June 2024
10Jun

US. Ways to leverage a pension plan surplus

A robust equity market coupled with the strong fixed-income returns that followed the sharp rise in interest rates have restored corporate pension plans to full-funded status, with many enjoying a surplus. This welcome development has sparked conversations by plan sponsors exploring paths for their excess pension assets, from bolstering retirement benefits to addressing corporate financial needs or supporting other business initiatives. “The pension environment has changed significantly since pensions were last overfunded, and these changes present opportunities to plan sponsors...

June 10, 2024
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07Jun

US. New Issue Brief: Time to Fix Underfunding of Public-Sector Pensions

Public-sector pensions are facing a significant underfunding crisis that has only worsened over the past 25 years despite periods of high-asset returns. This growing burden threatens the financial stability of municipal and state finances, potentially leading to higher taxes or severe cuts to retirees’ benefits and essential services if not addressed promptly. In a new Manhattan Institute issue brief, senior fellow Allison Schrager argues the current high-interest rate environment presents a unique opportunity to set public-sector pensions on a more sustainable path. Improper pension...

June 7, 2024
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06Jun

US. Manager concentration dominates corporate retirement plans. How can smaller managers compete?

David O’Meara, senior director and head of defined contribution investment strategy at Willis Towers Watson, said that the scale of the largest managers has given them significant advantages in multiple areas. “There is a downward pressure on fees,” O’Meara said. “That includes the long-term trend of an increasing use of individual passive investment options and target-date funds, which the largest managers have always dominated in the market, as well as active strategies that have more operational scale and can reduce...

June 6, 2024
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05Jun

US. Now It Is About Protecting Healthy Funded Levels

Corporate defined benefit pension plan sponsors have a singular opportunity to evaluate if their plans are in a position to offload liabilities using pension risk transfer or allocate to strategies with less risk, including liability-driven investing, reviewing their options to best provide pension benefits to the participants to whom they were promised at the lowest cost for the company going forward. Separate Milliman and Principal Asset Management research on pension plan funding finds sponsors have room to now accelerate de-risking—as...

June 5, 2024
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04Jun

US. Here’s How Every Generation Views Retirement in 2024, From Gen Z to Baby Boomers

Different generations might have different viewpoints about retirement based on their values and experiences, but one thing just about every age group agrees on is that you need a lot of money to retire comfortably in the United States. A study released earlier this year by Northwestern Mutual found that every generation except boomers believes it takes over $1 million to retire comfortably. The average retirement savings target is $1.46 million. Here’s how it breaks down by generation: Gen Z: $1.63 million Millennials: $1.65 million ...

June 4, 2024
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03Jun

10 of America’s most affordable retirement spots, where the weather is good and healthcare is top-notch

Realtor.com ranked top retirement spots based on home prices and amenities for older residents. Florida is a popular retirement destination, but California and New Jersey had a few in the top 10. Many seniors face financial constraints and depend on Social Security for retirement. As many Americans prepare to retire, many are wondering just how far their finances can take them. After all, a majority of seniors live on meager incomes, and many are reliant on ever-imperiled Social Security. But for the workers who have put in...

June 3, 2024
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03Jun

Ghilarducci corrects Larry Fink’s suggestion of “working longer to dodge retirement crisis”

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink caused quite a stir when he suggested America could dodge its looming “retirement crisis” by encouraging people to continue working past age 65. The billionaire, who chairs the world's largest asset manager, kicked off his 2024 annual letter to shareholders by telling his readers it is “time to rethink retirement.” Don't miss Commercial real estate has beaten the stock market for 25 years — but only the super rich could buy in. Here's how even ordinary investors can become the landlord...

June 3, 2024
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May 2024
31May

US. Wall Street scans for potential volatility after Trump verdict

The impact of former President Donald Trump’s historic guilty verdict has yet to set in on Wall Street. From round-the-clock currencies to after-hours equity trading, most financial assets — aside from shares in Trump Media & Technology Group — were largely stable after a New York jury found Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts. But for traders, the question now is how the decision will impact markets that are already starting to prepare for the 2024 U.S. elections — in...

May 31, 2024
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30May

Pension managers back climate group after high-profile US exits

 Asset owners overseeing $4.6 trillion have signed a statement throwing their support behind the Climate Action 100+ investor group after several high-profile Wall Street investors left the global initiative. Signatories included the California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS) and California Public Employees Retirement System pension managers, as well as more than 40 others from countries including Britain, Canada and Sweden. In the statement on CalSTRS' website, the groups, many of which employ asset managers to invest in markets on their behalf,...

May 30, 2024
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29May

US. Pension risk transfer premiums rise in April — Milliman

U.S. pension risk transfer premiums among the most competitive bidding processes rose in April, a study by actuarial and consulting firm Milliman showed. The estimated average premium among the most competitive rates was 100.9% as of April 30, up from 100.3% a month earlier, according to a report about the Milliman Pension Buyout index. Milliman said the jump in competitive rates came from average accounting discount rates that increased by 45 basis points, while annuity purchase rates increased by 36 basis...

May 29, 2024
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