Uncover the Truth. Fund the CalPERS Investigation!

In an era when public trust in government institutions is increasingly fragile, transparency and accountability are more essential than ever. Nowhere is this truer than in the management of public pensions. The financial lifeline for millions of retirees who depend on their pensions not only for dignity in retirement but for economic survival.

For California’s retired public employees, CalPERS (the California Public Employees’ Retirement System) is the single most influential entity determining that future.

But over the past decade, a growing chorus of stakeholders including public employees, retirees, employers, watchdogs, financial experts, taxpayers, and even some legislators have raised serious concerns about the transparency, governance, and investment practices of CalPERS. Questions have surfaced around its private equity deals, fees, underperformance relative to risk, conflicts of interests, and governance structure. These concerns are too important to ignore.

It’s time for the Retired Public Employees' Association of California (RPEA) to step up and act decisively by crowdfunding an independent investigation into CalPERS. This is not just a prudent move, it’s a necessary one.

Why an Independent Investigation Is Needed

CalPERS manages over $500 billion in assets, making it the largest public pension fund in the United States. But with great size comes great complexity and the opportunity for mismanagement and misconduct. Internal oversight remains limited and the system has been allowed to police itself.

A thorough, independent examination can answer the pressing questions:

Are CalPERS investment decisions truly in the best interests of beneficiaries?

Are fees and risks being appropriately disclosed?

Are conflicts of interest and political influences compromising returns or governance?

Are beneficiaries, legislators, and taxpayers being misled about the health and sustainability of the pension system?

For too long, public employees, retirees, employers, and taxpayers have had to rely on fragmented information and vague answers to tough questions. Transparency is not optional; it is a right.

Why Crowdfunding? Because This Is About Collective Power

RPEA represents a diverse and informed base of active and retired public employees including beneficiaries and taxpayers, many of whom have long expressed concerns about CalPERS. Crowdfunding this investigation would do more than raise money, it would build a coalition of concerned stakeholders who are demanding answers and reform.

This is not just about auditing numbers; it’s about standing up for fiduciary integrity and ensuring that every retiree receives what they were promised and what they earned.

America’s Forensic Watchdog for Pensions

If this investigation is to have credibility, depth, and impact, it must be led by someone with an unimpeachable record and deep expertise. That’s where Ted Siedle comes in. Ted Siedle is the nation’s leading forensic expert on public pension mismanagement and corruption. A former SEC attorney and the founder of Benchmark Financial Services, Siedle has conducted over $1 trillion in forensic investigations of retirement plans. His work has led to sweeping reforms and recoveries across the country.

He co-authored “Who Stole My Pension?” with former SEC Commissioner Robert Kiyosaki, a hard-hitting exposé that pulls back the curtain on how pensions are gamed, looted, and endangered by Wall Street and insiders.

Siedle’s investigations have delivered real results: settlements, accountability, and restored transparency. He is not a theorist; he is a proven, relentless investigator with an unmatched track record of uncovering hidden fees, conflicts of interest, and violations of fiduciary duty. Put simply: If you want the truth, you want Ted Siedle on the case.

What’s at Stake

We are not powerless. A successful crowdfunded investigation sends a message: public employees, retirees, employers, and taxpayers are watching, and they will hold those in power accountable.

RPEA has the history, the membership, and now, the opportunity to lead the charge for transparency, justice, and reform. It’s time to act.

Let’s make this happen. Let’s fund the truth.