ETF Welcomes New Leadership Team
 From left: ETF Secretary Diana Felsmann, Deputy Secretary Matt Stohr, and incoming Assistant Deputy Secretary Tarna Hunter.
The Department of Employee Trust Funds welcomes a new executive team with recent appointments of the agency’s Secretary, Deputy Secretary, and Assistant Deputy Secretary.
Related: About ETF | Five Boards of Trustees Governing ETF
Back to Top
Improved Retirement Estimate Request Form
 The online form, which can be accessed using the secure My Benefits portal, now automatically adjusts data based on your specific responses and situation, helping eliminate errors that can cause form rejections or processing delays.
Related: Applying for Retirement | My Benefits Portal | Help Page
The Teachers Retirement Board currently seeks teachers working for a WRS-covered school district (except Milwaukee) to fill two vacant seats. The seat terms are for five years and take effect May 1, 2027.
Related: What is the Teachers Retirement Board?
October brings together two important reminders: National Retirement Security Month and Cybersecurity Awareness Month. National Retirement Security Month encourages retirement planning even for those already retired, while Cybersecurity Awareness Month highlights everyday actions that can help reduce online risk.
|
ETF offers in-person group retirement appointments across Wisconsin. Check out the cities where our benefits specialists will be visiting starting next month. Coming soon: Group retirement appointments at ETF's headquarters in Madison will be back after a hiatus. Stay tuned for updates.
Related: Subscribe to "ETF E-mail Updates"
For employees with Wisconsin Deferred Compensation Program (WDC) accounts, meeting with your local WDC Retirement Plan Advisor can help you better understand your options. These complimentary one-on-one conversations can be virtual, by phone, or in-person.
|
Related: About the Wisconsin Deferred Compensation Program (WDC)
Explore your retirement, insurance, and other ETF-administered benefits. For more detailed information about your benefits, see your employer.
Related: Benefits Available to Me | My Benefits Portal | Webinar Topics | Calculators | Videos | Events
Back to Top
Open Enrollment on Oct. 5-30, 2026
 Watch this short video for a brief overview of what's changing in your health insurance next year, and get ready for open enrollment.
Related: What's Changing? | Plan Design and Cost-sharing Changes | Reasons for Health Premium Changes
During the open enrollment period next month, all state and local employees will enroll or change insurance benefits online using the My Insurance Benefits system in ETF's secure My Benefits portal. Plan ahead, as logging in requires a MyWisconsin ID.
Related: About MyWisconsin ID
When seeking out-of-network emergency or urgent care, notify your health plan or vendor to ensure your claims will be processed correctly.
For questions on appealing a claim or prior authorization denial, contact ETF’s Ombudsperson Services. They are a neutral party while helping with your benefit concerns.
|
Group Health Insurance Program subscribers and spouses, including Medicare Advantage members, can earn a $150 prepaid card by completing the health assessment, health check, and any well-being activity by Oct. 16. Well Wisconsin offers resources to help improve your health and well-being.
Related: Well Wisconsin Diabetes Programs (Video)
Back to Top
Hunting for Alpha: Inside SWIB's Beta One Portfolio
 This new SWIB Podcast episode offers a closer look at SWIB's Beta One portfolio and explains the difference between “alpha” and “beta,” how SWIB identifies skilled external investment managers, and why active management can create additional value for the WRS.
SWIB’s private credit portfolio represents approximately 4% of the Core Fund and is diversified across industries, geographies, investment managers, and thousands of underlying companies.
Related: SWIB Podcast on Private Credit Investments
While active investment strategies remain a significant part of the WRS portfolios, another key tool is the passive index fund, which plays an important role in diversification.
Related: SWIB's Investment Strategy
SWIB Portfolio Manager Kirk Wolff was selected as part of Institutional Investor’s Alpha Edge Recognition program. Meanwhile, SWIB's 2025 Retirement Funds Annual Report and the 2025 Schedule of Investments are now available online.
Related: SWIB Newsroom
Back to Top
Featured WRS Member: Ben Rouleau
 “Working at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, I resonate with the department's mission: ‘To provide leadership in the development and operation of a safe and efficient transportation system.’ Being able to tell people that I help make Wisconsin's infrastructure safer and more efficient always makes my day.”
Ben Rouleau
Program Development and Analysis
Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Share your personal journey in public service, and you might be featured in the next issues of WRS News Online and other ETF publications.
Back to Top
|
