State Pension Funding Drop to Lowest Level in 30 Years, Wilshire Says
Public plans were 62.6% funded in the first quarter after the coronavirus wiped out 12.2 percentage points.
Research
Corporate Pension Funding Ratios Nearly Flat in 2019 Despite 17.3% Returns
Plunging discount rates offset second-largest investment return in 20 years.
State Education Budgets Fail to Keep Up with Pension Costs
Report says paying for pensions should come from sources other than education budgets.
Endowment Index Tumbles over 20% in First Quarter
COVID-19 wipes out robust 2019 earnings in just three months.
US Dividend Payments Have Worst Quarter Since 2009
Liquidity and cost control are now top priorities as dividends drop and buybacks become an ‘endangered species.’
Op-Ed: Evolving Approaches to Governance and Voting in a Time of Crisis
Georgina Marshall, global head of research at Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), explains how investors can approach their portfolio companies in the pandemic environment.
US Corporate Pensions See Shocking $93 Billion Funding Gain in March
Surging discount rate offsets asset loss of $85 billion.
Fitch Downgrades Outlook Again as Pandemic Worsens
Agency sees ‘deep global recession,’ says immediate hit will be worse than global financial crisis.
Europeans Worry About Financial Future in Low Interest Rate Environment
A joint research paper concludes Europeans are most worried about their ability to save for retirement.
It’s a Terrible Time for Pensions to Have Weak Liquidity
Market downturn could force some public pensions to sell assets for a loss.
US Public Pensions Lose $1 Trillion from Market Crash
Moody’s says governments are in a worse position to smooth costs than during financial crises.
UK Defined Benefit Code Revision ‘Biggest Revolution’ in 15 Years
The Pensions Regulator publishes consultation on British defined benefit investing regulations.
Norway’s Pension Giant Calls for Improved ESG Metrics
$1.07 trillion fund is focusing on climate and money laundering issues.
PLSA Calls for Pensions to Hold Companies Accountable for Climate Change
New regulations require trustees to disclose ESG investment considerations.
Milwaukee Could Learn a Thing or Two from Wisconsin’s Healthy Pension
Research from Wisconsin Policy Forum dissects the disparities between the state’s three largest pensions and lessons to be learned from its best.