75 Year Timeline
1946
LASERS Established
The Retirement System began with 13 employees at the Pentagon Court Barracks.
Act 126 created a Board of Trustees of seven members.
1947
Members Join
The first members joined the System on July 1, 1947 with 12 retirees.
LASERS had approximately $1.1 million in investments.
1968
Newsletter Published
LASERS first membership newsletter, Retirement Topics, was published.
LASERS investments rose from $169 million to $192 million to $220 million.
1969
First COLA
Act 85 provided for the first Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) to be paid to eligible retirees.
1987
Moved to United Plaza
LASERS moved to our current location at 8401 United Plaza Blvd, Baton Rouge, 70809.
1990
The Beam Newsletter
The Beam membership newsletter was introduced in the Spring of 1990 on a quarterly basis, and replaced the annual Retirement Topics newsletter.
Pre-Retirement Education Presentation (PREP) Seminars were developed to educate members on the system and their future retirement benefits.
1991
LASERS Acronym
Act 863 authorized the use of “LASERS” as a shortened name for the system.
1992
Experience Account Established
Act 572 created the Experience Account to fund cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) with system investment earnings.
1993
First Phone System
LASERS introduced its first phone system in 1993, the Direct-Talk by IBM.
1997
Assets Increase
LASERS assets reached $4 Billion.
1998
LASERS is Online
LASERS first website went live on July 1, 1998.
2000
Direct Deposit
Direct Deposit became mandatory for members retiring on or after December 31, 1999.
2008
Member Self-Service
The State of Louisiana Retirement Information System (SOLARIS) and Member Self-Service were deployed. Self-Service allowed members to view their LASERS account information online for the first time.
LASERS assets reached $8.68 Billion.
2013
You’ve Got Mail
The first Member Connection email was sent to over 30,000 members on March 1, 2013.
2017
www.lasersonline.org
LASERS launched the current website on January 4, 2017.
2018
Optimus Launched
LASERS new imaging system, Optimus, fully launched in 2018.
2020
Investment Growth
LASERS assets reached $12.3 Billion.
LASERS operations performed nearly 100% with staff working remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021
myLASERS Launched
myLASERS was introduced as the new online account management tool for LASERS members and benefit recipients.
LASERS by the Numbers
LASERS Membership
1949-2020
LASERS Average Annual Benefit
1949-2020