April 2024

Ghana. SSNIT reserves projected to hit zero in 12 years – ILO

This was revealed in an actuarial valuation study of the Social Security and National Insurance Trusts (SSNIT) viability. According to ILO, total income including contributions, investment income and other income, will no longer be sufficient to pay for annual expenditures including benefit payments to pensioners by 2029. “Starting in 2029, total income (contributions, investment income and other income) is no longer sufficient to pay for annual expenditures. "The reserve starts to decrease. During the year 2036, the reserve drops to zero” the...

U.S. corporate pension funding remains near 100% in 2023 — Milliman

U.S. corporate pension plan funding ratios fell slightly to 98.5% in 2023 due to falling discount rates, according to Milliman’s annual Corporate Pension Funding Study. The study of the 100 U.S. public companies with the largest defined benefit plans showed that the average funding ratio fell from 99.4% a year earlier due to a 17-basis-point decline in the average discount rate to 5.01% from 5.18% at the end of 2022. The study also showed that 48 of the top 100 plans...

Cyprus. State pension fund reaching critical levels

The Fiscal Council, advising the Cyprus government on economic policies, has renewed a warning call that borrowing from the Social Insurance Fund has reached critical levels, threatening to derail public finances if action is not taken. In an announcement on Thursday, it urged the government to act on the suggestions of an actuarial study, submitted to the authority earlier in the week. The authority has warned that it needs to address its dependency on the Social Insurance Fund, as it...

2023 Corporate Pension Funding Study

By Zorast Wadia, Alan H. Perry & Richard J. Botelli Jr The 2023 edition of the Milliman Corporate Pension Funding Study (PFS) is our 23rd annual analysis of the financial disclosures of the 100 U.S. public companies sponsoring the largest defined benefit (DB) pension plans. These 100 companies are ranked highest to lowest by the value of their pension assets as of the end of fiscal year (FY) 2022. These values have been reported to the public, to shareholders, and to...

U.S. corporate pension fund surpluses climb higher in March — 3 reports

U.S. corporate pension fund surpluses continued to climb in March, according to three new reports. Wilshire Advisors estimated the aggregate funding ratio of U.S. corporate plans reached 110.1% as of March 31, an increase of a full percentage point above the 109.1% funding ratio estimated as of Feb. 29. "March's increase in funded status was driven by the continued increase in asset value with most asset classes posting positive monthly performances, highlighted by the FT Wilshire 5000 index, which has now...

March 2024

Funded Status of Largest 100 US Public Pension Funds Rises to 78.6%

Public pension funded status increased to 78.6% at the end of February, up from 77.7% the month before, according to the monthly Milliman Inc. 100 Public Pension Funding Index, which tracks the funded status of the largest 100 public defined benefit plans in the U.S. Public plan funded status rose in February to the highest level since May 2022, when funded status for these plans stood at 78.4%, and 78.6% the month before. In the interim, funded status bottomed out at...

US. Corporate Pension Funding Levels Skyrocket in February

The funded status of U.S.-based corporate pension plans increased significantly in February, primarily due to a rally in technology stocks, driven by excitement over AI and semiconductors, according to industry reports. Funded status also continues to be boosted by heightened interest rates. The surplus in pension funding could have some plan sponsors considering what to do with their excess pension assets. Earlier this month, Eastman Kodak announced it would shut its investment office, shifting the management of its assets to...

U.K. pension fund surplus and funding ratio rises in February

The total surplus of U.K. corporate pension funds covered by the Pension Protection Fund, London's 7800 index increased by 4% in February to £442.3 billion ($559.8 billion), while the funding ratio also rose. The funding ratio increased to 146.1% as of Feb. 29, compared to 143.9% at the end of January, an update said. The total deficit of all plans with a shortfall was £3.9 billion as of Feb. 29, down from £4.3 billion as of Jan. 31. Total assets were...

U.S. corporate pension surpluses rise in February – 4 reports

U.S. corporate pension plan funding surpluses grew in February thanks to positive returns from growth assets as well as falling liabilities, according to four new reports. Wilshire Advisors estimated the aggregate funding ratio of U.S. corporate plans reached 109.4% as of Feb. 29, up from 106% a month earlier. "U.S. corporate pension plans have maintained their overfunded status for 14 consecutive months since early 2023," said Ned McGuire, managing director at Wilshire, in a news release March 6. "February's increase in...

Pension Funding Index February 2024

By Zorast Wadia The funded status of the 100 largest U.S. corporate defined benefit pension plans increased by $12 billion during January as measured by the Milliman 100 Pension Funding Index (PFI). The funding surplus improved to $40 billion as a result of liability decreases that outweighed asset losses during the month. Pension liabilities fell due to an increase in the benchmark corporate bond interest rates used to value those liabilities. As of January 31, the plans’ funded ratio climbed...