September 2023

US Corporate Pension Funding Levels Dropped in August

US. corporate pension funding levels fell last month, matching a drop in global equities, according to analysts.The August report from LGIM America’s Pension Solutions Monitor estimated that the average U.S. corporate funding ratio decreased to 103.6% through August from 104.9% at the end of July.Global equities declined 2.8%, with the S&P 500 decreasing 1.6%. Portfolios in plans with a 50/50 allocation declined 2.5%, while liabilities declined 1.4%. The decrease in assets outpaced the decline in liabilities, leading to lower...

US. Traditional pension plans are pretty rare. But here’s who still has them and how they work

The phrase “pension benefits” may come up a lot in the next several days as negotiations between the United Auto Workers union and the Big Three automakers go down to the wire to avert a strike. But for most private-sector US workers, pensions disappeared long ago. In a traditional pension, employers contribute, invest and manage retirement funds for their workers, who then receive guaranteed monthly checks for life after they retire. But over the past several decades, employers have either...

Pension Protection Fund pushes for new remit to boost UK investment

The UK’s pension lifeboat fund is pushing to become a consolidator of corporate retirement plans in a move that it believes could unleash “substantial” new investment for the economy. In a submission to the government published on Tuesday, the Pension Protection Fund said that if ministers wanted to unleash money held by pension funds into the economy there would need to be a “step change” in the market. The PPF is a statutory fund set up in 2005 and is...

U.S. corporate pension plan funding ratios down slightly in August

U.S. corporate pension plan funding ratios dipped slightly in August, but they still remain well above 100%, according to three new reports. Legal & General Investment Management America estimated the average funding ratio of the typical U.S. corporate pension plan fell to 103.6% as of Aug. 31 from 104.9% a month earlier. In its latest monthly Pension Solutions Monitor, LGIMA said the estimated average funding ratio rose despite liability values dropping, because both global and domestic equities suffered weak performance during August. The...

July 2023

Accounting for Pension and Post-Retirement Benefits in Companies

By Anetha Kumanireng, Reniati Marimpan & Veronika Tombi Layuk After leaving work, retirement is an importan phase in one's life. Companies must prepare for retirement well. One of the elements that must be considered is the accounting for pensions and post-retirement benefits. This article will discuss the importance of this accounting for companies. Source @SSRN

Investment returns push U.S. corporate pension funding to 102.2% in June

U.S. corporate pension funds enjoyed greater surpluses in their funding ratios in June thanks to strong investment returns during the month, according to the latest Milliman Pension Funding index. As of June 30, the estimated funding ratio of the 100 largest U.S. corporate pension funds was 102.2%, up from 100.7% at the end of May and also marks a six-month increase from 101.9% at the end of 2022, according to the index. "While June saw strong monthly investment returns and muted...

U.S. corporate pension funding increases cushion in June – 3 reports

U.S. corporate pension plan funding ratios jumped further above 100% in June, driven by strong equity markets, according to three new reports. Wilshire Advisors estimated the aggregate funding ratio of U.S. corporate plans vaulted 2.3 percentage points to 103.5% as of June 30. The increase was driven primarily by increases in asset values, while liability values remained relatively unchanged. "June's funded status saw the largest monthly increase since October 2022 due to asset value increases with the performance of the FT Wilshire...

June 2023

Mexico says 200 retired Mexican boxers who fought in California may be eligible for pensions

Mexico said Friday that more than 200 retired Mexican boxers who fought in California may be eligible for pensions. The little-known pension fund holds around $2.5 million. Boxers of any nationality over age 50 were eligible, as long as they had fought one fight per year for four years, or 75 professional rounds total, in California. Mexico’s Foreign Relations Department said it had a list of 206 Mexican boxers who might be eligible. The department said it had already located 23...

May 2023

Industry Voice: Improving value in workplace DC pension schemes

A key component in value is offering properly diversified investments. If you compare the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) and workplace DC schemes, both are funded UK occupational pension schemes with high numbers of active members but there is noticeable difference between their invested assets. Look at the range of funds offered by an LGPS pool such as Border to Coast and you will find both passive and active equity funds, corporate credit as well as a range of alternatives such...

“Milliman’s Pension Funding Index. May 2023”

By Milliman The funded status of the nation’s 100 largest corporate defined benefit pension plans decreased by $7 billion during April, as measured by the Milliman 100 Pension Funding Index (PFI). A decrease in the benchmark corporate bond interest rates used to value pension liabilities led to an increase in these liabilities of $10 billion for the month. As of April 30, the funded ratio fell to 99.5%, from 100.1% at the end of March. April saw the funding surplus...