BONUS: NY Comptroller Candidate Drew Warshaw on Changing the NY State Pension Funds

What It Covers

Drew Warshaw, candidate for New York State Comptroller, outlines his plan to reform the $300 billion state pension fund by replacing 664 active managers with low-cost index funds. He argues the current approach has cost taxpayers $59 billion in underperformance and fees over eighteen years under incumbent Tom DiNapoli.

Key Questions Answered

• •Pension Fund Underperformance: New York State pension fund underperformed market benchmarks by 39% over eighteen years while paying $11.3 billion in fees to 664 investment managers. This forced taxpayers to contribute an additional $59 billion through property and income taxes to maintain full funding, amounting to $1.1 billion annually or $21 million weekly in excess costs.
• •Index Fund Transition Strategy: Replace active managers with diversified low-cost index funds focused on asset allocation rather than security selection. Asset allocation drives 89-93% of portfolio returns. This approach would reduce fees, improve net returns, and lower property taxes while maintaining proper diversification across asset classes to match the fund's liquidity needs and long-term obligations.
• •Building Code Reform: Audit New York City and State building codes to create a model code that strips 15% from construction costs. The current code adds layers without subtracting outdated requirements, killing projects before they start. A track-change version would show precisely what needs changing, providing concrete legislation for officials who claim to prioritize affordability.
• •Insurance Regulation Audit: Target the Department of Financial Services, the nation's largest insurance regulator, with comprehensive audits. Insurance companies operate under state regulation, not federal oversight. With premiums skyrocketing and deductibles rising to self-insurance levels, the regulator's effectiveness in protecting public interest against insurance monopolies requires examination and accountability measures.
• •Unclaimed Funds Recovery: Automatically return $20 billion in unclaimed funds to New Yorkers instead of requiring them to navigate complicated websites. The fund has tripled from $7 billion to $20 billion over eighteen years despite the comptroller's legal obligation to return it. Using available data and modern technology, funds should be automatically sent to last known addresses.