New documentary, Pension Fight Club, now streaming online!
- STRS Ohio Watchdogs
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Pension Fight Club is an investigative documentary by awardwinning filmmaker Doug Orchard that provides a national examination of the systemic financial risks and lack of transparency currently facing public retirement funds, including the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio (STRS Ohio).
"30 years ago, public pensions were in great shape. Not anymore. What's going on? This groundbreaking 2026 documentary is a first-of-its-kind exposé that takes the most comprehensive look at the problem in the history of film. The interviews consist primarily of state public pension board members (in 20% of the US states) revealing what is arguably the largest heist in US history. Collectively, the director calls them the Pension Fight Club." - Doug Orchard
Who's in the documentary?
The cast includes Ohioans Robin Rayfield, Dean Dennis, Trina Prufer, Rudy Fichtenbaum and John Damschroeder.
Where can you watch the documentary?
Click on the Purchase to Watch button.
Pay $9.00. After you purchase the film, you can watch it as many times as you want to.
Invite your colleagues, friends and family for a movie party.
Share the link with your legislators: https://pensionfightclub.com
Share the link with local media: https://pensionfightclub.com
5. Share the link with your colleagues, friends and family: https://pensionfightclub.com
What's the documentary about?
Private Equity is funded primarily from public pension funds. All public monies by law must be transparent, yet over the past 30 years, Wall Street has made the agreements between the staff at the public pension funds and the private equity firms secret. During this time the pension funds all became "underfunded" despite the amazing stock market growth. Nearly 1/2 of all public monies are now "swept" into "secrecy accounts." This film consists of primary interviews with those seeking greater transparency called the 'Pension Fight Club.' Interviews include state treasurers, board members of public pension funds, trustees, whistleblowers, legislatures, unions, retiree associations, and pension recipients. Notably, these states span the political spectrum, from Red to Blue and Purple. Despite this diversity, the underlying issues remain consistent: those in fiduciary roles are denied access to the contracts reviewed and signed by staff of these private equity and private debt deals. Any attempt to review these contracts or make policy changes that meet their fiduciary duty is met with significant backlash, such as lawsuits filed by the Attorney General of the state (like in Ohio) or suspiciously well-funded campaigns against these board members.
Here's the trailer!