Research
Corporate Pension Plans’ Funded Status Dips for First Time Since April
A surge in liabilities from low discount rates dropped aggregate ratios 1.3 percentage points to 79.9%, Wilshire says.
Tag: Defined benefit (db) pension plans
Pensions
Pennsylvania SERS Cuts Investment Return Rate Assumption to 7%
Pension board also approves reduction in assumed rate of inflation to 2.5%.
Pensions
UK’s Largest Pension Fund Loses 1.7% in Fiscal 2020 But Beats Benchmark
Universities Superannuation Scheme reports 6.19% five-year return.
Coronavirus - COVID-19
Canadian DB Pensions, Pooled Funds Rebound Sharply in Q2
Equities rally helps spur strong quarterly gains.
Research
Less Tax-Efficient Funds Cost UK DB Plans £250 Million Yearly, Study Finds
Researchers say pensions must invest in tax-transparent funds, insurance policies to be eligible for tax advantages.
Research
US, Canadian Pension Funds Rebound with Markets in Q2
Resurgent equities erase nearly 40% of US corporate pension funded status loss during first quarter.
Corporate Moves
At Least Boeing’s Stock Isn’t in Its Pension Plan Anymore
Controversial 2017 contribution of $3.5 billion in company shares to the retirement program apparently was divested, long before the current share-tanking mess.
Regulation
UK Regulator Targets Defined Benefit Transfer Weaknesses
FCA bans contingent charging, finds British Steel pensioners received worse advice than most.
Pensions
Study: There’s a Better Way to Withstand Downturns than Old DB Model
Under new set-up, a plan is over-funded, which serves as a cushion in a downturn. Any benefit cuts are only as a last resort.
Research
UK Corporate Pension Funding Hammered by Pandemic in April
FTSE 350 company plans swing to £52 billion deficit from £10 billion surplus during the month.
Coronavirus - COVID-19
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.
Pensions
Canadian Defined Benefit Plans Have Worst Quarter in 12 Years
RBC and Northern Trust report plans lost 7.1%, the steepest drop since 2008.
Opinion
Op-Ed: U.S. Public Pension Underfunding—Don’t Make the Same Mistake Thrice
As some lawmakers suggest states consider declaring bankruptcy, governments will be tempted to cut back on pension contributions. Amundi Pioneer senior adviser Charles E.F. Millard urges them not to do so.
Research
UK Defined Benefit Code Revision ‘Biggest Revolution’ in 15 Years
The Pensions Regulator publishes consultation on British defined benefit investing regulations.
Pensions
Public Pension Funding Ratio Hits Three-Year High in Q4 2019
But market volatility caused by the coronavirus threatens to erase some of the gains.