Meet Treasurer Lillard

Vision for a Brighter Future

"We help build a brighter future by investing in the well-being of Tennesseans through exceptional financial leadership, management, service, and education."

Star Photo/Abby Morris-Frye Tennessee Treasurer David Lillard visited Elizabethton Monday morning to kick off a new state-wide program available to teachers to help improve the financial literacy of their students.

TN Treasurer visits Elizabethton to launch financial literacy program

by Abby Morris-Frye

“It’s a matter of training people early in life,” Lillard said, adding the new program places emphasis on students in K-8 grades. “We are trying to effect a generational shift in how Tennesseans think about finances.”

View the full article at the Elizabethton Star

* Elizabethton Star, July 30, 2018

Treasurer Lillard has helped 172 Tennessee elementary and middle schools and 25,800+ students receive critical financial education.

Meet Treasurer Lillard

Under Treasurer Lillard's executive leadership, Tennessee has implemented innovative and successful initiatives for the people of Tennessee, including the TNStars® College Savings 529 Program, the Tennessee Financial Literacy Commission, and ABLE TN—making Tennessee one of the first states in the nation to implement the beneficial program.

Tennessee's retirement system is ranked in the top 5 nationally and supports the state's top AAA bond rating.

Treasurer David H. Lillard, Jr.

David H. Lillard, Jr., State Treasurer

David H. Lillard, Jr. has served as Tennessee State Treasurer since his election by the Tennessee General Assembly in January 2009. A lifelong Republican, Treasurer Lillard has extensive professional experience in public and private corporate finance transactions, municipal finance, governmental budgeting, and related fields.

Under his leadership, the Tennessee Department of Treasury internally manages investments in domestic equities, fixed income, private equity, real estate, and strategic lending. Additionally, Treasury directs multiple state programs with a staff of approximately 275 employees and a department budget of $74.4 million.

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Fulfilling the vision for Tennessee for all citizens

Treasurer Lillard is dedicated to working to improve the financial standing of the state and the financial quality of life for Tennessee citizens.

Ensuring a sufficient and sustainable retirement plan for the future

Treasurer Lillard successfully restructured the state pension fund to an adjustable hybrid plan—one of the most innovative reforms in the nation—to provide a cost effective, sufficient and sustainable retirement benefit.

The state’s defined benefit pension plan, the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS), serves over 350,000 active and retired Tennesseans including all state employees, many higher education employees, K-12 public school teachers, and many local government entities.

female teacher working with students in classroom


Under Treasurer Lillard's leadership, Tennessee became the first state in the nation to enact a requirement that all defined benefit public pension plans offered by public entities must annually fund 100% of the Actuarially Determined Contribution and must adhere to certain recognized standards in plan management.

Learn more about how Treasurer Lillard is helping protect retirement in Tennessee

Recipient of the NASACT President's Award

Treasurer Lillard has worked to advocate for state treasury operations and innovations nationwide through leadership roles and work in national organizations. He has served as:

  • President, National Association of State Treasurers (NAST)
  • President, National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers (NASACT)
  • NAST Representative, Governmental Accounting Standards Advisory Council (GASAC)

Treasurer Lillard talking with female student in classroom at financial literacy event

Contact Us

Phone: (615) 741-2956

Mailing Address

Tennessee State Treasurer
Tennessee State Capitol, 1st Floor
600 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
Nashville, TN 37243-0225