The National Institute on Retirement Security released a study last week that analyzed six state pension plans that remained well-funded through the recession. The purpose of the study was to learn what best practices exist to keep plans financially strong.

“Lessons from Well-Funded Public Pensions” analyzed six state-level pension plans that vary in size and type of employee they represent in order to achieve a wide sample. The market value of assets in the plans in 2010 was approximately $300 billion, or 10% of total public pension assets.

Plans covered in the study include:

• Delaware State Employees Pension Plan
• Idaho Public Employee Retirement Fund
• Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund
• New York State Teachers' Retirement System
• North Carolina Teachers & State Employees Retirement System
• Teacher Retirement System of Texas

Despite two downturns in the 10-year period between 2000 and 2009 when the plans were studied, and even though they experienced less-than-expected investment gains, the plans remained well-funded through the recession.