Ohio News Connection

Farah Siddiqi

Market volatility linked to shifting federal tariff policies is raising questions in Ohio about the long-term effects on public pension funds and retirement security.

Kendal Killian, executive director of the National Public Pension Coalition, said the state's defined benefit pensions are structured to withstand short-term swings in the market.

"It's still not a good thing if the pension funds lose these dollars," Killian noted. "Although the funds themselves are set up to aim for the long term and to absorb these types of fluctuations."

The Ohio Public Employees Retirement System manages more than $100 billion in assets and maintains an investment strategy designed to reduce risk from short-term market changes.

Killian added economic uncertainty not only affects retirees, it can ripple across the state, especially in communities where pensions fuel local economies.

"Millions of dollars come from these pension funds through the retirement dollars of retired pensioners; teachers, firefighters, police officers and so on," Killian emphasized. "Then those are dollars that are spread throughout the economy."

As federal tariff policies continue to evolve, experts stressed the importance of long-term planning and economic stability to protect retirement systems and communities across Ohio.