As we look back on the past year, we are grateful for the opportunity to serve Missouri’s local government employees, retirees, and employers. Together, 2025 was a year of steady progress, thoughtful decision-making, and continued focus on what matters most: providing reliable retirement benefits and strong support for the communities you serve.
Strong Leadership and Sound Governance
Effective governance remains the foundation of everything we do. Throughout the year, the LAGERS Board of Trustees met regularly to guide policy decisions, oversee system operations, and safeguard the long-term health of the retirement system. Notably, the board began the system’s five-year experience study, which helps evaluate the appropriateness of LAGERS’ actuarial assumptions. This is one of many proactive steps the board takes to ensure long-term financial stability for the system. Because of LAGERS’ strong governance and financial stability, the board also was able to approve a cost-of-living increase (COLA) for retirees in 2025. LAGERS’ COLA remains one of the best in the county, helping ensure our retirees can maintain purchasing power throughout retirement.
Honoring the People Who Serve Our Communities
One of the most meaningful moments of the year was the opportunity to recognize exceptional service in local government. During the Annual Meeting, LAGERS presented the Local Government Hero Award to Andrè Williams of Macon, honoring his dedication to his community and his commitment to public service. Stories like Andrè’s reflect the values that define local government work and serve as a reminder of the individuals behind every LAGERS benefit.
Excellence Recognized at the National Level
In 2025, LAGERS received the Public Pension Standards Award for Funding and Administration from the Public Pension Coordinating Council and a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA). These national recognitions highlight our adherence to best practices in pension funding, administration, financial reporting and fiduciary oversight. While recognition is never the goal, it affirms the careful stewardship and professionalism our team brings to serving members and employers each day.
Enhancing the Member Experience
Throughout the year, we continued to focus on improving how members and retirees interact with LAGERS. Enhancements to online tools, continued education efforts, and responsive customer service all help ensure information about your benefit is easy to access and understand. Of note, a new enhancement to myLAGERS accounts now allows retirees to set up or update direct deposit information online. Previously, this process required completing a paper form and visiting a bank in person. We remain committed to listening, improving, and finding new ways to enhance our members experience with LAGERS!
Looking Ahead
As we move into the year ahead, our priorities remain firmly rooted in our mission of protecting the long-term security of retirement benefits, supporting employers with reliable, sustainable plan options, maintaining strong governance and operational excellence, and continuing to serve as responsible stewards of your retirement.
We are grateful for the opportunity to serve Missouri’s local government community and proud of what we have accomplished together. Thank you for your dedication to public service and for your continued engagement with LAGERS. We look forward to another year of progress, collaboration, and shared purpose.
