# Public Employees' Retirement System of Mississippi

Public Employees' Retirement System of Mississippi is a Pension Fund based in Jackson, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Pension Fund
- **Headquarters:** Jackson, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** Jackson, MS, United States
- **Founded:** 1952
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** www.pers.ms.gov
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/public-employee's-retirement-system-of-mississippi

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

The Public Employees’ Retirement System of Mississippi (PERS) provides retirement benefits. Recipients work in state government, public schools, universities, community colleges, municipalities, counties, and other public entities. Established in 1952, the governmental defined benefit pension plan helps recruit and retain a public workforce and stimulates local economies.

## Sectors

- Real Estate
- Infrastructure
- Distressed Debt
- Special Situations
- Venture (General)

## People

- Charles Nielsen — Chief Investment Officer
- Ray Higgins — Executive Director
- Bill Benson — Chair of the Board of Trustees
- David McRae — Mississippi State Treasurer and Board Member

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at the Public Employees' Retirement System of Mississippi?

Charles Nielsen serves as Chief Investment Officer, responsible for portfolio strategy and asset allocation. The Board of Trustees, chaired by Bill Benson and including Mississippi State Treasurer David McRae, provides fiduciary oversight and approves major investment commitments. Executive Director Ray Higgins leads the system's administration and business operations.

### How is the PERS of Mississippi investment portfolio structured?

PERS runs a diversified multi-asset portfolio that includes direct real estate holdings, infrastructure assets, and commitments to external funds. The system invests through fund-of-funds structures, direct co-investments, and separate account mandates. Confirmed positions span commercial real estate, global timber, mixed-use properties, and private equity vehicles managed by firms including Heitman and TA Associates.

### What is the governance structure of PERS Mississippi?

The system is governed by a Board of Trustees that includes the Mississippi State Treasurer as a statutory member. Bill Benson chairs the board, which holds public meetings and approves investment policies and manager selections. This structure embeds political accountability into fiduciary decision-making, distinguishing it from independent pension boards that operate without elected officials.

### What industry associations does PERS Mississippi participate in?

PERS is a member of the National Association of State Retirement Administrators (NASRA), the National Council on Teacher Retirement (NCTR), and the Council of Institutional Investors (CII). These affiliations provide access to peer benchmarking, professional development, and corporate governance advocacy networks shared by other large public pension systems.

### Does PERS Mississippi disclose its total assets under management publicly?

The system does not publish a current, verifiable AUM figure through its public website or LinkedIn presence. Third-party estimates exist, but no primary-sourced disclosure was available at the time of this profile's compilation.

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

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