National Institute on Retirement Security

What National Institute on Retirement Security does

The National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS) is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit research and education organization founded in 2007, operating as the leading national nonprofit focused specifically on defined benefit pension research and retirement security policy. Its core products are research outputs (66 Reports, 31 Issue Briefs, 5 Fact Sheets, and 2 Podcasts totaling 104 items), a monthly podcast series launched in 2026, a recurring webinar program, and an annual Retirement Policy Conference held in Washington, D.C. The organization also conducts biennial nationwide public opinion polling on retirement attitudes through a longstanding partnership with Greenwald Research, producing longitudinal data dating back to 2009.

NIRS generates revenue primarily through tiered annual membership dues from a cross-sector member base that includes public pension plans, financial services firms, labor organizations, and nonprofits. Membership tiers (Educational Sustainer, Associate Member, Director Circle, and Visionary Circle) are priced based on operating budget or assets under management, with named Visionary Circle members including CalPERS, CalSTRS, BlackRock, Aon, Segal, and AARP. In 2025, 8 of the 10 largest US pension funds and 22 leading retirement service providers supported NIRS, with member retirement systems managing over $4.3 trillion in assets and NIRS reporting a 98% annual member retention rate.

The organization distributes research through a multi-channel stack including its website (nirsonline.org), a monthly email newsletter, social media (LinkedIn, Facebook, X, Bluesky), a YouTube channel, podcast platforms, PR Newswire, and in-person convenings. Notable collaborations include bipartisan work with the National Academy of Social Insurance, AARP, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on the 2024 'Social Security at 90' report, and ongoing research partnerships with Aon on the Pensionomics series and with Stevens Institute of Technology on generational retirement analyses.

Name

National Institute on Retirement Security

Legal name

National Institute on Retirement Security

Website

https://nirsonline.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The National Institute on Retirement Security is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit founded in 2007 that produces nonpartisan research, biennial public opinion polling, and educational programs on retirement security, with a primary focus on defined benefit pensions and Social Security, funded by tiered membership dues from public pension funds, financial services firms, labor organizations, and nonprofits.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retirement Policy Research

NAICS

Pension Funds (525110), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Retirement Plan Advisory RIAs (ERISA 401(k)/403(b)) (FSAAACAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Employer Retirement Plan Advisory (401(k)/Pension) (FSAEABAE)

Keywords

• Retirement policy research
• Pension research
• Retirement security analysis
• Nonprofit think tank
• Public opinion polling

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: NIRS generates revenue primarily through annual membership dues from a diverse membership base including public pension plans, financial services firms, employee benefit plans, trade associations, and retirement service providers. Membership tiers include Educational Sustainer, Associate Member, Director Circle, and Visionary Circle, with dues based on organization size or assets under management.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

NIRS is a nonprofit research and education organization that produces high-quality, nonpartisan research and public opinion polling on retirement security in the United States, with a particular focus on defined benefit pension plans, Social Security, and retirement preparedness. The organization publishes research reports, issue briefs, fact sheets, and podcasts, conducts biennial nationwide polling, and operates a tiered membership program (Educational Sustainer, Associate Member, Director Circle, Visionary Circle) that provides access to research, webinars, an annual policy conference, and networking with pension plans, financial services firms, labor organizations, and policymakers.

Product overview

NIRS is a nonprofit research organization offering a portfolio of research products and educational programs focused on retirement security. The core offerings include the 'Retirement in America' podcast series, research reports and analysis (Reports, Issue Briefs, Fact Sheets), webinars, and membership programs with tiered benefits. Major programs include the Annual Retirement Policy Conference and Visionary Circle Meeting. The organization also accepts individual donations. The portfolio is organized around topics including Retirement in America, Social Security, Pensions, Defined Contribution Plans, Public Employees & Worker Retention, Long-Term Care, Generations, and Public Opinion Research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Research Reports and Analysis High-quality, nonpartisan retirement research reports including Pensionomics (measuring economic impact of pension spending), Generation X retirement studies, retirement preparedness analyses, issue briefs, fact sheets, and policy briefs. Topics include Retirement in America, Social Security, Pensions, Defined Contribution Plans, Public Employees & Worker Retention, Long-Term Care, Generations, and Public Opinion Research. Research is freely available on the NIRS website and provided in full to members.
• Retirement in America Podcast A monthly podcast series exploring challenges, ideas, and solutions shaping retirement security in the United States through conversations with policymakers, economists, retirement experts, advocates, and everyday Americans. Distributed on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.
• Webinars Virtual sessions throughout the year featuring new research findings and expert insights on key retirement issues, fostering dialogue among policymakers, researchers, industry leaders, and the public. Webinars are typically open to both NIRS members and the public.
• Annual Retirement Policy Conference Flagship annual policy conference held in Washington, D.C. bringing together policymakers, researchers, experts, industry leaders, and stakeholders to examine trends, challenges, and solutions shaping retirement security through keynotes, panels, and networking.
• NIRS Membership Program Membership program with four tiers (Educational Sustainer, Associate Member, Director Circle, Visionary Circle) offering benefits including conference access, research reports, webinars, networking opportunities, and for Visionary Circle members an exclusive annual meeting with research agenda input. Dues are based on organization type and size, with annual billing.
• Visionary Circle Meeting Exclusive annual gathering for Visionary Circle members offering engagement with retirement thought leaders, networking, and input on NIRS research agenda.
• Donations Program Individual donations accepted from individuals who want to support NIRS's ongoing work of providing reliable research and sensible solutions regarding retirement challenges.

