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Webster (Mass.) Retirement System
The Webster (Mass.) Retirement System is the defined-benefit pension plan for municipal employees of the Town of Webster, a community of roughly 18,000...
Webster (Mass.) Retirement System
The Webster (Mass.) Retirement System is the defined-benefit pension plan for municipal employees of the Town of Webster, a community of roughly 18,000 residents near the Connecticut border. The system operates under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 32, which governs the state's 102 local contributory retirement systems. Robert Craver chairs the five-member Webster Retirement Board, which includes board members Eleanor P. Doros, James Hoover, and Brian Perry. Kristin LaPlante serves as the system's Retirement Administrator. The fund maintains a diversified portfolio spanning public equities, fixed income, and real estate, with additional exposure to venture capital through fund commitments. Property holdings include interests in the Invesco Core Real Estate Fund USA, a core open-end vehicle focused on stabilized US commercial assets, and the Invesco Equity Real Estate Securities Fund, which invests in publicly traded REITs. The system also allocates to venture capital strategies, consistent with the broader trend among Massachusetts public plans to seek growth-oriented private-market exposure. The system participates in the Massachusetts Association of Contributory Retirement Systems (MACRS), the professional association that connects the state's local pension boards and provides education, advocacy, and peer benchmarking. MACRS membership is standard for Chapter 32 plans and places Webster within the network of roughly 100 similarly structured municipal systems across the Commonwealth. Total plan assets are not publicly disclosed but are estimated at under $100 million, typical for a single-town system of this size. The system's governance structure reflects its municipal charter: the five-member board includes both elected and appointed seats, as required by state law. Investment decisions are made by the board and administrator, with external managers selected through a procurement process governed by Massachusetts public-bidding requirements. The structure does not include dedicated internal investment staff, which is common for plans of this scale.
General information
Firm type
Pension Fund
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Webster
Corporate office
Webster, MA, United States
Principals
Robert Craver
Chairman of the Webster Retirement Board
Kristin LaPlante
Retirement Administrator
Eleanor P. Doros
Member of the Webster Retirement Board
James Hoover
Member of the Webster Retirement Board
Brian Perry
Member of the Webster Retirement Board
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who makes investment decisions for the Webster Retirement System?
The five-member Webster Retirement Board, chaired by Robert Craver, sets investment policy and approves manager selections. Kristin LaPlante, the Retirement Administrator, handles day-to-day operations and coordinates with external investment managers. The system does not employ dedicated in-house investment staff.
What is the system's approach to private-market investments?
Webster commits to venture capital funds and holds real estate exposure through commingled Invesco vehicles. The venture allocation is carried out through fund commitments rather than direct investments, aligning with the system's limited internal staffing and the fiduciary framework required under Massachusetts public-pension law.
How is the Webster Retirement System governed?
The system operates under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 32, which mandates a five-member board composed of both elected members and appointed representatives. The board oversees all investment, actuarial, and administrative functions. Board composition follows the standard Chapter 32 structure: two elected members, one appointed by the town, one appointed by the board itself, and one ex-officio member.
What real estate exposure does the system hold?
The system holds interests in the Invesco Core Real Estate Fund USA, a core open-end fund investing in stabilized US commercial properties, and the Invesco Equity Real Estate Securities Fund, a publicly traded REIT strategy. Both are accessed through commingled fund structures rather than direct property ownership.
Is the Webster Retirement System part of a larger statewide pension network?
Yes. Webster is one of roughly 100 local contributory retirement systems operating under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 32. The system is a member of the Massachusetts Association of Contributory Retirement Systems (MACRS), which provides professional education, legislative advocacy, and peer networking for the Commonwealth's municipal pension boards.
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