Milliman analysis: Funded status improves in February due to rise in interest rates and investments
Pension funding ratio settles at 83.3%
SEATTLE, March 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Milliman, Inc., a premier global consulting and actuarial firm, today released the results of its latest Pension Funding Index (PFI), which consists of 100 of the nation's largest defined benefit pension plans. The funded status of the 100 largest corporate defined benefit pension plans increased by $80 billion during February, as measured by the Milliman 100 Pension Funding Index (PFI). After a $90 billion decrease in funded status in January, this month's increase leaves these pensions' funded status in approximately the same spot as they began the year.
"An increase in the corporate bond discount rates was a big driver of last month's gains," said John Ehrhardt, co-author of the Milliman 100 Pension Funding Index. "But that needs to be put in perspective. January's discount rate was the lowest in the history of our study, and February's discount rate was the second lowest. Discount rates continue to define pension funded status, and upward movement in those rates will be necessary to eliminate the funding deficit."
Looking forward, under an optimistic forecast with rising interest rates (reaching 4.13% by the end of 2015 and 4.73% by the end of 2016) and asset gains (11.4% annual returns), the funded ratio would climb to 94% by the end of 2015 and 107% by the end of 2016. Under a pessimistic forecast with similar interest rate and asset movements (3.13% discount rate at the end of 2015 and 2.53% by the end of 2016 and 3.4% annual returns), the funded ratio would decline to 77% by the end of 2015 and 70% by the end of 2016.
To view the complete study, go to http://us.milliman.com/pfi/. To receive regular updates of Milliman's pension funding analysis, contact us at [email protected].
About Milliman
Milliman is among the world's largest providers of actuarial and related products and services. The firm has consulting practices in healthcare, property & casualty insurance, life insurance and financial services, and employee benefits. Founded in 1947, Milliman is an independent firm with offices in major cities around the globe. For further information, visit www.milliman.com
About the Milliman 100 Pension Funding Index
For the past 15 years, Milliman has conducted an annual study of the 100 largest defined benefit pension plans sponsored by U.S. public companies. The Milliman 100 Pension Funding Index projects the funded status for pension plans included in our study, reflecting the monthly impact of market returns and interest-rate changes on pension funded status, utilizing the actual reported asset values, liabilities, and asset allocations of the companies' pension plans.
The results of the Milliman 100 Pension Funding Index were based on the actual pension plan accounting information disclosed in the footnotes to the companies' annual reports for the preceding fiscal year and for previous fiscal years. In addition to providing the financial information on the funded status of U.S. qualified pension plans, the footnotes may also include figures for the companies' nonqualified and foreign plans, both of which are often unfunded or subject to funding standards different from those for U.S. qualified pension plans. The results do not represent the funded status of the companies' U.S. qualified pension plans under ERISA.
SOURCE Milliman, Inc.
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