Lasers

What Lasers does

LASERS (Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System) is a state-administered public pension system established in 1946 and headquartered in Baton Rouge. It administers 24 distinct defined benefit retirement plans covering over 150,000 active members, retirees, and beneficiaries across 353 Louisiana state agencies, providing guaranteed lifetime monthly retirement income, disability retirement, DROP (Deferred Retirement Option Plan), IBO (Initial Benefit Option), and survivor benefits. The system's largest customer is the State of Louisiana government, with membership mandated by statute for most state employees.

The technology backbone is built on web-based self-service platforms: the myLASERS member portal enables members to view service credit, monitor contributions, estimate benefits, upload documents, and submit electronic forms; the Employer Self-Service (ESS) portal allows the 353 state agencies to report contributions and manage enrollments and terminations. Contribution reporting at the employer level is handled via the SOLARIS FTP file layout system, member support is delivered through a Zendesk-powered 'Ask LASERS' helpdesk, and training is distributed through SuccessFactors. The Self-Directed Plan, a 401(a) vehicle for DROP and IBO participants, is administered by Empower as a third-party administrator, alongside the Louisiana Deferred Compensation Plan. Educational delivery runs through in-person and virtual seminars (PREP, Early-Career, DROP vs IBO, Calculating Your Benefit, Retiree Workshop) and a YouTube video library.

LASERS does not operate a commercial revenue model; it is funded by mandatory employee contributions (7.5–8% of salary for rank-and-file employees depending on hire date), employer contributions (3.11% of payroll toward normal cost plus amortization payments on the unfunded accrued liability), and investment earnings on a globally diversified portfolio. The system carries an unfunded accrued liability of approximately $5.5 billion as of June 30, 2025, against a 7.25% discount rate and a 30-year average actuarial return of approximately 7.37%. Strategic direction is shaped primarily by legislative activity, including Act 184 of 2023 (COLA funding reform) and a new COLA bill signed in May 2026, with current operations led by Executive Director Trey Boudreaux and CFO Arthur P. Fillastre IV.

Name

Lasers

Legal name

Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System

Website

https://lasersonline.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

LASERS is a Louisiana state-administered public pension system, founded in 1946, that administers 24 defined benefit retirement plans for over 150,000 active members, retirees, and beneficiaries across 353 state agencies. It is funded by mandatory employee and employer contributions plus investment earnings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Pension Administration

NAICS

Pension Funds (525110), Pharmacy Benefit Management and Other Third Party Administration of Insurance and Pension Funds (524292)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

Pensions & Retirement Benefits Administration (BPAIAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Employee Benefit & Retirement Plan Trust Services (FSAAANAC)

Keywords

• Public pension administration
• Defined benefit plans
• State employee pensions
• Retirement benefits management
• Government retirement systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Baton Rouge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Pension Contributions: LASERS is funded through a combination of employer (state of Louisiana) and employee contributions, as well as investment earnings. Rank-and-file employees contribute 7.5% or 8% of salary depending on hire date; the state employer contributes 3.11% of payroll toward normal cost plus amortization payments on the unfunded accrued liability. The system is prefunded, not pay-as-you-go.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

LASERS administers defined benefit pension, disability, and survivor benefits for Louisiana state employees. It operates 24 retirement plans covering more than 150,000 members and 353 state employers, with members accessing services through the myLASERS online portal and an Optional Retirement Plan / Self-Directed Plan (via Empower).

Product overview

LASERS (Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System) is a state government pension system offering a defined benefit retirement plan as its core product, supplemented by the myLASERS online member portal, Self-Directed Plan administered by Empower, and Optional Retirement Plan. The system provides various retirement options including DROP (Deferred Retirement Option Plan) and IBO (Initial Benefit Option), Cost-of-Living Adjustments, survivor benefits, and disability retirement. Educational resources include the comprehensive Member's Guide to Retirement, Video Library, Benefit Estimate Calculator, and various in-person/virtual seminars (PREP, Early-Career, DROP vs. IBO). Member services are accessible through digital forms, the myLASERS portal, and direct support via Zendesk-powered Ask LASERS. The system serves over 150,000 members across 24 retirement plans administered for 353 Louisiana employers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LASERS Defined Benefit Pension Plan

