According to statistics compiled (free registration required) by the National Association of State Retirement Administrators and the National Council on Teacher Retirement, a number of plans actually have surpluses, instead of the billion-dollar unfunded liabilities you often hear about. The Florida Retirement System ($7.6 billion surplus) and the North Carolina Teachers and State Employees system ($3.6 billion surplus) are among the big winners.
Two questions for which I don't have an answer: Is it possible that these numbers are misleading and these systems aren't as healthy as they appear? And, if not, what makes them different from all the places that are struggling?