Quantifiable outcome

• 79% of Americans agree the nation faces a retirement crisis
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and supporting.

• AonmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025NIRS partnered with Aon to produce the report 'Evolution and Growth: How Public Pension Plans Have Diversified Their Investments Amid Changing Markets' and the annual Pensionomics report measuring the economic impact of defined benefit pension expenditures.
• National Academy of Social InsurancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 January 2024NIRS collaborated with the National Academy of Social Insurance, AARP, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to produce the report 'Social Security at 90: A Bipartisan Roadmap for the Program's Future.' This partnership brought together diverse stakeholders to examine Americans' views of retirement and Social Security policy options.
• U.S. Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 January 2024NIRS partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Academy of Social Insurance, and AARP on the Social Security at 90 report, representing a rare bipartisan collaboration between business and labor-affiliated organizations.
• AARPcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 January 2024NIRS collaborates with AARP on multiple research initiatives including the Social Security at 90 report. AARP's Chief Public Policy Officer Debra Whitman appeared as the first guest on NIRS's Retirement in America podcast, highlighting the ongoing partnership between the organizations.
• Greenwald ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009NIRS has conducted nationwide public opinion polling with Greenwald Research (formerly known by another name) every two years since 2009. This ongoing partnership provides longitudinal data on Americans' views of retirement, pensions, Social Security, and related topics.
• Stevens Institute of TechnologysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNIRS collaborated with Stevens Institute of Technology associate professor Joelle Saad-Lessler on research reports including 'The Forgotten Generation: Generation X Approaches Retirement' and 'Retirement in America: An Analysis of Retirement Preparedness Among Working-Age Americans.'

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI): EBRI is a nonprofit research organization focused on employee benefit programs including retirement, health, and economic security. It is the closest direct peer to NIRS — both produce independent research used by policymakers, plan sponsors, and the financial services industry on retirement and benefit issues.
• National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI): NASI is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that conducts research and education on Social Security, Medicare, and other social insurance programs. A direct peer of NIRS — the two have even co-authored major reports (e.g., "Social Security at 90"), and both serve as authoritative research sources for retirement and Social Security policy.
• CRR — Boston College Center for Retirement Research: The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College is a leading university-affiliated research center focused on retirement policy. A close peer of NIRS — both produce independent, widely-cited research on Social Security, pensions, and retirement savings that informs federal and state policymakers.
• Pension Research Council (Wharton): Affiliated with the Wharton School, the Pension Research Council produces academic research on pensions, retirement security, and aging. Comparable to NIRS in its defined-benefit pension research focus, but operating from an academic setting rather than as a standalone nonprofit.

Broad incumbents

• National Institute on Aging (NIA): NIA is a federal agency that funds and conducts research on aging, including retirement-related economic and health security topics. Comparable to NIRS in producing research that informs retirement policy, but operating as a much larger government entity with a broader aging-focused mandate.
• Urban Institute — Retirement Policy Program: The Urban Institute conducts rigorous economic and social policy research, including a long-running retirement policy program. Comparable to NIRS in producing data-driven retirement research (and notably the source of NIRS's new Director of Research), but as a much larger general-purpose think tank with a broader research portfolio.
• AARP Public Policy Institute: AARP's Public Policy Institute conducts and publishes research on retirement security, Social Security, and economic issues affecting older Americans. Comparable to NIRS in retirement policy research, but operates as the policy arm of a much larger consumer membership organization.

Others

• National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems (NCPERS): NCPERS is a trade association for public pension funds that conducts research, advocacy, and education on public retirement systems. Related to NIRS — NCPERS's executive director sits on NIRS's board — and partially overlapping in audience, but operating as a member-driven association rather than as a dedicated research nonprofit.
• National Council on Teacher Retirement (NCTR): NCTR is a professional association for public teacher retirement systems. It is closely connected to NIRS — its executive director serves on NIRS's board — but operates as a trade association for teacher pension plans rather than as a research and education nonprofit. Related as part of the broader retirement policy ecosystem.

Emerging players

• American Academy of Actuaries: The American Academy of Actuaries is a professional association that produces public policy analysis on retirement, pensions, Social Security, and insurance. Comparable to NIRS in producing policy-relevant retirement research, but operates as a professional membership body for actuaries rather than as a dedicated retirement-focused nonprofit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NIRSonline
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/MyNIRS
• Facebookfacebook.com/timeline
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-institute-on-retirement-security

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Institute on Retirement Security