Washington TRS
Understanding Washington Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS) Benefits
1. Identify Your Plan (TRS Plan 2 or Plan 3)
Your retirement benefits are determined by your WA DRS Plan
How to confirm your plan:
Reference this WA DRS webpage for help & tips: https://www.drs.wa.gov/plan/
2. Plan 2 & 3 of Washington TRS
Your retirement may include one or two components:
Plan 2 - Pension Only
• This webpage will guide you through Plan 2 information, including many Q&A’s:
https://www.drs.wa.gov/plan/trs2/
Plan 3 - Pension + Investment Account
• This webpage will guide you through Plan 3 information, including many Q&A’s:
https://www.drs.wa.gov/plan/trs3/
3. How Your Pension Is Calculated
Plan 2 Formula
• Watch this video by WA DRS to learn about pension calculations:
https://vimeo.com/792778366?fl=pl&fe=ti
Plan 3 Pension Formula
• Follow this webpage and click on “How much will your pension retirement be?”:
https://www.drs.wa.gov/plan/trs3/
Key Takeaways:
• Plan 2 relies more heavily on the pension
• Plan 3 combines pension income with investment flexibility
4. What Is the Plan 3 Investment Account?
You can find frequent Q&A information by following this WA DRS webpage:
https://www.drs.wa.gov/plan/trs3/
This webpage will provide answers to these questions:
How is it funded? Investment options? How do I access it?
Putting It All Together
Your TRS benefits are structured as:
• Plan 2: A strong, predictable pension
• Plan 3: A combination of pension + investment account
Understanding how these pieces work together is key to building a retirement strategy that
supports your lifestyle. Your TRS benefits provide a strong foundation. Understanding how
to maximize them can make all the difference in your retirement.
Cetera Investment Services LLC is not endorsed by or affiliated with any state or other government entity. Thank you.