Findley Davies has updated the Pension IndicatorTM tool based on market conditions through June 30, 2012. This tool was developed to allow employers to mitigate their risk exposure by monitoring the estimated changes to their pension plan’s funded status as it is reported for financial statement purposes under U.S. GAAP. The three tables below provide the percentage change in the funded level of the plan: year-to-date, month-over-month, and 12-month change as of June 30, 2012, based on the investment mix and plan type.
The Pension IndicatorTM is updated on a monthly basis to reflect changing marketing conditions, so return regularly for the most recent values and updated commentary.
Calendar Year-to-Date
|
Investment Mix (Equity / Fixed Income) |
||||
| Plan Type |
80/20 |
60/40 |
40/60 |
20/80 |
|
Frozen (for several years) |
2.0% |
0.6% |
-0.8% |
-2.1% |
|
Recently Frozen |
1.3% |
-0.1% |
-1.5% |
-2.9% |
|
Ongoing Traditional |
0.5% |
-0.9% |
-2.2% |
-3.6% |
|
Cash Balance |
1.6% |
0.2% |
-1.1% |
-2.5% |
Month-over Month
|
Investment Mix (Equity / Fixed Income) |
||||
| Plan Type |
80/20 |
60/40 |
40/60 |
20/80 |
|
Frozen (for several years) |
1.2% |
0.4% |
-0.4% |
-1.2% |
|
Recently Frozen |
0.3% |
-0.5% |
-1.3% |
-2.1% |
|
Ongoing Traditional |
-0.6% |
-1.4% |
-2.2% |
-3.0% |
|
Cash Balance |
1.0% |
0.2% |
-0.6% |
-1.4% |
12-Month Change
|
Investment Mix (Equity / Fixed Income) |
||||
| Plan Type |
80/20 |
60/40 |
40/60 |
20/80 |
|
Frozen (for several years) |
-8.0% |
-7.8% |
-7.6% |
-7.3% |
|
Recently Frozen |
-13.2% |
-13.0% |
-12.8% |
-12.6% |
|
Ongoing Traditional |
-19.1% |
-18.9% |
-18.7% |
-18.5% |
|
Cash Balance |
-9.5% |
-9.3% |
-9.1% |
-8.8% |
Commentary
While the Pension IndicatorTM is generally geared for accounting balance sheets, this month we are taking a necessary detour to look at the funding side of the equation. After much back and forth, Washington finally worked together and passed the highway transportation / student loan relief bill. That is what mainstream media reported. Ignored by most was that in the bill there is pension reform as well.
Plan sponsors will have an election for 2012 since we are already halfway through the year, but for everyone starting in 2013, the segment rates will be determined as they have in the past, but with the extra condition that they are within a corridor around the 25 year average of corporate bonds. This is expected to significantly reduce minimum required contributions to plans for the next couple years as recent interest rates are far from their historical averages.
On the flip side, this relief comes at a cost. Even though the PBGC is a quasi-government agency that has never accepted a single taxpayer dollar, PBGC premiums appear as “income” to the US government. Therefore, as a way pay for the other provisions of this bill, and to satisfy PBGC concerns about underfunding of pension plans with new relief, there are significant increases to both the per-participant “flat” fee the PBGC charges as well as an increase in the “variable” portion of the premium that is dependent on the level of underfunding of the plan. This could act as a strong deterrent to plan sponsors wanting to make bare minimum contributions as required.
Continue to look to notices from Findley Davies as the law is digested and regulations are made by the IRS. In addition with the Supreme Court ruling on PPACA, it has been a very interesting last few weeks for those in the benefits area.
Getting back on-topic, my sympathies to plan sponsors with June 30 fiscal year-ends. Those plan sponsors are seeing the lowest interest rates on record. This is why we stopped a while back from using the phrase “Interest rates can’t go any lower.” Note that the investment mix did little to change the result. The dramatic increase in underfunded levels is largely the result of the insanely low interest rate environment.
If you have comments or suggestions for further improvements, we would welcome you feedback.
Contact Findley Davies to discuss this information further.
© 2012 Findley Davies, Inc.
About the Findley Davies Pension IndicatorTM
Findley Davies developed this indicator to allow employers to monitor the estimated changes to their pension plan’s funded status as it is reported for financial statement purposes under U.S. GAAP.
Example 1: If the market value of the pension plan’s assets as of December 31, previous year, was $90 million and the projected benefit obligation as of the same date, December 31, previous year, was $100 million, the funded plan percentage was 90%. If the year-to-date Pension IndicatorTM is +6%, the current estimated funded plan percentage would now be 106% of 90%, or 95.4%*. Similarly, if the year-to-date Pension IndicatorTM is -7%, the current estimated funded plan percentage would be 93% of 90%, or 83.7%*.
Example 2: Assuming that the funded plan percentage as of the last day of the previous month was estimated to be 90%, then if the monthly Pension IndicatorTM is +2%, the current estimated funded plan percentage would now be 102% of 90%, or 91.8%*. Similarly, if the monthly Pension IndicatorTM is -1%, the current estimated funded plan percentage would be 99% of 90%, or 89.1%*.
* All other factors and variables holding steady.
The Findley Davies Pension IndicatorTM is the property of Findley Davies, Inc. Use of the Pension IndicatorTM is not, however, restricted if proper attribution to Findley Davies is made. Its use should be limited for estimation purposes only and Findley Davies does not assume any liability for its use or misuse by any other person not authorized by and acting on behalf of the firm.
Additional Information and Disclaimers
The development of the liabilities is done using a yield curve analysis. Benefits due to be paid in the next 12-24 months are matched with high-quality bonds of the same duration. Each 12-month period is likewise matched up with similarly-situated bonds. Payments from the pension plan 30 years and beyond are all discounted using 30-year bond yields. Each pension plan has its own unique cash flow and can differ significantly from the results presented herein. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you are interested in an analysis of your pension or retiree medical plan.
The asset return is developed using total return statistics from readily-available indicators for both equity and fixed income instruments. A weighted-average of the equity and fixed income returns are then used for the differing ratios presented. Due to the numerous different investment choices/styles/managers, your plan’s performance may differ significantly from the results presented here.
Contributions to the pension plan are assumed to be equal to the benefits being earned in the current year. As such, the funded level of the plan is unaffected by this factor in the analysis. The funded status would, of course, be impacted by higher or lower actual contribution amounts.
The cash flows from the non-cash balance plans assume no lump sum payments are available to participants. The cash balance plan assumes 100% of participants will elect a lump sum benefit at termination of employment.
Analysis for the cash balance plan does not assume a change in the underlying interest crediting rate for employees. Analysis of spreads between corporate bonds and U.S. Treasuries is beyond the scope of this indicator. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you would like further analysis of your cash balance plan.
This indicator is an informative tool to help analyze the change in funded status for pension plans. However, the Other Comprehensive Income (OCI) line item is also affected to the extent actual return differs from expected return used in the development of pension expense. If you have any questions on the change in your OCI as a result of market conditions, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
© 2012 Findley Davies, Inc.