Key Takeaways
- • North Carolina's pension fund climbed past $150 billion in August 2026, setting a new record, according to Spectrum News.
- • State Treasurer Brad Briner attributes much of the growth to a shift away from cash and toward higher-yield investments.
- • Briner discussed how close the state may be to offering a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for retirees and why permanent increases have been difficult to provide.
- • Briner also cited an investment opportunity the state passed on that he still thinks about.
Summary
North Carolina's pension fund climbed past $150 billion last month, setting a new record, according to a Spectrum News interview with State Treasurer Brad Briner published September 13, 2026. Briner said the growth has been fueled in part by a strategic shift away from cash holdings and toward higher-yield investments.
In the interview, Briner addressed how close the state may be to offering a cost-of-living adjustment for retirees. He also explained why permanent benefit increases have historically been difficult to provide, a recurring challenge for public pension systems that must balance retiree benefits against long-term funding obligations.
Briner also discussed an investment opportunity the state passed on that he continues to think about, though the interview summary available does not detail the specific asset, deal terms, or valuation considerations behind that decision.
The full interview covers these topics in more depth than the publisher summary provides. Readers seeking specific fund allocations, return figures, or COLA parameters should consult the complete Spectrum News piece.
In the interview, Briner addressed how close the state may be to offering a cost-of-living adjustment for retirees. He also explained why permanent benefit increases have historically been difficult to provide, a recurring challenge for public pension systems that must balance retiree benefits against long-term funding obligations.
Briner also discussed an investment opportunity the state passed on that he continues to think about, though the interview summary available does not detail the specific asset, deal terms, or valuation considerations behind that decision.
The full interview covers these topics in more depth than the publisher summary provides. Readers seeking specific fund allocations, return figures, or COLA parameters should consult the complete Spectrum News piece.
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