CalPERS Walnut Creek Regional Office

CalPERS Headquarters is 400 Q Street, Sacramento, CA 95811 (Get directions). We’re just off Interstate 5 and occupy four full city blocks, bounded by 3rd, 5th, P, and R Streets. The CalPERS complex consists of the original CalPERS building (Lincoln Plaza North), the Lincoln Plaza East and the Lincoln Plaza West. 

About CalPERS

CalPERS was founded in 1932. From the day they opened their doors for the first time, their mission was to deliver the benefits that the members had earned. Over the decades, they have faced a number of economic cycles, including times of significant growth, and they have punished recessions. Both their fund and their liabilities have grown over the years. They are committed, on behalf of all their members, to strengthening and sustaining their fund for the next generation of public employees— and for all generations to come.

Each of them presents unique challenges. They are laser focused on generating strong risk-adjusted returns, bearing in mind that the companies we invest in must address how the changing climate threatens their financial bottom line. They know that successful investment is critical because their ability to pay pensions is just as secure as the ability of their employers to fund them. 

Their Priorities

CalPERS takes a total fund approach, ensuring that the individual asset classes work as one to generate strong risk-adjusted returns to achieve their 7% return target. Their Investment Office leverages their comparative advantages— the size of their fund, their diversification across asset classes, and their talented team — to improve the overall return of the fund over the long term. The team also focuses on identifying the right opportunities for CalPERS in the private real asset and private equity markets. Over the years, their private market investments have been among the highest returnable classes of assets.

Liquidity

CalPERS improved liquidity or cash flow. They lowered the discount rate, which led to an increase in employer contributions. While they know that this has an impact on employers, it was also an important decision to improve the fund and make it possible for employers to pay the benefits promised to their employees. They shortened the timeframe for employers to pay off their unfunded liabilities, saving them millions over the long term. The state of California, the largest CalPERS employer, made a total of about $10 billion in additional payments. This show of support from former Governor Brown and Governor Newsom significantly strengthens the Fund.