Quantifiable outcome

• Average rank-and-file LASERS retiree benefit of $28,512 per year as of June 30, 2023
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EmpowercoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEmpower serves as the third-party administrator for LASERS' Self-Directed Plan (SDP), a 401(a) retirement plan for DROP and IBO participants. Participants can choose from a wide variety of fixed investment options and mutual funds. Empower is also the administrator for the Louisiana Deferred Compensation Plan. Contact: 9100 Bluebonnet Centre Blvd., Suite 203, Baton Rouge, LA 70809; 225.926.8082 or 800.937.7604.
• Office of Group Benefits (OGB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOGB acts as the health insurer for employees and retirees of the State of Louisiana. LASERS coordinates retiree health insurance matters with OGB, including Medicare enrollment requirements for retirees receiving LASERS benefits. OGB contact: 1.800.272.8451.
• Retired State Employees' Association (RSEA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerRSEA is an independent, membership-driven organization representing current and future retired state employees of Louisiana. RSEA advocates for retired state employees in the Louisiana Legislature and National Congress on retirement and healthcare issues. Contact: 225.930.0961.
• Senior Health Info Program (SHIP)minorOthersSHIP helps Medicare beneficiaries understand their Medicare coverage options and benefits through free, unbiased guidance via telephone or face-to-face sessions. Part of the Louisiana Department of Insurance. Contact: 1.800.259.5300.
• Louisiana Deferred Compensation Plan (administered by Empower)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Louisiana Deferred Compensation Plan, administered by Empower, allows state employees to supplement their LASERS retirement with additional tax-deferred savings. LASERS promotes this plan to members as a supplemental savings vehicle, particularly during early-career and mid-career stages. Enrollment is voluntary.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS): CalPERS is the largest U.S. public pension fund, providing defined benefit retirement to California state and public agency employees. Like LASERS, it operates under constitutional/statutory mandate, administers multiple benefit tiers, and faces UAL and investment-return challenges — making it a direct functional peer at much larger scale.
• Texas Teachers Retirement System (TRS): TRS administers a defined benefit pension for Texas public educators and is among the largest state pension systems. It mirrors LASERS' structure: state-mandated participation, multiple retirement plan designs, employer/employee contributions, and reliance on long-term investment returns to meet actuarial assumptions.

Direct peers

• Florida Retirement System (FRS): FRS provides pension and investment options to Florida state employees, including a defined benefit plan and optional defined contribution alternative — structurally very similar to LASERS' DB-plus-ORP model. Comparable in mid-size state pension scope with similar defined benefit / DROP-equivalent features and self-service portals.
• Pennsylvania State Employees' Retirement System (SERS): PA SERS is a state-administered defined benefit pension covering Pennsylvania state workers, very similar to LASERS in scope and member base (~100K+ members). Both systems operate under state law with employer/employee contributions, administer multiple retirement classes, and manage similar UAL dynamics.
• Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS): OPERS provides pension and healthcare benefits to Ohio public employees through a defined benefit framework. Like LASERS, it operates under statutory mandate with employer contributions, multiple plan tiers, COLA mechanisms, and an online member portal — a strong operational peer.
• Illinois State Employees' Retirement System (SERS): Illinois SERS is a state-administered DB pension system that has historically struggled with significant UAL — directly comparable to LASERS' challenge with its $5.5B unfunded liability. Both systems face political pressure on contributions and benefit structure, providing a peer benchmark for UAL management and reform pathways.

Emerging players

• Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association (TIAA): TIAA administers defined contribution and supplemental retirement plans for academic and government employees, including the Empower-administered Self-Directed Plan that LASERS partners with. While not a DB pension, TIAA plays an enabling role alongside LASERS for DROP/IBO participants' supplemental retirement savings.

Others

• Empower Retirement: Empower is LASERS' core third-party administrator for the Self-Directed Plan (SDP) and the Louisiana Deferred Compensation Plan, handling investment menu and participant services. As a partner rather than competitor, Empower is a key operational dependency for LASERS' supplemental retirement offering.
• National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS): NIRS is a non-profit research and education organization focused on U.S. public and private pension systems. It is not a direct operational peer but provides benchmarking, research, and policy advocacy context for LASERS and comparable state pension systems.
• Retired State Employees' Association of Louisiana (RSEA): RSEA is a membership advocacy organization for current and future Louisiana state retirees, directly connected to LASERS as a partner organization that represents retiree interests in legislative matters. While not a peer in operational terms, it shapes the political environment for LASERS benefit decisions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LASERSpension
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/LASERSchannel
• Facebookfacebook.com/LASERSpension
• Instagraminstagram.com/laserspension

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lasers