Pension Terms and Definitions

Public pensions
State public pension plans
Pension health by state
Pensions on the ballot
Terms and definitions

This article does not receive scheduled updates. Please contact us with any updates.

Voting on Local Pensions
Local Ballot Measures
By state
By year
Hotspots Reports
Most recent edition
Original Case study
San Jose & San Diego
State-wide Measures

Terms and definitions

• Cost of living adjustment
• Defined Contribution Plan
• Defined Benefit Plan
• Double dipping
• Employee contribution
• Employer contribution
• Fully funded retirement plan
• Investment return
• Liabilities
• Assets
• Pension fund
• Pension spiking
• Unfunded liabilities
• Vested rights
• 3% at Fifty Pension Plan
• 13th Check

Key players and organizations

• Paul Jacob
• Liberty Initiative Fund
• Laura and John Arnold Foundation
• Pew Research Center
• State Budget Solutions

Officials

• Chuck Reed, Mayor of San Jose

See also

• Glossary of pension terms

Measures

• Local pensions on the ballot

Reports and studies

• Pension Hotspots reports
• Original case study on San Jose and San Diego pension reform

Ballotpedia

About

Overview • What people are saying • Support Ballotpedia • Contact • Contribute • Job opportunities

---

Executive: Leslie Graves, Founder and CEO • Gwen Beattie, Chief Operating Officer

Communications: Alison Graves, Director of Communications • Carley Allensworth • Abigail Campbell • Frank Festa • Sarah Groat • Nathaniel Harwood • Dillon Redmond
External Relations: Geoff Pallay, Director of External Relations • Ken Carbullido, Vice President of Election Product and Technology Strategy • Ashley Fleming • Thomas Mardik • Hannah Nelson
Operations: Meghann Olshefski, Director of Operations • Amanda Herbert • Mandy Morris • Caroline Presnell • Kelly Rindfleisch
Tech: Matt Latourelle, Director of Technology Operations • Ryan Burch • Kirsten Corrao • Beth Dellea • Travis Eden • Tate Kamish • Margaret Kearney • Eric Lotto • Joseph Sanchez • Mary Susmitha

Contributors: Scott Rasmussen

---

Editorial Content

Josh Altic, Director of Content • Daniel Anderson, Associate Director of Elections & Data • Cory Eucalitto, Associate Director of Features • Ryan Byrne, Managing Editor of Ballot Measures • Mandy McConnell, Managing Editor of News • Doug Kronaizl, Managing Editor of Local Expansion • Abbey Smith, Managing Editor of Elections • Janie Valentine, Managing Editor of Law • Joel Williams. Managing Editor of Events • Andrew Bahl • Jaclyn Beran • Marielle Bricker • Joseph Brusgard • Emma Burlingame • Kelly Coyle • Jon Dunn • Thomas Ellis • Nicole Fisher • Joseph Greaney • Thomas Grobben • Brianna Hosea • Molly Kehoe • Tyler King • Glorie Martinez • Norm Leahy, Senior Editor • Nathan Maxwell • Jimmy McAllister • Brandon McCauley • Ellie Mikus • Ellen Morrissey • Mackenzie Murphy • Kaley Platek • Samantha Post • Adam Powell • Annelise Reinwald • Ethan Rice • Spencer Richardson • Victoria Rose • Briana Ryan • Myj Saintyl • Maddy Salucka • Emma Soukup • Alexis Thacker • Mina Vogel • Samuel Wonacott • Trenton Woodcox