Ryan Frost
Managing Director, Pension Integrity Project, Reason Foundation
Ryan Frost is a Managing Director of Reason Foundation's Pension Integrity Project.
Frost contributes to Reason's ongoing Gold Standard In Public Retirement System Design series, produced an in-depth analysis of the Arizona PSPRS pension systems, and presented testimony before the Michigan House Appropriations Committee, among others.
Ryan's work has been published in various outlets, including The Orange County Register, and cited by The Center Square, The Tennessee Star, and the National Association of State Retirement Administrators.
Before joining Reason, Frost spent seven years as the senior research and policy manager for the Washington State Law Enforcement Officers' and Fire Fighters' Retirement System (LEOFF 2), a plan that is nationally recognized for its exceptional funding level. Frost conducted multiple pension studies for the Washington State Legislature. He also drafted and testified on six pieces of adopted legislation affecting LEOFF 2 members, including a first-of-its-kind annuity rollover provision for defined-benefit plans.
Frost earned his B.A. in politics and government from Pacific Lutheran University and a Certificate of Achievement in Public Plan Policy (CAPPP) from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans.
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Testimony: Reviewing proposed changes to Alaska’s Public Employees’ Retirement System
House Bill 55 would attach new public safety employees to a plan that has had trouble with funding spanning back two decades.
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Expanding prefunding programs for the Arizona State Retirement System
Prefunding contributions for the Arizona State Retirement System could help ease the burden of rising pension costs on taxpayers.
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CalPERS audit finds history of pension spiking in Broadmoor police department
Three former police chiefs and a former commander received improper benefits dating back to 2011.
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Most public pension plans raised employee contribution rates in the last decade, report shows
The amount a public employee contributes to their pension plan has increased by 1.25% since 2011.
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Suggested reforms for Pennsylvania’s Public School Employees’ Retirement System
The pension system's high investment fees and unrealistic investment return expectations are in need of reform.
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Testimony on pension garnishment and forfeiture, and future pension policy considerations for Pennsylvania
The sooner plans embrace modern day market realities, the better these important issues can be addressed over the long-term.
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Washington State Grapples With Public Pension Cost-of-Living Adjustments
The most unfair solution to this public pension issue is to continue to allocate hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to annually fund increased benefits.
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Testimony: Legislation in Michigan Would Expand Retirement Income Options for State Employees
HB 4733 and 4734 would enhance a public employee’s ability to secure guaranteed lifetime income via annuity products.
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Texas Bill Threatens Houston’s Financial Wellbeing
Legislation to grant mandatory arbitration privileges to the Houston Fire Department could have severe negative impacts on Houston's finances.
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Testimony: Michigan Can Improve Pension Systems’ Assumptions, Funding Methods
Package of bills would improve the financial sustainability of the state's pension funds, while keeping the promises the state has made to its employees and retirees.
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Defined Benefit Plans: Best Practices in Incorporating Risk Sharing
Public pension risk sharing can increase plan solvency, provide better accountability, and lessen the burden that unfunded liabilities have on taxpayers.
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Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System Solvency Analysis
Recent reforms to the public safety personnel public pension system are showing significant savings and increased retirement security for employees.
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Oregon Supreme Court Ruling Has Major Implications for Retirement Security and Hybrid Plan Design
The court's ruling has far-reaching implications for hybrid retirement systems like Oregon’s.
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What Happens to Taxpayer-Funded Pensions When Public Officials Are Convicted of Crimes?
The police officer charged with killing George Floyd is eligible for his full taxpayer funded pension. In fact, a majority of states provide retirement benefits to officers and public servants convicted of serious crimes.
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The Potential Risks and Rewards of CalPERS’ New Investment Policy
The nation's largest public pension plan is seeking better returns by investing in more private equity and allowing strategic borrowing.
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S&P Presents Guidelines for Funding Pension and OPEB Plans
Unfunded pension liabilities are taking on a larger role in S&P's credit ratings determinations. This is bad news for cities and states with perpetual pension problems.
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Kansas Shouldn’t Push Pension Debt Into Future So It Can Spend More Today
Gov. Kelly’s calls for adding another $4 billion in long-term debt so that the state government can spend more money right now would be fiscally irresponsible and unfairly stick future generations with the bills.
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Auditors Recommend Arizona’s Largest Pension Plan Consider Reducing Its Investment Return Assumption
Modeling suggests ASRS is not going to meet its assumed rate of return on investments.
