Retirement Plans Need to Be Considered in M&As
All too often, a firm conducting a merger or acquisition (M&A) fails to weigh the options for each organization’s retirement plan.
Administration
Society of Actuaries Pledges Faster Mortality Scale Updates
More than a decade passed between the two most recent mortality table updates from the Society of Actuaries, but retirement plan fiduciaries should expect the next updated mortality...
GE Sued for Moving to DC Model for Retiree Health Care
One current and one former General Electric employee have sued the company for moving to a defined contribution (DC) model for retiree health care benefits.
City of Stockton Bankruptcy Plan Approved
A bankruptcy court judge has approved a plan for the city of Stockton, California, to exit bankruptcy while continuing to pay for pensions.
GAO Takes a Deep Look into DB Liability Valuation
October 31, 2014 (PLANSPONSOR.com) – The Government Accountability Office (GAO) studied measures of private and public defined benefit (DB) plan valuations and found varied opinions over discount rates...
Institutional Plans See Dip in Returns for Q314
October 30, 2014 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Institutional plan sponsors lost nearly 1% in the third quarter of 2014 at the median, according to Northern Trust Universe data.
Returns Not Keeping Pace with Multiemployer Plan Liability
October 30, 2014 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Strong investment performance during 2013 triggered a notable improvement in the aggregate funded status of multiemployer plans over the past year, according to...
Society of Actuaries Approves Updated Mortality Numbers
October 29, 2014 (PLANSPONSOR.com) – With the final approval of its first new mortality tables since 2000, the Society of Actuaries (SOA) has officially revised its benchmark for...
U.S. Pensions Less Enchanted with Alternatives
October 27, 2014 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Confidence has returned among institutional investors worldwide, according to a survey by Pyramis Global Advisors.
Lifetime Income Costs Up Sharply Since 2013
October 23, 2014 (PLANSPONSOR.com) – Retirement savings for older workers racked up impressive investment gains in the past 12 months, but the price of securing lifetime retirement income...
Sustainability Screens Can Boost Corporate Bond Portfolios
October 21, 2014 (PLANSPONSOR.com) – The use of sustainability ratings can improve the risk-return ratio of investments in corporate bonds, according to Oekom Research’s new Corporate Bonds Study.
Long-Term Funds Struggled in September
October 15, 2014 (PLANSPONSOR.com) – Long-term mutual funds experienced net outflows of $900 million in September, according to Strategic Insight (SI), an Asset International Company.
No Strong Participant Reaction to Market Swings
October 15, 2014 (PLANSPONSOR.com) – While all of the major asset classes suffered losses during the month of September, Aon Hewitt’s 401(k) Index shows light trading by 401(k)...
Listed Equity REITs Have Been a Boost for Pensions
October 14, 2014 (PLANSPONSOR.com) – Performance data from more than 300 U.S. pension funds show listed equity real estate investment trusts (REITs) have been a top-performing asset class...
Prepare for a New Financial Era, Gross Says
October 10, 2014 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - “There is a new financial era. Accept it and modify your behavior accordingly, so that your future is safe, secure, and you look...
Archdiocese Sells Properties to Meet Unfunded Obligations
October 10, 2014 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - The Archdiocese of Philadelphia sold three archdiocesan properties, in part to meet pension obligations.
Too Early to Hit the PIMCO Panic Button
October 9, 2014 (PLANSPONSOR.com) – Plan sponsors should not be upset by outflows from the Total Return Fund and the abrupt departure of Bill Gross, PIMCO’s lead portfolio...
Regulations Could Calm Fears About Income Solutions
October 9, 2014 (PLANSPONSOR.com) – With 25 years in the investment industry, Tim McCabe has participated firsthand in the dramatic rise of the defined contribution retirement system.
Report Warns Against Moving N.J. Public Workers to DC Plan
October 8, 2014 (PLANSPONSOR.com) – A new report claims closing New Jersey’s defined benefit retirement plan for public employees and offering a defined contribution plan instead would be...
S&P 1500 Pensions See Largest 2014 Decrease in Liabilities
October 6, 2014 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - The estimated aggregate funding level of pension plans sponsored by S&P 1500 companies remained at 84% at the end of September, according to...