level, I took some time over the holidays to pause and reflect on the future of ETF.
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By Edwin Denson, SWIB Executive Director/Chief Investment Officer
This year marks SWIB's 75th anniversary. Over the years, SWIB has grown to become one of the nation's premier public investment organizations.
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ETF Projects Increase in Employees' Effective Rates
 Employees' WRS account balances are expected to further grow this year, as ETF projects a continued increase in the effective rates for the Core Fund and Variable Fund due to strong preliminary investment returns last year.
Related: Effective Rates Explained (Video) | Annual Statement of Benefits Available in April
By Tarna Hunter, ETF Budget and Management Director
Legislative bills being monitored by ETF include those seeking to create ETF's independent Office of Internal Audit, as well as other return-to-work proposals.
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Total WRS participants reached 703,515 in 2024, per the latest Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR). The report recently received an unmodified (“clean”) audit opinion from the Legislative Audit Bureau.
Connect with Well Wisconsin in 2026
 What will support your well-being this year? With Well Wisconsin, you can take advantage of a wide range of engaging programs and resources, including challenges, workshops, virtual fitness classes, and special events.
Related: Earn a $150 prepaid card | Well Wisconsin 2026 Calendar
Take time to understand your different plans (health, pharmacy, supplemental) and benefits under the Group Health Insurance Program.
My Insurance Benefits, an online application for securely managing ETF-administered insurance benefits, will soon be rolled out to active employees. It was first successfully launched with the Universities of Wisconsin.
Each year, recipients of disability benefits must submit required forms to prevent benefits suspension. Know these requirements and due dates.
Things to Know About Designating Your
WRS Account Beneficiaries
 Did you know that your will does not constitute a WRS beneficiary designation, and your WRS beneficiary does not automatically change with life events like the birth of a child or divorce?
Related: Designate a Beneficiary | Beneficiary Designations (Video)
2026 is the fifth year in a row that Income Continuation Insurance (ICI) premiums have decreased. State employees who did not initially enroll have two options for enrollment.
The Wisconsin Deferred Compensation Program (WDC) offers free webinars on how to enroll in the plan. Other webinar topics cover retirement planning, and more!
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Related: What is the WDC? | Schedule a no-cost meeting
ETF is looking for people age 70 and older who have unclaimed money in their WRS account. Contact ETF if you know someone who is on the list.
Explore your retirement, insurance, and other ETF-administered benefits. For more detailed information about your benefits, see your employer.
Related: Webinar Topics | Online Calculators | Applying for Retirement | Videos | Events
What A.I. Means for the WRS and its Members
 In this two-episode podcast, SWIB experts discuss how public pension funds can embrace artificial intelligence while keeping transparency and performance front and center and helping the WRS remain fully funded.
Related: First Episode | Second Episode
The SWIB Board of Trustees recently approved reducing SWIB’s exposure to public equities, or stocks traded on global exchanges, by 2%. It also approved reducing Core Fund leverage by 2%.
Learn how SWIB's multi-year modernization effort has improved how it manages data, evaluates investments, and oversees risk—helping ensure it remains efficient, transparent, and well-positioned for the future.
WRS Member & Wisconsin Teacher of the Year
 Mark Acherman, science teacher at Darlington Elementary/Middle School, was recently honored as one of the 2026 Wisconsin Teachers of the Year.
"When I began college, I discovered that I enjoyed helping people learn and had a natural knack for working with kids. I decided to pursue a degree in teaching. More than 30 years later, those same reasons motivate me to remain a public servant. Working in public education has allowed me to make a positive impact and build strong relationships with the community I teach in.”
Share your personal journey in public service, and you might be featured in the next issues of WRS News Online and other ETF publications.
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