FRANKFORT, Ky. — The retirement investments for Kentucky teachers saw its second straight year of double digit gains for the recently concluded fiscal year — 12.27% for the Retirement Annuity Trust and 12.73% for the Health Insurance Trust.

Both marks exceeded the previous year’s returns of 10.61% and 11.94% respectively.

According to the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS), returns for the Teachers’ Retirement System of the State of Kentucky annuity trust over the last 30 years are 8.1% compounded, which is ahead of the 7.1% long-term assumed rate of return. TRS said the net return after fees is 11.93% for the annuity trust and 12.4% for the health trust.

The pension system said it benefited from another year of full funding from the state budget.

“Another strong year in the markets resulted in great returns for retired teachers,” TRS Executive Secretary Gary Harbin said. “TRS’s disciplined investing, using the diversified approach established by the Board of Trustees and implemented by TRS’s investment team, continues to be beneficial in all markets.”

TRS manages $29 billion in assets to provide for the retirement income and health insurance of about 140,000 teachers and other education professionals who are members, and it is regulated under state and federal law. According to TRS, the teachers’ system pays about $2.7 billion a year in retirement and health care benefits to its members, 87% of whom live in Kentucky.