LASERS Investment Performance 18.8%

LASERS ended the June 30, 2014 fiscal year with an investment return of 18.8 percent. This stellar performance brings the total asset value of the System to $11 billion, the highest in the history of LASERS.

This fiscal year return places the System in the top ten among 90 other public retirement funds greater than $1 billion, according to Wilshire's Trust Universe Comparison Service (TUCS). TUCS is the most widely accepted benchmark for the performance of institutional assets and represents the largest database of any peer-comparison service in the industry.

"For the second year in a row, we have had double digit market returns," said LASERS Chief Investment Officer Bobby Beale, "and we attribute this to a well-diversified asset allocation across asset classes and geographies. Specifically this year, strong performance in the domestic and international equity markets had a definite impact on returns."

"Wilshire Associates, Inc. reported that, for the one-year period, public pensions with assets greater than $1 billion experienced a median return of 17.4 percent, so it is particularly exciting to share news of our 18.8 percent return with our members and the state as a whole," said LASERS Executive Director Cindy Rougeou. "We set the bar high because LASERS is working for Louisiana."

LASERS provides a defined benefit pension plan that covers approximately 150,000 members. LASERS pays over $1 billion in annual benefits to retirees and their beneficiaries, providing a strong and reliable economic stimulus for Louisiana.

LASERS Investment Return 14.3%

LASERS fiscal year-to-date investment return is 14.3 percent as of April 30, 2014. Based on this performance, LASERS current total plan value exceeds $10.6 billion. 

LASERS Chief Investment Officer Bobby Beale said, “LASERS five-year and 10-year annualized investment return is 14.4 percent and 8.1 percent respectively. We are pleased to see the plan perform well over these long-term time periods.” 

In the Wilshire’s Trust Universe Comparison Service (TUCS) most recent peer comparison, LASERS ranked in the top 15 percent based on 10-year returns and in the top 14 percent based on seven-year returns. The TUCS comparison is conducted among pension systems with assets exceeding $1 billion and is the most widely accepted benchmark for the performance of institutional assets. 

“LASERS has realized a $1.4 billion increase in our market value over the past two years,” said LASERS Executive Director Cindy Rougeou, “and I am proud to say that our investment team manages approximately one-third of the investments internally, saving over nine million dollars this year alone in fees.” 

LASERS provides a defined benefit pension plan that covers approximately 150,000 members. LASERS pays over $1 billion in annual benefits to retirees and their beneficiaries, providing a strong and reliable economic stimulus for Louisiana. 

For more information, please contact LASERS Public Information Director Tonja Normand at tnormand@lasersonline.org or 225.922.1131. 

LASERS Investment Return 15.8 Percent for 2013

The Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System (LASERS) realized a 15.8 percent investment return for the period January 1-December 31, 2013. This calendar year-to-date performance is based on LASERS total plan, with a current market value exceeding $10 billion. Over the past five years, LASERS has posted a 13.8 percent return.

LASERS placed in the top 20th percentile or better for long-term rankings in Wilshire's Trust Universe Comparison Service (TUCS) most recent comparison. LASERS 10-year ranking was in the eleventh percentile, maintaining the retirement system's place as one of the nation's top state pension plans. TUCS is the most widely accepted benchmark for the performance of institutional assets and represents the largest database of any peer-comparison service in the industry.

LASERS Executive Director Cindy Rougeou said, "For the past four years, we have experienced positive market returns, which is a reflection of LASERS sound investment strategies. We will continue to manage LASERS investments prudently, functioning as a long-term investor."

LASERS provides a defined benefit pension plan that covers approximately 150,000 members. LASERS pays over $1 billion in annual benefits to retirees and their beneficiaries, providing a strong and reliable economic stimulus for Louisiana. 

LASERS Posts Strong Investment Return

The Louisiana State Employees’ Retirement System (LASERS) has posted an investment return of 12.6 percent for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013, which brings the total asset value for LASERS to over $9.7 billion. 

“We are pleased to announce double digit returns for the 2012-2013 fiscal year,” said LASERS Chief Investment Officer Bobby Beale. “In addition, LASERS continues to focus on long range investment returns, which rank us in the top quartile among our peers nationwide.” LASERS highly credentialed staff internally manages approximately one-third of its portfolio, saving the System millions of dollars per year in professional management fees.

LASERS 10 year investment return is 8.2 percent. The most recent peer comparison as of June 30, 2013, places LASERS in the top 19 percent ranking over a 10 year period for public funds greater than $1 billion, according to Wilshire’s Trust Universe Comparison Service (TUCS). TUCS is the most widely accepted benchmark for the performance of institutional assets and represents the largest database of any peer-comparison service in the industry.

“Our investment performance is consistently among the best in the nation,” said LASERS Executive Director Cindy Rougeou. “We are pleased to report to our members that LASERS is continuing to move forward in a positive direction.”

LASERS Returns 14.3 Percent for Calendar Year 2012

The Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System (LASERS) generated an investment return of 14.3 percent for the period January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. The 2012 calendar year-to-date performance is based on LASERS total plan, with a current market value exceeding $9.5 billion.

In addition to being recognized as one of the top ten performing pension systems in the nation for the past decade, LASERS has been nominated for the Mid-Sized Public Plan of the Year by Institutional Investor. Institutional Investor is a leading international business to business publisher, focused primarily on international finance. For more than 30 years, they have recognized people and firms in the financial services industry for excellence.

LASERS current fiscal year-to-date return for the period July 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012 is eight percent, with a three-year average return of 10 percent. LASERS was recently recognized by Wilshire's Trust Universe Comparison Service (TUCS), as one of the top public pension systems in the United States with a market value greater than $1 billion. Statistics reveal that LASERS is in the top nine percent in both the 10-year and three-year investment return categories.

LASERS Executive Director Cindy Rougeou said, "Throughout the turmoil in the markets over the past decade, LASERS has maintained a ‘stay the course' strategy as a defined benefit plan constructed to withstand the ups and downs of the market. Our returns reflect the soundness of our investment approach, making modest adjustments over time when appropriate, and never over-reacting to any one year market return."

LASERS Posts Strong Investment Performance, Continues National Ranking

The Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System (LASERS) has posted a year-to-date investment return of 11.1 percent for the period ending September 30, 2012.

In an analysis by Wilshire's Trust Universe Comparison Service (TUCS), LASERS ranks among the top public pension systems in the United States with a market value greater than $1 billion. According to statistical data, LASERS is in the top nine percent in both the 10-year and three-year investment return categories. TUCS is the most widely accepted benchmark for the performance of institutional assets and represents the largest database of any peer-comparison service in the industry.

In addition, LASERS was recently recognized as being among the top 10 state pension plans in the United States based on an analysis of 10-year annualized investment returns by Cliffwater LLC.

LASERS Executive Director Cindy Rougeou said, "Though the market experienced significant corrections, including the Great Recession during this decade, LASERS earned a 9.0 percent annualized return for the 10-year period ended September 30, 2012. Much of our success can be attributed to a highly qualified staff, managing over 30 percent of our portfolio internally."